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Grief is overwhelming, all-encompassing and selfish. We think about how much we will miss someone, how much others will miss him too and how much his contribution to the lives of others will be missed. I awoke yesterday, March 10, 2003 knowing I would be sad all day. Norma was born at 10:27am on March 10, 1947. She was my neighbor, friend and sister. Actually I was born the very next day at 11:15am, and only child. We grew up together and so close that she was the only sister I had. I always called her on the 10th to talk and catch up even if we hadn't talked for a year. It was simple, she was born first so I made the first call. Then early on the 11th she would call, "Happy Birthday back at you, have a great day, I love you, goodbye." Norma passed away last fall so I knew that I would not make that call yesterday and would be sad but it would be ok. I knew that about mid-moring today I would get the call, "Hey Kent..." Rick never forgot, now that voice is silent too.
It was May, 1977 late in the afternoon, 3 days after I received the current Signs of the Times. "Hey Kent, you don't know me, I'm Rick Glawson in California." We went on to discuss the letter to the editor I had written lamenting the lack interest in gold leaf both in customers, other sign painters and suppliers. After reading the letter and spending all day trying to get over his shyness, he called to say he was very interested in gold leaf. We talked about some of his current projects and he picked my brain for methodology, especially how to adhere mother of pearl to glass the way the old guys did. He also was having trouble gilding chipped glass and blending Japan colors. After giving him Cecil Sanders phone number so he could get the Commonwealth varnishes that McLogan did not carry anymore, we hung up promising to talk again soon. I did not assume I would ever hear from him again as I was used to getting a lot of those calls. We did not immediately become friends as he started out just being another caller asking questions and I did not hear from him again for some time. When he did call again, it was with news that he had abalone and pearl available and was working on other projects. I still have the sample chain of 1" squares of shell that arrived a few days later. Every call after that was both to ask me some "how to" question and also to tell me about some re-discovered technique, material or text. We became fast friends fast. In the early years of our friendship, I might go a year before hearing from him. I tried to get him to got to a Letterhead meet but he did not feel he was qualified or worthy or he was just shy. It wasn't until we met in person that our friendship was solidified.
In February 1986, the National Electric Sign Association was holding a regional convention at the Disneyland Hotel and I was going to be there demonstrating Chromatic paints and gold leaf. I had talked to Tod Swormstedt at ST and we decided to stay over a day or two and go meet Rick and see his shop and pearl manufacturing. I mentioned it to Noel Weber and he had planned to be in LA a week or so later so he would move his trip up and meet us there. Mark Oatis decided he and Rose could go out too and so did Dusty and June Yaxley. Everyone told someone else and it grew from there into the first Conclave with Rick's approval but also utter surprise that so many people wanted to meet him. Lola chided me again last month for coming to visit that first time and bringing 50 of my friends with me. It wasn't just that, they all became Rick's best friends too.
We have kept in touch in various ways over the last 26 years, sometimes as often as weekly but usually monthly. When I had a restoration project, he called every day to see how it was going, mostly to encourage but also to record the things that went right and those that went wrong. He also called everyday, sometimes twice a day, after I fell in '92 just to cheer me up. I'd call him daily when he had a project he was concerned about, sometimes two or three times a day. While my daughter, Cassi, was taking professional dance classes in Hollywood for a week, I would go with her. Her dance friends would make sure she got where she needed to be and she stayed with them up in the valley. I was close by if needed but I was at Fine Gold working/playing. I left work at home but I always could work for Rick. We did windows for Flakey Jakes, shields for Home Savings and always a location job in Hollywood or Beverly Hills and I slept off and on in the green chair next to the iguana. We shared so much working together. We were so much alike in our thirst for knowledge but he was the more avid researcher and learned so much more. We would start researching a topic together and before I knew it, he knew everything that could be known about it. One time he borrowed my Griffold #32 razor blade holder after I complained that they discontinued them. About two weeks later I received a box with not only my original by a replica as well. Making the things no one else would bother with and that he needed for his work, is how Esoteric Sign Supplies was started.
