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SCI
DINNER A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
By: Ron
Wilson
July 31,
2003.... Jane and Harold Armstrong of Modesto recently invited members of
the California Central Valley
Chapter of Safari Club International (SCI) to a dinner at their home. We
were also going to get a first look at Harold's collection of trophies in
his brand new trophy room!
I
first met Harold many years ago at Arlie and Ella Whiteheads home. They
all were involved in contracting and Ella and Arlie were my uncle and
aunt.
Harold
got his start with them when he came out of the service; they soon became
friends and also spent many a hunting trip together.
Harold
could remember Arlie loading his two horses Elmer, a big gray stallion,
and Rookie, a beautiful long main Palomino mare, into the back of his
pickup truck with no sideboards. He would tie their reins to an “I”
bolt in the roof of the pickup and head out for the hills! Those horses
never once lost their balance and the roads weren’t all that great.
Those
horses had to have great balance because my uncle wasn’t the best
driver, and was a full-blooded Indian that loved to occasionally sip the
snakebite medicine!
 It
was an awesome sight to see that truck going down the road with those two
horses in the back. You could clearly see the knees of the horses above
the walls of the truck bed! I don't know what kept the horses from just
stepping over the side. Maybe it was the training; I know my uncle was
pretty good at training horses or maybe they just knew better!
As
you can see the evening was extra special for me, it brought back memories
from days gone by. Thank you Jane and Harold for sharing your memories and
reminding me of a few of my own!
Besides
the great conversation there was also the unveiling of Harold and Jane’s
new trophy room. They have a room full of memories that they can retreat
to. A room that will remind them of their world travels.
I
saw a full mount polar bear on its hind legs, a standing mount grizzly, a
wall full of shoulder and full body deer mounts, a magnificent moose, a
royal elk, several types of rams and several varieties of exotics from all
around the world.
A
beautiful full body 4-point buck mount being attacked by a Mountain Lyon
was another of many excellent mounts that we got to see, along with birds
of all types, including waterfowl, from around the world.
The
evening was another outstanding social event held by the California
Central Valley Chapter of the SCI.
I’m
still learning this new modern age of digital photography and my indoor
shots need a little more practice, but here are a few snapshots
of the trophy room that will give you an idea of how impressive the
Armstrong’s travels have been!
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