9 minute read
Community
University Park crews spent about a year and a half restoring a 1925 American LaFrance fire engine/pumper. University Fire Chief Randy Howell drove the vintage truck in the Park Cities Fourth of
Advertisement
July Parade. (PHOTOS: COURTESY CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK AND CADE HAMNER)
1920s-ERA FIRE ENGINE/PUMPER RETURNED TO UNIVERSITY PARK
City staff spends year-plus restoring truck, replacing engine, brakes
By Rachel Snyder
rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com
Achance encounter at a conference for firefighters prompted a 1925 American LaFrance fire engine/pumper’s return to the city of University Park in 2021.
After a restoration process that took more than a year, it rolled through town again for the Park Cities Fourth of July parade this year.
“I couldn’t help but wonder as we were pulling off Central Expressway onto Mockingbird Lane if the pumper was taking in the sites of the community it served nearly 100 years ago,” fire chief Randy Howell said.
The city of University Park first bought the fire engine/pumper as a replacement for its first one, destroyed fighting a dormitory fire on SMU’s campus. The new (at the time) engine/pumper remained in use until sold at auction in the late 1930s.
The late Bobby Ramsey, a former assistant chief with Travis County Fire Control and fire equipment aficionado who owned a 1952 Seagraves pumper himself, found University Park’s 1920s-era pumper years later stored in an airplane hangar at an old military base.
I couldn’t help but After Ramwonder as we were pulling sey died in the early 2000s, the off Central Expressway Jollyville, Texas onto Mockingbird fire department bought both Lane if the pumper was pumpers from taking in the sites of the his family for use in parades and community it served other communinearly 100 years ago. ty events. Jollyville Fire Randy Howell Chief Brad Landi investigated the history of the 1925 pumper, contacted LaFrance, and learned it was built for the city of University Park.
University Park spokeswoman Paige Ruedy said Robert Behrens refurbished the pumper with his money while the Jollyville Fire Department still owned it. The Jollyville Fire Department initially planned to sell it to a fire museum, but plans began for it to come back to University Park after Landi spoke with UPFD assistant chief Scott Green at a conference.
University Park bought the pumper in February of 2021. The city’s equipment services division began work, including equipping the pumper with a modern braking system and refurbished engine ahead of the parade.
Fourth of July Coloring Book Contest Winners
Recently, our daughter moved from Texas to Utah. We were crushed that she planned to take our only grand children, 2-year-old twins with her. Out of appreciation for our years of dedicated service as parents, MICHELE VALDEZ we expected our grown Rugrat would always stay close so we can see her Rugrats grow up. How could she trade the best grandparents ever and the flatlands of Texas for majestic mountains, dry heat, and endless outdoor activities?
As we pined away for the precious pups, we were thrilled when our daughter asked us to tend the twins for three days while she moved into a new home. In a snap, we booked flights, rented an SUV, car seats, and a VRBO close to a park. We made grand plans to visit the zoo, the aquarium, playgrounds, and waterparks. By the end of the visit, our diapered divas would be begging for Mimi and Papa to stay forever.
On the plane to Salt Lake City, I browsed through Zillow listings for small condos in the area. Surely my husband, the pleaser, would gladly work a few more years so that we could buy a third home to share the same zip code with our 529 account beneficiaries.
The visit, in a word, was exhausting. We had never babysat this dynamic duo for more than one night, and three nights was two, too many. We were beat. Feeding, changing, playing, and entertaining were never ending. I began to pray for naptime so we could get a break. How did we survive raising our own kids and working full time so many years ago? I counted down the hours until we returned our bubbly babies. I was glad I hadn’t mentioned the Zillow search.
Three days felt like a lifetime with our granddaughters. Yet, when it came time to drop them off, my emotions swung like a pendulum. I found myself missing them before we had even taken them out of their car seats. Like a video, my mind replayed the scenes of them pointing at “shocks” (sharks) at the aquarium, squealing with laughter as we chased them through the park, and imitating the roar of the lions at the zoo.
On the flight home, I once again found myself searching Salt Lake City real estate on Zillow.
