Blog 55 – 6.22.15

As a Father’s Day tribute to my father, James Clifford White, aka Jake, December 21, 1923  – July 14, 1997, I offer the following story. My dad was a life long Union man who believed the little guy was entitled to a fair shake and that no matter how small or seemingly powerless the little guy might look that the little guy has power.

When I was a teenager I borrowed the family car one night to visit my girlfriend at her aunt’s house. While I was inside someone ran their car into the back of the car which was parked on the street out front. I was scared Dad would be upset, he had quite a temper when riled, but he surprised me and took the news calmly. The car was drive able but Dad took it the next day to Forest Cate Ford to have the body repaired.

They kept it several days and did the body and paint work and Dad’s insurance paid the bill. But dad was not happy with the work. The body panels no longer lined up and the paint job was nothing like the factory paint. First dad tried to talk to the dealership and got no satisfaction, then he wrote Ford Motor Company several letters and got no response. Well, Dad showed them the little guy does have power. He bought a set of painter’s racks used for carrying ladders atop a car, and installed them on the roof of the car. And then he built a large white sign and attached it to the racks.

On both sides of the sign in bold black letters he hand painted, “This lousy body work was done by Forest Cate Ford.” We drove that car with the sign on top for about a year before dad was satisfied he had made his point and gotten satisfaction. I am sure Forest Cate Ford lost business due to my dad’s sign and wished that they had tried harder to please that customer.

The owner Mr. Cate was blind and even had his seeing eye dog in his TV spots made to advertise his dealership. Someone once ask my dad, “Aren’t you ashamed of making trouble for a blind man.” And daddy without missing a beat replied, “Nope, from the looks of that lousy body work he must have done it himself.” We were all ashamed to drive the car except dad. He taught Forest Cate Ford and us a great lesson. He gave them a chance to make it right but just because your are not rich or well known it doesn’t mean you are powerless Like another super hero I knew as a young man my daddy used his power such as it was to fight for truth, justice and the American way.

I’d miss you more daddy but you are so much a part of me I feel you with me always.
Thanks for standing tall. You will always be my hero.

Your fellow traveler, Jake White’s boy,
David White