While attending Jacksonville University, I received a call from Jimmy Moore (the other half of the Brass section of Mouse, the Boys and Brass) on Christmas night 1966. Jimmy told me this popular local band wanted to try out a new sound by adding 2 trumpets to the group. I said I would be interested and looked forward to the opportunity. We practiced for a few days, then played our first "gig" (I believe it was at the Cedar Hills Armory). The band and the crowd loved the sound and it seemed to be an instant success. We only played in a half dozen songs at first, but after a few weeks, we had added horns to a number of existing songs the band was playing and we added a lot more to our song list.

After enjoying five years of hard work, long hours, a lot of fun and success, I decided to leave the band in 1972 and got a real job working for Texaco. The first thing my boss said was to get a haircut for my employee file.

After a couple years in Jacksonville, I transferred to the Ft. Lauderdale distribution terminal as Office Manager. In my pursuit to reach the top, I transferred to Atlanta Regional Office and on to Texaco USA headquarters in Houston in 1978 where I currently reside with my family.

In 1980 I moved into the Product Supply and Trading Department as a trader for Texaco gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuels and worked my up the ladder to become Manager of Product Trading in 1989 for Star Enterprise (a subsidiary of Texaco).

In 1998 Texaco, Star Enterprise and Shell Oil formed an alliance of refining, marketing and supply in the U.S. At that point I got back into trading gasoline in the New York Harbor and Chicago areas. After a couple of years of trading, I accepted a position as Product Supply Manager for the Shell brand responsible for product (gasoline, diesel and jet fuel) supply and demand balancing in the US Gulf Coast and Northeast.

On the personal side I was married to the former Janet Bomar (Forrest High School) on April 4, 1975 and have three sons, two daughter in laws and one granddaughter.

John was born in Jacksonville and, at age 39, is married and has my only granddaughter. He is employed as an area manager for HD Supply (a former subsidiary of Home Depot). John and wife Shannon and daughter Hailey (age 9) live in Tomball TX.

Philip was born in Atlanta and, at age 31, is married and a graduate of Texas A&M University. Philip is employed by one of the pipeline companies in Houston as a pipeline scheduler for products from the US Gulf Coast to the Chicago area. Philip and wife Ashley live in Cypress TX.

Brandon was born in Houston and, at age 28, is single and a graduate of Texas A&M. Brandon is employed as Golf Course Superintendent at Southwyck Golf Club located in Pearland TX. 

I have enjoyed my years with Texaco, Star Enterprise and Shell Oil Company but nothing can compare with the fun that I had playing in the band from 1967 to 1972. We had some tough times along the way and we spent many hours together in the practice hall, on the road, in the recording studio and performing. I will never forget the friendship and camaraderie we developed over those years. All of the guys feel like brothers to me. It is so great that we are all in good health and have been able to come together to perform in two reunion concerts in 2003 (Riverside Women's Club) and 2005 (The Pavilion). I am looking forward to the next time we can all get together and to see all of our old friends and fans.

Frank's Mailbox