From Dick’s son – in – law, Pete.

     "The thing I remember most about first meeting Dick is how accepting he was to me as a teen. He always had time to explain fixing stuff when I had any questions.  I had never picked up a wrench to work on a car until I was 22.  I don't believe he ever knew how much he taught me about mechanics.  Recently he was amazed that I rebuilt an automatic transmission, since he never did that himself.  But the funny thing is he taught me in five minutes, 20 years ago, when he taught me how to go through the logical sequence to trouble shoot a car that wouldn't start.  Everything depends on the next thing in line. That logic made it so I could fix anything! 5 minutes! I always think of that moment before I start any project.  I was completely ignorant before that talk. He always encouraged me to try whatever crazy idea I came up with and I learned a lot.

     He also encouraged us to try whatever crazy idea he came up with. I remember at the river camp how he got the idea to make a giant catapult to throw Paul Jr. into the middle of the Illinois River. Dick could talk Paul into anything. There were a bunch of us young guys and there was Dick trying to get us all coordinated to mount this 80' long log up into the fork of another tree.  Lucky for Paul we didn't get too far! Some things are good to fail at!

     Dick's garage was a treasure trove of bits and pieces of projects and adventures past. I love the fact that he had hack sawed off a piece of an old race car with lettering that read "Dunphy Family Racing Team".  I made it a condition of him living with us that it came with him.  It was the first thing we attached to the wall in our garage. My favorite item was, and still is, that piece of the race car. Every dusty piece of brick-a-brack, broken tool, or scrap of wood had a story attached to it. I've been jaded on the thrill of hearing some of these stories on re-play, but as a young man they were truly astonishing the first time I heard them.  I met Dick when he was about forty and he'd tell stories of adventure (and plenty of mischief!), like he'd lived a hundred!  "

Here are some of the adventures:

• Sky Diving Chihauhau
• Fake shootout at the bar with Hoss Cart Wright's stunt double
• The M.G. car commercial
• Souping up a jeep and racing it through a barracks parade ground saluting the higher ranks
• Almost knocking off the 21 yr old King of Nepal’s crown at a sky dive demo
• HALO and HAHA jumps
• The portable shop at the dunes
• Building a raft at San Diego's Balboa Park out of the bamboo land landscaping as a kid
• Watching Steve Mc Queen race at the dunes
• And the list goes on.............................. "
  

Pete met Dick’s daughter, Mary when they were 14 years old in French class Freshman year in High School.  They were always best of friends and dated off and on.  Pete spent a lot of time at Mary’s house in Romeoville Illinois during these years before they went off to college.

Close Window