Both my girls called him Uncle Rick. He was there for them when they needed him and he was always interested in how they were doing with their lives. When Cassi was a Laker Girl, living in LA was difficult for a small town kid so she would use Rick as a resource for coping with the city. When Audri drove out with a friend to visit her sister, they stopped by the shop and not only did he recognize her but gave her such a hug, lifting her to his height, that she will never forget. Not only had he become a member of our Letterhead family but our personal one as well. Whenever we travelled for Chromatic or to give seminars or to got to a Letterhead meet, the hotel room phone would ring, "Hey Kent..." It got to the point that we would just fax a copy of our travel itinerary to him so he could save a call here to find out where we were. The calls were usually late. He had been working on something that wasn't drying or the colors were wrong or the leaf just didn't look right. He may have been searching for information all day and wanted to run what he had found by me to see if it made sense. I was in Buffalo, NY on a split weekend, at a NESA convention and ready to fly to Texas for a Letterhead meet for the other half. "Hey Kent, what do you know about Aqua Regia gilding process?" I knew you dissolved gold or silver in hydrochloric and nitric acid which could be re-deposited by adding a base, but that was the extent of that part of my chemistry knowledge. I had actually learned most of that from history studies of the Colorado gold rush. I had him call my school chum who was head of the chemistry department at the University of Colorado. The result of that conversation and was the redevelopment of angel gilding. I was always honored when he passed some new discovery by me. They are all too numerous to mention but I still feel a great honor for having been a small part of each one.
I have always missed him when I did not hear from him for a time and I would call. I miss him so much now I don't know what to do. I know I will not hear "Hey Kent..." again. I don't want to be selfish but I am as I feel such a deep void. I have talked to a lot of my other friends today, but it is not the same. My 9 year old granddaughter who knew Rick too, said yesterday that she had "a hole in my heart", so do we all. We will not know what the next discovery would be. But now we must all apply ourselves and carry on what was the epitome of the Letterhead ideal. Seeking knowledge and the improvement of the craft as well as keeping the traditions alive is now up to us. Rick challenged us in life to follow his example and that challenge is even stronger today.
Fairwell my friend, my brother, God speed.
-------------------- Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio P.O.Box 2385, Estes Park, CO 80517-2385 kent@smithsignstudio.com Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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OLD ... ... Airplane down. Grab baggage. Get rental car. Baggage in trunk. Toss "kit", if a few brushes can be called that, into passenger seat. I'll need those. OK -- 405 south. Wish I had opted for Orange County airport. .. ... ... There's the exit. Check the time. Seven AM. Hope I'm not late. Check the neighborhood. Brief flashback to prior years. Really looks good. Better every year. I remember when it was scary. Has it REALLY been 18 years? ... ... Lucky break. Park by the church. Grab the kit. Ring bell. Try knob. Door is OPEN! Hug Sue. Get nametag. Open tab. Hug 14 people on the way in. Claim space. Park kit. Checkin with Lola. Say Hi to Rick. Now -- go to the back to see what's been happening.
NEW ... ... Flight arrives. Huge airport. Get the baggage. Now go back and ... ... No, oneway doors ... Go OUT. Catch a bus. Get the rental car. Check directions to Wilmington. Did I IMAGINE that look? OK, He said the 405. Straight shot. Let's go ... ... Long drive ... ... Exit here. Worldport Hotel. Not the Ritz. Seems ok. Dennys next door. Not too bad. Checkin. Unpack portfolio, registration confirmation, and project. What will I do without my kit!?! Check watch. 4pm. Not too bad. Get directions at the desk. Really IS close. ... ... "Interesting" neighborhood. Maybe I am lost. Check the address. Right street. Drive by. Find building. PINK. In this neighborhood? Must be BRAVE. ... Around the block. LOOK at THOSE WINDOWS! MUST be THE place. ... Around the block. Street parking. ... ... 3 blocks away. Leave project in car? Might be stolen. Carry it in? Might be mugged. WAIT !!! This guy is FAMOUS! Must be my imagination. TAKE project. Leave portfolio. With THOSE windows. Does EVERYONE here do this kind of work? Walk FAST. ... ... Try knob. LOCKED! Brief panic. Wrong place? Wrong weekend? Check window. Ring bell. Door opens. Name? Pre-registered? Tab? No - I prepaid. Oh, well, couldn't hurt. Maybe I'll want a T-shirt or something. Projects in the "other" room. Slow progress. Want to see the showroom. OH MY -- look at the "other" room ... ... ...
