FIXTITLE Danny Jewell.docx
THE REALITY OF ONE DREAM
The Story
Of
Danny Jewell
Not many can honestly say that they’re living out their dreams, every day of their life. Maybe if you’re the founder of Facebook and have a few million dollars to toss around just to purchase a large chunk of a private island. I mean, who doesn’t dream of living on their own, secluded area in Hawaii. Knowing that hundreds of acres, including miles of beachfront is one of your places to call home, seems a bit extravagant. Or the fact that a person would need to be rich and have access to that amount of money in order to fulfill a dream, is hard to fathom. Statistics state that the number varies between 2% and some say, up to 6% of Americans are considered wealthy, or “upper class,” I believe that is how they put it. But to me, the individuals that make their dreams a reality without needing to live a life of luxury, will always be the richest.
I guess it all depends on your definition of what being rich means. Of course, many associate the word ‘rich’ with money. Either owning an abundant amount of jewels or jewelry, while displaying a lavish life style loaded with more than enough material items to enjoy in a single lifetime. Let’s entertain the thought that this group’s percentage should rightfully remain around 2%, or lower! Otherwise our world would forever live divided.
Hebrew 13:5 NKJ –Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
After getting to know this nominee, he seems to possess it all. A rich life, to the fullest. Danny Jewell married when he was young and 51 years later, his bride continues to support her loving husband. Together they have 5 children, 20 grandchildren and 3 beautiful great-grandchildren. He will soon turn seventy years old, with no intention in retiring from driving. “Why would I stop? I’m already doing what I love. It’s what I want to do for the rest of my life,” he says. Sometimes riches come in the form of complete happiness. Being rich with something that another cannot purchase themselves is fairly rare. It’s a type of richness that offers no price tag. It is not available to be bought, yet is unique, fragile and can bring a fortune only to the deserving.
Danny demonstrates humility and pride at the same time when he discusses his large family and his long, successful career as a professional truck driver. This past May, he celebrated 46 years with Warren Transport, Inc. located in Waterloo, Iowa. Danny’s wife, Sharon that he began running team with in 1994 has also been with Warren Transport for 20 years. The testimony these two exude as a Christian couple, hard-working employees and dedicated parents explains exactly how a person can be rich and prosper without the means of being a millionaire.
Born in Toledo, Ohio during the mid-40’s, farming was his entire family’s way of life. In 1953, Danny’s father relocated the family to Nebraska City, Nebraska. There his mother stayed home and tended to the boys and helped his father work their small farm. Both parents also worked a second job for extra income. Danny saw firsthand how hard his parents worked to be able to provide a good life for him. Growing up on their farm Danny did his share of chores, but to him he enjoyed helping so in turn it didn’t feel like he was actually working. He shares a few memories of what his childhood was like on the farm, “Every day I would help milk the cows and feed them. We’d let them out in the mornings and then I’d bring them in during the evening.” By 12, Danny knew his way around the land and his father began giving him a little more responsibility at a time. At 14, he was driving his dad’s little, straight truck around and after that Danny was hooked. When he turned 16 in 1956, he found the car that he wanted, but when it came to his father he knew that he would have to earn it. Danny had his driver’s license well before he finally purchased his vehicle. He worked and saved up his money, like his father had asked and six months later he was able to buy his dream car. It was a blue 1954 Ford Custom, trimmed in white.
With a farming background, I asked Danny how he got into the trucking industry. It’s like I could picture the whole scene as he painted it for me, “I was about four at the time. I remember standing outside of a truck stop. I looked up and saw a truck… it was an old PIE Kenworth Conventional. I knew right then that I wanted to be in one of them! From then on, that was my only desire… to be a truck driver.” That day, even at such a young age, he set his goal.
After leaving the family farm, he found an outfit in town and went to work hauling hay in the summers and corn during the winters. With the strong work ethic that rubbed off from his parents, Danny took on a second job with no hesitation at an elevator company. Since it was a seasonal gig, he filled what little time he had open with a few other side jobs. One, he worked for a farmer hauling various items and another gentleman that he worked with at the elevator company owned a cattle farm that needed an extra hand, as well. Danny had built quite a reputation with all of the locals. Some even refused help if Danny wasn’t available. They only wanted him, for a number of reasons. With his easy demeanor he was reliable, diligent and he always got the job done the right way.
