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.
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
If I wore a hat I'd tip it! Thank you Joe for setting the standard.
Posted by William DeBekker (Member # 3848) on :
Joe has been a great mentor/friend to me for many years (almost 10) and we bounce Ideas often.
I really need to get down to OK and actually meet him in person one day.
Thanks Joe for being just you.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
Must have been one heck of a steak. Posted by Duncan Wilkie (Member # 132) on :
You are a fine fellow Joe, and one heck of a sign maker. Happy Birthday sir.
Posted by Craig Sjoquist (Member # 4684) on :
Agrees whole heartedly with ya'll even for little I know,.. Joe is a outstanding human
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
He's also darn good for your ego and one of my top wanna meets. Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
I'd really like to meet Joe someday... I'd like to be his friend.
I love steak.
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Very nice comments, Raymond.
I also appreciate his frank sharing of his design & construction processes & ideas. I've learned a lot from his posts!
Thank YOU, Joe!
Posted by Susie Butler (Member # 4964) on :
Humble..Unique..one of the best. Ray , you could not have said it better. Thanks Joe for being one of our best friends.
David and Suze
Posted by Catharine C. Kennedy (Member # 4459) on :
Joe has been terriffic to me as well- a real delight with whom to correspond!
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
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!!!
Posted by Joe Crumley (Member # 2307) on :
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.
Posted by Mark Yearwood (Member # 2723) on :
I'll be right over for that steak, Joe!
Joe really is a craftsman and a great guy, even though he gets ribbed a lot. Posted by Sam Staffan (Member # 4552) on :
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.
Posted by Sonny Franks (Member # 588) on :
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........
Posted by Susan Banasky (Member # 1164) on :
A sweet and gentle man....and talented...all the best Joe.
Posted by Kimberly Zanetti (Member # 2546) on :
Sorry this took so long - been a busy week!
Posted by Joe Crumley (Member # 2307) on :
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.
Posted by Susan Banasky (Member # 1164) on :
Thanks Joe.
Posted by Bob Sauls (Member # 11321) on :
Tallahassee Agrees. Is it your birthday or something, Joe?
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
What a nice post! Thanks for continuing to give flowers to the living, Raymond!
Joe, I love your posts. They're as snarky as Raymond's. Congrats on the kudos status!
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Snarky? Must be a Canadian word. And you guys say that I talk funny.
Posted by Joe Crumley (Member # 2307) on :
Donna,
I can tell, you're itchin to cause trouble.
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 ]
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
Not online here as often, and almost missed this post!
I must agree, Joe is a super guy. I would also like to meet him someday.
Loved the photos, ... how fun seeing the faces from the board.
~ nettie
Posted by Frank Magoo (Member # 3950) on :
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....
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