Prior years "entertainment" includes theft, police chases, REAL problems with laser toys, even a burning church. Why then DO we (old or new) come? Feel honored by the invite? Because when we have a question, when a supply line disappears, when our materials go awry -- WE call(ed) RICK. Rick was the guru and THIS was Mecca.
-------------------- Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio P.O.Box 2385, Estes Park, CO 80517-2385 kent@smithsignstudio.com Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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Rick and I bonded very quickly back in 1988 at Ricky Jackson's meet in Warner Robins, GA. Our paths have crossed numerous times since then and it is like he was a family member.... because he WAS! And, to hear how Lola saved him from near self destruction and raised him to be the fine man he turned out to be is a story in itself.
Yes, he will be sorely missed by many.
-------------------- John Smith Kings Bay Signs (Retired) Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 817 | From: Central Florida - The Sunshine State | Registered: Jan 2000
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I just wrote this in an email to Kent but I had to share it with the rest of you...
My 5 year old daughter Samantha asked me why I was going to LA on Monday so I showed her Rick's pictures and "explained" to her that he had died. She was at the Conclave with me last month so she rememered him well. I told her that Lola was very sad so that I was going to LA to see her. She scampered away and started writing something. She just came in with a paper that says - Dear Lola, I know that you are very sad. My mom will cheer you up. Love, Samantha
Then she asked me to print out the picture of Rick and Lola that I showed her. I asked her why and she told me that she wanted to cut it out, glue it to the note and color gold all around it like Rick put on things.
Gotta tell you, it was all I could do to smile and keep the tears from my eyes.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Rick was a giant with a gentle heart. Everytime I met him he would give me a hug that enveloped my whole body and transmitted the warmth of loving soul. I don't remember a time when he wasn't smiling. And it wasn't just a grin, it was as if he knew something that the rest of us didn't - a secret. Of course, he did have a secret. He knew the value of a person's life and how each one of us is important, and so he treated us all as very important, whether we were or not.
I don't know how much money Rick had, but I do know that he was rich. He gave freely of his most prized possession - time. For those who inquired, he focused his attention upon them and gave whatever he had inside freely, without any indication that there were strings attached. Countless people are a little better at their craft today because Rick took the time to explain a solution to their problem.
Not a lot of people know of Rick's background, but it is not especially pretty. A gracious lady named Lola literally saved him and for thirty years became his "mother" and best friend. None of us can know how terribly torn she is right now.
Rick learned a valuable lesson along his way that few find and even fewer live: people are more important than things. His unselfish nature automatically drew you to him. It was never about Rick, but always about you. He was the shy giant that was happiest when you were in the spotlight. It was not uncommon to see him in the shadows, quietly teaching, and at the same time discovering.
I believe that Rick's greatest asset was found in his assurance that this world was not his home. Although his time with us was terribly short and we all wish that he were still with us and would be with us for a long time to come, he understood that he was not designed for a existence in a imperfect place. There are many of us that believe in the "good news", but Rick was one of the few that lived it everyday. He was a preacher, but his sermon was not words, but a gentle life focused upon others.
This world did not overcome Rick. He was not angered by the petty or confused by those whose motive was selfish. His standard was higher and his goal beyond what most of us seek.
I, like so many others, have lost a great friend. There is a strange feeling inside me today that I do not like. In time, we will adjust our lives and the days will fall back into a normalcy, but there will always be a void that cannot be filled. There will never be another Rick Glawson. And aren't we glad? He was unique. He was Rick.