He decided to pursue his trucking passion a little more seriously. Danny knew that he wanted to go over the road, but because of his age and inexperience he wasn’t qualified yet. In 1968, a friend that was leased on to Warren Transport gave Danny the opportunity that he had been waiting for. “I joined him for three months. After he had left, I quickly landed a job with another contractor and ran for nine more months.” Unfortunately, this driver too switched companies. Danny was patient while he waited on his next break. An owner operator with Warren Transport was in need of one more driver and stated that Danny was his only option that he would take. Grateful and more than ready, the two men continued working together for almost four years.
In 1972, Danny was able to purchase his first truck. The driver that he was running for wanted out of it. With his permission, Danny picked up the payments and took it off his hands. It was a green and white 1971 Cummins International. In November of that year, Danny went out on his own. He traveled all 48 states and eventually up to Canada too. During the late 70’s, Warren Transport was one of the first dealers to get their authority to go all the way into Canada. Danny took advantage of it and was loving every minute on the road. Being able to see our beautiful country and meeting new people always fascinated him. He made sure to make his way back home to his family every two weeks. He had the best of both worlds.
Once Danny and Sharon’s five children were raised and out of the house, starting families of their own, Sharon was ready to see what else life had in store for her. Even though Danny was away on the road working a lot, his love for his wife and role as a good father never wavered. Sharon chose to join her husband on the road so they could travel the states together.
In 1994, Sharon earned her CDL and immediately teamed up with Danny at Warren Transport. The duo took the company by surprise. They already knew that they had a leader with Danny, but by bringing on his wife, they offered the company double the production. Throughout the following 20 years together, the two have been assigned a number of dedicated routes. They’ve both won many awards for their high achievements and been recognized multiple times. In Danny’s trucking career, he has over 43 years of safe driving experience and reached over 4 million miles, averaging over 150,000 a year. Since coming on board, Sharon is a million mile driver as well. Together they won Warren Transport’s first award presented to a husband and wife team, for Driver(s) of the Year in 2004. Danny won the same award himself, back in 1984. Along with Driver of the Month five times and Sharon once. One of their sons, Patrick also drove for Warren Transport for seven years before recently moving to California to be closer to his family. While working for Warren Transport, he was awarded Driver of the Year in 2012.
Over the years, Danny has owned a total of ten trucks. He admits that quite a bit has changed in the trucking industry since his first days of driving. “A lot has changed! We definitely have more regulations, but some we needed,” he continues to explain himself. Coming from a time when technology wasn’t literally at your fingertips, it’s easy to say that access to phones, internet, anything is a distraction. Especially when you’re behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler. Then you add the factor of speed into the picture and things can turn into a mess, quick. He touches on the issue of new drivers joining the force, trying to find their niche. “I would love to see more young drivers come in. I’ve always said that this is not for everyone. Only way you’ll know is if you try it and see.” Not everybody is given a vision at an early age of their dream job. Not everybody can have everything in the world and remain humble. Not everybody can have the same mentality as they did decades before.
On December 3rd, 2013 Danny sold his truck to a buddy and did a lease purchase for his current truck. A 2013 black Freightliner Coronado, with a Detroit DD15 engine. Danny and Sharon both praise the trucking company that has allowed them to fulfil their dream together. “For Warren Transport, I’ve worked a number of different jobs from heavy haul to pulling van. It’s the people at Warren Transport that keeps me there. I absolutely love what I do and helping others. They really let you be an independent. They’re honest with you and go out of their way to make sure we’re happy.”
Last year, Danny and Sharon celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in their home town of Nebraska City. Friends and family from all over came to wish them well. Some former drivers and retirees of Warren Transport that remain close friends of theirs also attended the party. Of course in attendance were their five children; Mike, Patrick, Tim, Jennifer and Scott. Along with their spouses and children.
A man and woman that can raise a happy family, enjoy a successful career and do it all together as husband and wife for many decades, has everything that a rich person envies. Passion. It’s the heartbeat of anything positive. That passion is what Danny has poured into his marriage and love for trucking. For that one simple characteristic has provided him with a lifetime of blessings and then some.