The Web site was basically down for two years, so many things that happened during 2019 and 2021 (beside the Covid crisis) did not get recorded on our Web Site when they happened. Unfortunately this was one of them.

I first met Bill at the “History of Hero’s” event which was held in Bakersfield on April 27th 2007. He showed up with his cameras; told us that was a real fan of the LRDG and ask permission to take “a lot of photos”. Which he did and then shared them with me.

We then keep in touch via emails and phone calls. As he lived in Lucerne Valley. We then came together at the “Marching through History” in Chino on Oct. 4th 2007. At this time he had become the “official” Photographer, and was a member of S-Patrol and took over 1500 photos of that event.

We then participated in the California Historical Groups desert battle in Stoddard Valley; on April 16th 2010. Unfortunately my Jeep “crapped out” and I didn’t have my fitter with me. But we managed to get a few photos of Bill in Kim Calvert’s Jeep.

We again met up at the 2010 “Marching through History” event where this time he not only to photos but some movies with his period cameras.

All of this time; he kept acquiring items that would have been used by the “Survey Section” of the LRDG. Hauling all of his gear in his van and trailer, and at that time always suffering with chronic back pain. He would dutifully set up his display with the S- Patrol at many “Planes of Fame” yearly that I was not able to attend, but always provided me with many photos of their activities.

William was a unique individual. Truly one of a kind. During his career he worked at The Mercury Nevada Nuclear Test Site; looking for radiation caused anomalies in small mammals, The City of Hope in Heart Research, and Cardiac Model Making, and The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Marine Mammal Fisheries Division, as a Researcher, Videographer, and Defender of Dolphins.

One of his favorite adventures was a month’s long photo Safari in Namibia. His work took him throughout Central and South America, and Ports of Call like Hawaii and Samoa. He had a passion for photography and the Deserts. He will always be missed by the members of S-Patrol and all of us here at the LRDG Preservation Society.

I usually have good news and report with some photos of this year’s events. But on this date I lost one of my best friends; Rick Butler, who succumbed to my wishes in building a LRDG truck, has passed away. I have known him longer than I have been married (50 years); in fact he was the best man at our wedding.

If you look at some of the photos on these many pages you will find him and me at some of the many events that we participated in over these years. Over these past few years his health had deteriorated to the point where he was unable to bring the truck to any events.

It was one of the deciding factors in my decision to donate the T-8 truck to the Eagle Field Foundation (which was accomplished this November).

Thanks for your continued support - Jack, Kim, and all of the members of the LRDG Preservation Society

The LRDG Preservation Society has lost a Life Member, a strong supporter and a true personal friend.

George passed away on Sunday Sept 2nd after bout with cancer. I have looked back to when I first met George; he had come up to our LRDG Truck display back in 1994 at the Great Western Gun Show and he had ask if he could “hang out with us”, as he had always been a real fan of the Long Range Desert Group.

Since that time he had become a great personal friend and supporter of my efforts with the LRDG Preservation Society. The Great Western was twice a year event until it was discontinued back in 1999. George lived in Palm Desert so consequently we only got together a few times each year but kept in contact via e-mails and the telephone.

After the Great Western was cancelled he joined us at many other different events over the years. In 2004 he met us in Las Vegas for the Veteran’s Day Parade and was my “Gunner” in my newly acquired LRDG Jeep.

Again in 2006 he came and spent a week at our guest house and we did two events back to back; the Castroville “Artichoke” Parade, where it decided to pour buckets on us just as the parade ended, and we drove home (30 miles) in the rain (with no top). And the following week we did the Watsonville Air Show; the weather was much better, cold driving in an open vehicle but at least it was not raining on us.

Then in April of the following year (2007) we went south and little closer to George’s stomping grounds, to the “History of Heroes” in Bakersfield event. It was there that we met Bill Irwin (from Lucerne Valley) and Javier Villalobos (from Ensenada).

The year 2008 was a busy one for all of us as we got together three times. The “crème de la crème” was in Jan 2008 when we spent four days at Dumont Dunes doing a promotional video for the Author Steven Pressfield for his book “Killing Rommel”. I just couldn’t believe how cold it was during the nights we camped out there. But during the day as we were standing around waiting for our “curtain calls” it wasn’t too bad. Then after the shoot we went up to China Date Ranch to get our own shots of the vehicles in an “Oasis” with “palm trees around”.

That same year he again caught up with us at the MVCC meet in Lodi in April and then in August he flew into Portland, Or. for the MVPA Convention in where he helped setup our display and then help carry off all of our hard won awards.

In 2009 we managed to get together twice; once again he came to Monterey in May for the Castroville Artichoke Parade (the weather was much better that year) and then in Oct. Rick and I brought both vehicles down to the LA area for the Marching Thru History event.