For Lola: there are no words that can help right now, but when you read over the comments made by so many in the days to come I hope that you will be comforted. Over the miles, the love of so many reach out to you because it was impossible to think of Rick without thinking of Lola.
P.S. I have been asked to conduct the memorial for Rick on Monday. I earnestly solicit your prayers for me that I may handle a tremendous task honorably.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I wish I had met this Man, they Call Rick. What wonderful tributes, I feel that I do Know him, by reading these wonderful memories that you shared with us.
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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[QUOTE P.S. I have been asked to conduct the memorial for Rick on Monday. I earnestly solicit your prayers for me that I may handle a tremendous task honorably.[/QUOTE]
Ray if you do anything like the post you just wrote you wont need any prayers, but you asked so you shal recieve.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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These are wonderful words for a wonderful guy. Raymond, you hit the nail on the head in your first sentence. He treated us all like we were SOMEBODY. I don't think any of our phone conversations ever lasted less than an hour. He was the ultimate source of info and never hesitated to share.
After seeing how many lives he touched, maybe Letterville could come up with some sort of appropriate memorial. Any ideas out there?
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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I love this little saying that is printed on this year's Conclave t-shirts...
A bag of Rick's Tricks, somewhere is hidden. High on a shelf, where the good stuff is kept. It's all in there...except what wood-knot-fittin. Somewhere, upthere where the Ole' Cat slept.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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I cannot add any more elequent words than Kent or Raymond have already written, I know that not only is there a hole in my heart but there is a void in the whole Letterhead Spirit that will never be filled. Rick was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word who shared everything that he knew and always had time for the unending questions we had for him. A true craftsman has been lost who has left a legacy that will not be forgotten. Rick truly kept the spirit alive in all of us. My best thoughts Raymond, it will be tough. Peace, Gary Anderson
-------------------- Bloomington Design Gary Anderson Bloomington, IN Posts: 15 | From: Bloomington, IN USA | Registered: Apr 2001
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Speaking of whatever it is on that high shelf . . .
At this year's Conclave Rick asked me if I could reach up and get something down for him. (!?) I looked up there and saw it was way out of my reach. I said, "No, it's safe from me. Isn't that the point?" he just laughed.
None of us will ever reach his height, in more ways than that one.
Posts: 1859 | From: / | Registered: Nov 1998
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Raymond, .... your words will flow from the heart as paint flowing from the brush. You are up for the task and God will help the feelings flow. Rick was a great man and a great friend..... and you are as fine a man to stand for him as anyone could pick. Stand tall Ray,.... and GodSpeed Rick
-------------------- Harry (Chris) Malicoat Malicoat Artistry 3241 N. Marks #116 Fresno, Ca 93722 Posts: 7 | From: Fresno, CA | Registered: Mar 2003
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It's Friday evening down under in Sydney, and I have just opened my emails after a very busy week. Ricksax sent me a note, just in case I had not heard, telling me of the passing of our, meaning the whole of the sign community, good friend and mentor. It is times like this that make me realise how far I am from my good friends. Of all the things I miss in the U.S.A. it's a meeting of Letterheads, of the kind of sharing and enthusiasm so many, like Rick Glawson have. So many things will remind all of us of this wonderful man, the way gold flitters float to the floor, an old apothocary jar, and even the thought of eating one of those peppers from behind his shop. How he held court at his desk in the small hours of the morning at the few conclaves I was able to attend. How everyone there would join in and share what they knew, and how He listened as well. He was an amazing man, and a most kind spirit. We, even those who never met him, either face to face or by other means of communication, are better professionals beacause of him. He will be remembered.
