FIXTITLE Jack Paw Pringle.docx

Miles of Memories

When I reached out to make my first initial phone call to Ms. Delores concerning her late husband, she gave a nonchalant chuckle and let me know, "Everybody around here calls us Maw and Paw." I knew right then from the smile that instantly formed on my face on my end of the phone line that these are my kind of people.

Being the documentary-fene that I am, when I was first approached about the concept of our Legends section, my intrigue was put in motion. When you are given permission to directly ask a person multiple questions of your choice is a simple, quick way to get to know anybody...but allowing yourself to visualize their answers full of memories and relive their own personal journey, to me is always worth sharing.

So, who would be our lucky guinea pig, you and I ask? Allow yourself to rewind and go back in time before every teenager had a cell phone. Before young boys had a

plethora of video games at their disposal in each household.

When technology was prominently limited to adults. Back when being inside your home consisted only of meals and rest, then to start another day outside.

Before Paw was known as the experienced and dependable driver that his reputation proceeds, he was just a kid named Jack Pringle. Being able to drive trucks well beyond his years, is an understatement for Jack. He began

driving as a kid. Doing what he felt was normal for his age at that time. Jack was born in Uvalde in the early 1930's. Just a small town in Texas where the roads weren't as smooth as the paved roads are now. These roads that Jack was accustomed to, kicked up plenty of dirt and dust into your rearview mirror. Enough to remind Delores of how much things have changed since then.

Paw wasn't just the typical truck driver. He knew that his passion for driving started when he hauled cattle at such a young age and enjoyed it so much, he could see himself behind the wheel for as long as time would let him. As time went by, Paw decided to enlist into the Air Force. After a few dedicated years he moved on to join the Army.

Through the years once he had given his time in the military and 3 kids later, Jack was back to doing what he loved most of all, driving a truck.

Having 3 kids of her own, Ms. Delores said that she met her smooth talking, Paw at a local grocery store there in Texas. "That man could convince you it's raining mud outside and you would believe him!" When I asked Ms. Delores when did her and Paw get married, she laughed and said that Paw basically told her that she was going to be his wife. They wed approximately three weeks later at the city court house in 1979.

As Paw continued to drive on the road, Ms. Delores stayed behind to manage a local convenience store for another six years. It wasn't until a customer and family friend made a reference to Ms. Delores as to how come she

doesn't take to the road with her husband, that she even considered the option. They both liked the idea of being on the road together. Little did Ms. Delores know how many memories would be made in the millions of miles ahead. "Paw came in late one night with a grin on his face and asked me how come I have 3 bags packed. I said, 'Because I'm packed and ready to go with you.' As he shook his head at me, he said, 'You're not gonna have room for them! All you need is one." I laughed with her, waiting to see what Ms. Delores said next. .."I soon caught myself

wearing Paw's socks and clothes, which always gave Paw a kick but I was able to pack only one bag like he said." She later added that Paw was a smart man, even down to the little things.

In 1997, Maw and Paw started their own trucking business; Jade Transportation. I thought, what an interesting name so of course I asked how it came about. She said, "Simple. Jack and Delores, our names." And simple is how they wanted to keep it. Their lives. Their business. Simple is how you distinguish a person of Jack Pringle's character. He worked all of his life, starting as a young, ambitious kid driving a cattle truck. Serving his

country. Coming across money, nothing kept Paw from his

simple and humble life. Jade hauled multiple items, mostly metals. When I asked which states did they get to travel through, Maw gave one of them, "Oooh honey!" comments back and finished it with, "all of them!" There were a

variety of trucks and companies involved within their 16

year

.

re1gn.

Listening to Ms. Delores laugh as she tells another enlightening memory of Jack, it brings up another question that I ask myself. What makes a family person want to not just stay gone on the road the majority of their time, but

live on it? Well, I had to ask Ms. Delores, not quite

expecting the enthusiasm she gave in return. "That's easy! Because it made Paw happy." According to her, when Paw was on the road, he was happy. When he wasn't on the road, which was very rare and only due to sickness, he was not happy. Once again, that simple. It did make their road trips a little more at ease, knowing that they had their little

road-buddy, Poo-Poo to keep them company. Miss Poo was

their little, black female poodle that hit the road with them willingly every time the truck came calling.

It was the unforgettable stop, during the cold Fall of 2003 in Oklahoma that slowed the pace of Ms. Delores' tone.

Due to the steady drizzle of rain and brisk wind, the couple was forced to pull over at a nearby truck stop. It was then that Ms. Delores stated that she noticed something wasn't right with Paw. As he held his right hand to his left shoulder and chest area, she knew. At this time, Paw was seventy and had already put in over 55 well earned years behind the wheel. Maw then called for help and the rest became one of her last memories of them two together on the road.

Later Maw sold their company, Jade Transportation in

2009. I would not hesitate to say that it's obvious in Ms. Delores' voice that the legacy of Jack "Paw" Pringle will not deteriorate with time. If you're like me, every time you

pass a freightliner or Peterbilt truck and you make eye contact with the driver, you think of kids with their fist and arm pumping in the air, as if they are an engineer in a train waiting to hear the horn of the diesel blow. Next time make eye contact with the driver of that truck and remember; every driver has a story. For every truck that has a destination, it might also carry the heart of a legend.

Rest in peace, Paw and may all who lay eyes on this column know your story and feel your passion for this industry.