Yodel Hey, Hey
I met Ronny Tippelt in 1984 [Bavaria, By Way of Texas, May 2025]. In ’85 and ’86 he played my backyard. He was and still is the best yodeler in Texas.
Dennis Peak, Pedernales EC | Lampasas
We often visit Walburg for German food, drinks and, of course, the oompah music. From now on I imagine our trips must include reservations made well in advance as many of our fellow Texans will be venturing there to enjoy a bit of Germany come to Texas.
Martha Everman Jones, Victoria EC | Victoria
Supercells like this one near Claude trigger an adrenaline rush for storm chasers.
Jenny Brown
Hail Chaser
My father, Bob Rinker, was a hail chaser for the Colorado State University meteorology department in “hail alley” in the early 1960s [Twisted Approach, May 2025]. Hail alley starts at the eastern front of the Rockies in Colorado and Wyoming and covers all territory east to the Great Lakes.
One time he chased a hailstorm from the Colorado-Nebraska border all the way to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Susan Frensley, Wise EC | Richardson
Beeline for Sea Center
I recently retired and didn’t even know that Sea Center Texas existed, so my wife and I made a beeline for Lake Jackson [Fish School, April 2025]. What a great visit that was at the hatchery with the guide who had done it for many, many years.
Chris Gloger, Pedernales EC | Canyon Lake
Pilot Connection
In 1980 I worked in Yugoslavia for six weeks with Dennis Dalrymple, the son of Millie Dalrymple [The WASPs Who Flew Out of Sweetwater, April 2025]. We traveled to the mountain town of Danilovgrad, where America-friendly locals had sheltered his father after bailing out of his damaged bomber.
A couple of great pilot stories in that family.
Russell Honerkamp, Bluebonnet EC | Brenham
Courtesy Roberta Dobie
Courtesy Roberta Dobie
Cowboy Pilgrimage
I have visited the Capitol before but never saw the Texas Cowboy Monument [A Cowboy’s Distinctive Trail, February 2025], so I made it a point to find it next time I visited.
I took a photo holding Texas Co-op Power and tried to replicate the printed photo as well. Thanks for educating Texans on Texas.
Roberta Dobie, Karnes EC | Three Rivers
May I Have This Dance?
I read the Rick O’Shay comic strips in the newspaper during the 1960s and ’70s. A memorable one had Rick explaining why he likes square dancing, saying it was because “you can take a date, dance with three other women and not get your face slapped” [It’s Hip To Be a Square, February 2025].
P. Karl Muench, Sam Houston EC | Ivanhoe
Focus on the Positive
I applaud Mark Troth’s willingness to share his story [Peace of Mind, February 2025]. We experience grief for different reasons, such as his diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, divorce, etc.
It is better for our physical and mental well-being to focus on the positive side of the coin—living for life, as Mark said, versus wallowing in the despair and essentially wasting the life we have left.
His willingness to be vulnerable in sharing is a sign of strength and inspiration.
Chris Forland, Pedernales EC | Austin