-------------------- Bill'n'Annie Davidson Heathcote, NSW, Aus. my Aussie wife, a Toohey's Old, my Holden Ute, Retired from the rat race! Posts: 309 | From: Heathcote, NSW, Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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"I don’t know what to say". If I had a nickel for every time I’ve been told that in the last month I could retire, and here I sit, and I don’t know what to say. I’ll start by saying thank you to all who have said such wonderful things about such a wonderful human who meant more to me than he will ever know, and you’ve said it all more eloquently than I could. I sat here last night and cried like a baby for over an hour reading your tributes, and to those who knew him and those who are just getting to, you all have my deepest sympathy. Steve and Barb always said they’d get me on here, I never dreamt this would be why.
I’ve been doing a lot of coulda shoulda wouldas lately. Things I should have said to my father, my brother and now to Rick. Seems ironic that I’ve been planning to call Rick and Lola just to see if they had any special advice for me in gilding the monogram I’ve designed for my brother’s granite headstone. Of course advice was quite often a thinly veiled excuse just to talk to two of the sweetest, kindest most patient and gentle people I have ever had the honour to call friends.
I first met them at a letterhead meet in Independence Ohio, about 1987. I was a babe in sign candy land and my head was spinning all weekend with all that gold on glass and Atkinson reproductions, then I found a portfolio with abalone trains, restored antique reverse glass signs and stuff I didn’t understand, but it came with a sweetheart named Lola and a huge piece of patience named Rick to explain it all. I have to confess, I didn’t understand a bit of it, but the passion rubbed off and that’s a pretty good start. The introduction of Angel gilding and the purchase of a kit and some chipping glue at a subsequent meet got me invited to the conclave in 1989 and I brought my brother along for company. The following year I brought my fiancee along for a romantic pre honeymoon week of early mornings and late nights at Fine Gold Sign. How could she say no after that?
Sadly, due to distance our relationship has been mostly over the phone, and anyone who ever phoned Rick knows it would have been cheaper to just fly to California and ask him in person if you had a question. I was telling Doug Bernhardt the other day of one such call, and for the life of me , I can’t remember what I called to ask but before the day was done we had covered several centuries and had mined whiting from the famous white cliffs of Dover, cuz ya know, that’s where the best and finest comes from. One thing I do know is the question had nothing to do with whiting, but the phone bill did delay the purchase of a house for a long time, and future simple questions nearly required a second mortgage. I loved that about him, I’d ask a question and run out of time for an answer before he ran out of patience giving me one.
A call came in on my house phone tonight after business hours that honoured and humbled me, but mostly says a lot about Rick’s legacy. It was from a customer of our supply company. He said he barely knew Rick but was offering to help pay for my ticket to attend Rick’s funeral. When I asked why he said it was because he had learned so much from Rick through information that had passed through us. How I wish I could remember even a small fraction of what Rick taught me over the years in lessons, anecdotes and Glawsonisms. Like many others, I suggested he write a book so his knowledge would not be lost. His reply? Too busy learnin’ stuff, besides, that’s what I’m tellin’ you for. YIKES!!!! I wish I could live up to his expectations.
He’ed blush to hear me say this but I’ll say it anyway. Rick, don’t ever fall off that pedestal we’ve got you on, it’s a long way down and you’ll break both legs when you hit.
In the words of that great Canadian philosopher Red Green I find a phrase that sums up that big kid Rick’s attitude about life, "can’t help gettin’ old, don’t haffta grow up!
Hope to see you again someday, buddy, Pete
p.s. At some future letterhead meet would one of you Americans do me favour and yell out "Hey Anguish, say out and about in a boat". I’d love to hear that just one more time, cuz as all canucks know, it’s you Americans that have the funny accent, eh?
Jeez, for a guy that didn’t know what to say I’m running on like Jay Allen at a microphone but I have to add that never have the words "Behind every great man stands a great woman" been truer. Thanks Lola, for sharing him with us, and I hope my kids get to meet their other Gramma someday, Gramma Fine Gold.
Pete Payne Willowlake Design Bayfield ON. N0M1G0
Opps see Marj's Post under Robert Beverly's post sorry I'm new a this MP
-------------------- Pete Payne Willowlake Design/Canadian Signcrafters Bayfield, ON
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