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Our craft is made up of a lot of very unique individuals. Most are extremely humble and always willing to share. That's just the spirit of the Letterheads.
Joe Crumley stands out as one of the best in our business. Joe is 70 years old and that is either young or very old, depending on how close you are to 70.
Most of us arrive at that age with an attitude of retirement, resentment, or resignation. Not Mr. Crumley. He faces it with a positive vengence. Joe continues to experiment and try new things - most of which no one has thought of before. His favorite expression seems to be "what if...".
When most of us are content to just slow down and make friends with a rocker, Joe is buying new equipment, learning new software, and wondering why other folks can't keep up. Crumley is a constant teacher - always willing to share what has taken him time and expense to discover.
Nothing second rate ever leaves his shop and his designs are top notch. He has probably forgotten more than most of us will ever learn.
Joe has a been a friend for a long time, although you probably wouldn't think so if you listened in on our conversations. More than once I have ridiculed him about his negative attitude and "old geezer" approach to life...but it has all been in jest.
So, to my old friend, Mr. Crumley, I tip my hat and say "thank you" for making our profession better for you having been a part of it.
The steak in OKC was great and I look forward to the next time I can lighten your wallet.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6712 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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He's also darn good for your ego and one of my top wanna meets.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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I also appreciate his frank sharing of his design & construction processes & ideas. I've learned a lot from his posts!
Thank YOU, Joe!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Joe has been terriffic to me as well- a real delight with whom to correspond!
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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You're awesome Joe! I have some great pics of Joe from "back when" to post but today's a bit busy. I will try my best to get them up here tomorrow!!!
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Thanks everyone for all the nice complements. Now I'm so puffed up I can hardly stand myself..
Buying that steak dinner for Chapman certainly paid off. I'm considering buying a Big Fat Steak for any Letterhead traveling this way. I could become famious.
-------------------- Joe Crumley Norman Sign Company 2200 Research Park Blvd. Norman, OK 73069 Posts: 1428 | From: 2200 Research Park Blvd. | Registered: Sep 2001
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I took the time and went out to see Joe Jan.5th and it was a great time.
There are not to many days that go by I don't think of him and the ideas we worked on together, and the memories of us just sitting at home and chatting.
I wish we were not so many states apart.
-------------------- Sam Staffan Mackinaw Art & Sign 721 S. Nokomis St. Mackinaw City, MI dstaffan@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1694 | From: Mackinaw City, MI | Registered: Mar 2004
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One of the most memorable nights of my life was passing around a bottle of Retsina on a hotel roof under the light of the Parthenon with a table full of Letterheads I've admired for years.
Joe was one of 'em........
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Sorry this took so long - been a busy week!
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Wow Kimberly that photo must have been taken back in the 80's. If memory serves it was a Letterhead meet at Western Sign, Tulsa Ok. I miss those youthful days.
Our Susan B. asked me to post these photo's for her. It proves Raymond got his dinner wish. We had such a good time.
-------------------- Joe Crumley Norman Sign Company 2200 Research Park Blvd. Norman, OK 73069 Posts: 1428 | From: 2200 Research Park Blvd. | Registered: Sep 2001
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Now Chappy is confused, thanks to you. When he gets off his meds and starts posting again, who know what's going to say.
Please, You better apologize and save all of us wasted time.He's awful fragile.
[ May 03, 2010, 10:17 PM: Message edited by: Joe Crumley ]
-------------------- Joe Crumley Norman Sign Company 2200 Research Park Blvd. Norman, OK 73069 Posts: 1428 | From: 2200 Research Park Blvd. | Registered: Sep 2001
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Well Joe, seeing as how the "little Okie" beat me to seat across from you, regardless of fact after snagging such prize, he sky'd and left it alone, I had to settle for sitting next to Mr. Conservative, while absorbing the morticians hilarious stories and translating for Sal.....which as you already pointed out earlier, left US, you and I,no time to chat and acquaint ourselves w/each other, but watching Chappy devour his charred trophy, did have a certain appeal, if one is into the eating habits of really old signpainters...Ever see a man cut his steak using a mahl-stick to support his knife-wielding arm and at same time deliver an appropiate amount of Heinz 57 squarely in middle of aforementioned hunk of char? (maybe to soften up the meat or something, old timers have to be cognate of such things.)
You like those pics? Thanks to the Canadian Fairy that kept bouncing around, filling the air w/little blue spots each time she waved her Nikon wand...Banasky, a name that guarantees a good time by all, infectious is one word that comes to mind...not a bad trade off eh Joe?
Seriously, this summer in my travels, I fully intend to drop by and get the nickel tour, of course I'll call first to give you a heads up, usually from just around the corner...lol....sure had a good time that nite, couldn't have asked for better company, enjoyed each minute of it, even the short period we were rock stars...thanks Mark. (btw, sure hope your wife is ok, as that was why Mark even left our little party)
And that pretty well sums up my perspective, quite "snarky" eh? And Raymond thought it was Canadian....
-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
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