Michele Valdez, a slightly compulsive, mildly angry feminist, hasbeen attorney, and volunteer, has four demanding adult children and a patient husband.
SELLING PREMIER URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS
Meet the experts in Park Cities & Preston Hollow.
FOR SALE
ANI NOSNIK
PENDING
ANI NOSNIK & KYLE CREWS
FOR SALE
KYLE CREWS & TERRI COX
The URBAN Team (L to R): Robin Brock Webster, Sanders Avrea, Moriah Lovett McRae, Ani Nosnik, Kyle Crews, Mary Alice Garrison, Ashley LaRocca, Trey Bounds and Carla Johnson.
FOR SALE
TREY BOUNDS
Not intended as solicitation of properties currently listed with another broker. Information contained herein is believed to be correct but not guaranteed. O ering made subject to errors, omissions, change of price, prior sale or withdrawal without notice.
By Karen Chaney
Special Contributor
In 2011, Ashley Yablon started working his “dream job” as general counsel at Dallas-area telecommunications company ZTE USA.
But soon, the dream took a tragic turn and landed him in his worst nightmare.
“They (ZTE) were under investigation right when I started my dream job,” Yablon said. “They wanted me to lie to our government […] and wanted me to further a crime by shredding all documents and make me the fall guy.”
The documents pertained to ZTE buying products from United States component manufacturers and then “illegally selling them to embargoed countries like Iran, Iraq, Syria,” he said. “What I stumbled upon was a contract between ZTE and the country of Iran where they were selling hundreds of millions of dollars of spying technology.”
After giving the FBI a 32-page affidavit of what he observed at ZTE, the story leaked, and “my whole career was over,” he said.
In April, Brown Books published Yablon’s account of what happened.
The book’s title is Standing Up To China: How a Whistleblower Risked Everything for His Country, because the Chinese government runs ZTE, he explained. “I wasn’t standing up to ZTE; I was standing up to China.”
Some events described in his book happened in and around the Park Cities, such as when a Chinese person driving a 1960s yellow checkered taxi tailed his now exwife, who was walking the dog to Germany Park, Yablon said. She doubled back, running at “a full sprint, and the car is coming right behind her. She runs up the steps to the house, and the car zips off.”
Incidents like that and death threats sent Yablon into hiding.
Yablon said his lawyer told the FBI, “You’ve ruined Ashley’s life. […] They’re going to kill him. No one is ever going to hire Ashley because who wants this guy, the whistleblower who brought down a company?”
The FBI responded that he’d already be dead if this involved the Mexican or Russian mafia.
“I jumped up and said, ‘Is that supposed to make me feel better?’” Yablon said. “They awkwardly laughed and said, ‘No.’ That’s when they offered witness protection.”
Yablon said these circumstances took an enormous toll on him emotionally, physically, financially, and in his relationships.
“I can’t say the word ‘settlement,’ but I ended up resolving the issue with ZTE,” he said. “People think I must have made millions of dollars. No. I made just enough money to pay back all my lawyers and friends that I borrowed from and immediately had to go back to work.”
Yablon sees his story as a cautionary tale. “What the book is really about is standing up and doing the right thing in the face of losing everything,” he said.
CHECK IT OUT
Standing Up To China: How a Whistleblower Risked Everything for His Country
By Ashley Yablon $27.95 ashleyyablon.com
Ashley Yablon says people liken his book to a John Grisham novel, “but it’s actually true. I think anyone who likes thrillers, then this book is for
you.” (PHOTO: COURTESY ASHLEY YABLON)
A LIFE WELL LIVED. A LIFE WELL EARNED.
Experience luxury living, exceptional hospitality and first-class care at Belmont Village. Through collaboration with top healthcare institutions and universities, our evidence-based health and wellness programs keep seniors thriving.
BelmontVillage.com/TurtleCreek | 214-306-7687
Original Ideas. Proven Results.
Growing up in the Park Cities and with over 20+ years of real estate experience, I can provide historical perspective on the market to help you successfully navigate market fluctuations. If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, reach out. I’ll provide you with the best solutions for today’s market!
Experience. Service. Results.
214.454.1128 | christopher.mcguire@compass.com
All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate, but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity.
