Shook’s Bike
What a great way to spend one of my final days of summer… by taking a road trip with my mom to Winfield, MO to visit an old friend. Catching up with a dear old friend is an understatement. Shook was friends with Mom and Dad way back beginning in the 60’s and thankfully he and my mom have kept in touch. Shook and my dad made a great team during the racing years as you can see by the trophies in one of my recent posts. (Click Here) Over the years this great man has served his country, worked to retirement, had his own small engine repair service, worked with youngsters in town, taught music, and has become quite the wiz with technology. We enjoyed lunch at a local restaurant where his ‘favorite server’ Lisa dished up some pretty great food. It was obvious that Shook is known by many and loved by all in his small town. Upon leaving to head back to St. Louis Shook decided to do a little “show and tell” from his shed. As you can tell by the picture it takes a man with vision to build such a machine out of a Huffy Aluminum ATB. As we kidded around about Horse Power Shook said it would get up to about 40 mph. As I headed to the car to get my camera I couldn’t hold back the tears thinking about all the memories my dad and Shook had shared, and mostly about all the ones that never happened. Thank goodness certain friends are just naturally part of the family like Shook. …The last treasure I saw was a rusty sign with his name on it. As I showed interest in the sign he gladly offered it to me. What does one do with a beat up old sign with someone else’s name on it? Keep it forever, of course. You never know what you might encounter in your travels through Smalltown, America. Most of us are hoping to see a shiny quarter panel sticking out from underneath a tarp in a leaning barn. Or perhaps a field whose only crop is side-by-side Oldsmobiles just waiting for someone to come and pull a useful part. Well, in this small town it wasn’t the “one spark plug” Huffy or the unique sign that stood out. A gentleman named Richard Shook with a history of life worth living, a handful of good honest friends, and a willingness to take each day head on with a one of kind attitude….He was the real Diamond in the Rough today. We love you Shook!
hoodscoop03.com 
It’s funny how some things in life mean so much. That sign is worth nothing but to you its a link to memories that mean the world. I wouldn’t mind betting that it gets pride of place somewhere. Great story.
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Rust, sharp edges, cob webs…I’m only dusting off the cob webs and will display it very deliberately in a place of honor. Thanks for commenting. Day after day I love this blog world more. I’ve opened myself up to new people and writing down bits and pieces of my life. Wouldn’t change a thing.
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I don’t only like your post…I love it.. Your Dad and Shook grew up in the late 40’s and were friends
forever. Thank you Shook for staying my friend .. Thank you for serving our country.
There are acquaintances and then there are friends Then there are really true friends.
You are that one.. Really my diamond in the ruff.
Debbie, I love our road trips
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Mom, you did a great job with your comment and you are tied for third place in the comment department. It was a fun day. Thanks for setting the record on when Dad and Shook met. PS I love our road trips, too! XXOO
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Wish I could have been there to see Shook again. Its been too long. And Debbie how special you are once again with your wonderful written word to make someone feel so good. Shook may certainly seem like that diamond in the rough on the outside, what a brilliant soul on the inside.
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What a beautiful comment about Shook. He truly is one of a kind. Thank goodness he made his way into our lives and is part of our family. I’m sure my dad is very happy knowing that we surround ourselves with only the best kind of people.
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Here is a copy and paste of an email message from Shook in response to this post:
Hello Debbie
I can’t tell you how much I liked your site ! I have been showing it all
over Winfield. I am so proud of it.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
WITH LOVE
RICHARD SHOOK
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I am so glad Shook loved this post!
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Shook sounds like a gem of a guy. I’m so glad you and your mom had such a nice day trip and visit with him. Isn’t something how good people seem to attract other good people?
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You are so right, he certainly is. PS Thanks for the nice words.
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OK, looks like that bike will go faster than ours. lol.
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You are probably right!
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Enjoy the site.. Thanks so much. Just beautiful. I am Rich sister and grew up with your Dad who was a wonderful person. . .
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I apologize for such a late reply. Thank you for commenting. It’s quite possible that we met somewhere along the way. My dad sure did treasure Shook, and what a gift to know him and be able to visit with him still today.
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I skyped with shook this morning and he directed me to this site. Shook and I met in the river bottoms in Old Monroe nearly 25 years ago. We have maintained our friendship to this day. Shook is one of the most honest, humble, helpful, and intelligent people I have had the pleasure of knowing… He is truly a diamond in the rough.
Phil Terris
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Thank you Phil, I know he treasures his friendships very much. Even tho my father(one of his best friends in their youth) passed away in 1980 my mom and I have tried to stay in touch with him. We are always so glad after we’ve had a visit with him. I couldn’t agree more on your words describing his character. Thanks again!
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Debbie
Phil made that sign for me about 20yrs. ago.
With love for you and your Mom and Phil
Richard Shook
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Thanks for checking in on the site again Shook. Phil said some wonderful and very true things about you.
All the best from Mom and me, Debbie
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I remember one particularly cold winter our local Iga store was handing out encyclopedias A thru Z with each grocery purchase. Upon one of my visits with shook I found that he was reading each book the store handed out from cover to cover. That was a very enlightening winter for him. There is not too many subjects he doesn’t know something about.
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Can you imagine…if I lived closer I could probably interview him for a wonderful memoir!
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Just wanted to comment about Richard . I remember when he built a gas go cart for the son of his niece who is my daughter. I would say it was a Cadillac in the go cart line. It was very well made. I agree with Phil that there is not to many subjects Richard doesn’t know about.
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Martha, it means very much to me that you posted this comment about Shook. I hope he knows how much he is loved, how unique he is, and how his life has been a blessing to so many others.
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