We only managed to get together once in 2010 and that was at the California Historical Groups Desert Battle at Stoddard Valley in April; where he had to tow my jeep back to the trailer when it “crapped out” with carburetor trouble. I think it was at that event that he and I decided that we were the oldest “duffers” there.

He made the Chino Air Show with Kim and the rest of S-Patrol in May of 2011 but I wasn’t able to attend. I think that he left early as he wasn’t feeling well and that was part of his losing bout with cancer.

I am especially glad that George took the time back in 1994 to come forward to just “hang out with us” for all of these years.

Your Friend Always

Jack - LRDG Preservation Society

Over the years; since I started the LRDG Preservation Society, every now and again, someone shows up with enough interest in the LRDG to really want to participate in some of the activities.

Ray Mayeri was one of those people, he really was a bigger fan of Popski (and his Private Army), and even wrote a Screen Play for a possible movie (which I still have). But since I was the only action in town; we became great friends.

We met sometime during 2005 and he first joined me on a “Poker Run” during the 2005 Cherries Jubilee Event.

He continued to be my “gunner” and navigator for a number of different events.

And was even brave enough to ride with Rick while he was driving around the Laguna Seca race track at race car speeds.

Unfortunately we lost him much too soon, as he died suddenly after some minor elective surgery.

Obituary

Well if you’re reading this; I guess my time on this earth has expired. I have gone to join my ancestors in the hereafter; preceded by my father Frank in 1972, my mother Rose in 2000 and my sister Maxine in 2016. I always wanted to go in my sleep, but God decided it would be congestive heart failure.

My family was able to be with me when I passed. Brad (Elizabeth) and their three boys (James – wife Devon, Sean & Craig) live in New Hampshire. Petrina (Bill Riso) and their two children Portia (Cameron & Children Kash & Avery Kay) in Nevada and Anthony (Michel’le) in Idaho. Andrea lives in Seattle and Nicholas (Lupe) live in the bay area. One thing I know for sure is my wife of 55 years, LaDonna, was surely by my side as she has always been a loving, faithful wife and companion. Jack passed away peacefully at home on the morning of November first, 2022; All Saints Day.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I grew up in a small town (Natrona Heights) up the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh. I went to the same parochial school (St. Joseph) in Natrona for 12 years, and graduated in 1956. I then went on to Pharmacy School at Duquesne University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy, graduating in 1960.

Working as a Registered Pharmacist in the Pittsburgh area for about a year, I then took the California State Pharmacy exam, passed, and came to California to make my fortune…. I had some very good employers the first few years working here in the Monterey Bay Area. Some may be familiar; David Silver at Midway Drug now gone; John Kinn at Fairway Pharmacy also now gone.

Gaining experience in my field, I formed a partnership with Pharmacist Jerry Abbanat, and we bought Park Pharmacy in Paso Robles in 1966. Since I was single at the time and he was married with two children and a home here, I moved to Paso Robles to manage and run that operation.

In June of 1967 I married LaDonna M. Anderson in Paso Robles who I had met here in Monterey. The year before -- also in October -- Jerry and I bought Ordway Pharmacy in Monterey. Eventually selling the Paso Robles Store, Donna and I moved back to Monterey to assist Jerry in the running of Ordway. Let me say this: Jerry has always been the greatest partner anyone could have had for all these years. More like a brother that I never had. I may not have made a fortune in California but he was very instrumental in making all of our ventures profitable and I have never missed a meal.

We expanded our business by buying several pharmacies in the Santa Cruz area and one at Lake Tahoe, and took on a new partner (Vince J. Cardinale – like another brother I never had) to manage and run that long-distance store. During the “Urban Renewal” of downtown Monterey, we made a proposal to the City to build the Paseo de Alvarado Building, hoping to move the Ordway Pharmacy into larger quarters. The building should still be standing but our plans for the Pharmacy never materialized. Instead we became landlords. Later we bought the old American Savings & Loan building at the entrance of Alvarado St. and moved Ordway Pharmacy to that location.

It’s possible that you may have seen me driving a WW II Jeep in many of the local parades, with my trusted friend and “gunner” John Dick or seen me tooling around town in my 1964 Yellow Porsche that I had bought new in October 1963. Not any more as I’m done and God has other plans for me at this time.

I have had a good life and no complaints. There were not many things on my bucket list that did not get done. Scuba divining in the Monterey Bay in my younger life, got a pilot’s license later in life. A member of the Old Capital Lions Club for over 50 years, life member of the NRA and the Military Vehicle Collectors of California. Enjoying many hobbies during my retirement. Wishing all of my relatives, friends and acquaintances much love, a fond farewell and only the best wishes. May we meet sometime in the not too near (for you) future.