I found this great picture in my mom's photo collection this month. Another great Dixon family portrait!
Showing posts with label Jim and Lois Dixon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jim and Lois Dixon. Show all posts
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Handsome Young Men
When I first saw these pictures, I immediately recognized Uncle Jim. Well, I was sure that it was Uncle Jim in one of the pictures. The other one looked just a little bit stuffy and older... maybe it wasn't Uncle Jim?
Of course, it was my grandfather George Dixon! This is now the oldest picture of him that I have seen.
These are a couple of pictures from the collection of one of our Albion relatives. Probably Faye or Margaret Ruth. I'll have to check on that... it was a busy day in Albion!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
The Marriage of Jim and Lois Dixon
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After a five month engagement, Jim Dixon and Lois Schildmeier were married on a Friday evening, January 26, 1951. The ceremony was performed by the Reverend Franklin in the Noble Street Methodist Church parsonage. Honor attendants were Jerry Oaks and Barbara Mills. The only family in attendance was both sets of parents -- George & Della Dixon and Herbert and Bernice Schildmeier.
The story has always been told that George had to "sign for Jim" giving permission for him to marry since he was not yet 20 years old -- by a week! (Uncle Don may be able to shed some light on the issue of "why" the restriction at that time.)
A small reception was held after the ceremony at George & Della's home. (Interesting note: Uncle Don did not hang around because he had to go to an Anderson Indians basketball game.)
Jim borrowed George's car to travel to Cincinnati for a weekend honeymoon. The weather was very bad and travel was difficult. Lois says that while George & Della never said anything, she is sure they were worried and "glad to see their car come back safely".
For the first two years of their marriage Jim split his time between a small apartment in Anderson where Lois remained and finishing his degree at GMI in Flint.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
'cross Jim Dixon's Bridge
Wayne emailed documentation of one of the great golfing achievements of the Dixon family:
The first golf "experience" Michael (Hostetler) had with his Grandpa Jim occurred at Killbuck Golf Club in Anderson at age 5 or 6. While he had been previously introduced to the game with "custom made cut-down" clubs from Grandpa, this was the first "course" outing. That alone would have made it memorable, but a single event on the back nine made it legendary -- at least in the Dixon family.
The 13th Hole (413 yards, par 4) is bisected by the mighty Killbuck Creek (or ditch most days). The tee shot for "mere mortals" is "blind" -- usually a lay-up to the bottom of the hill followed by a 2nd shot to an elevated green. The creek crosses the fairway at the bottom of the hill. Spanning the creek at its widest point is a modest concrete bridge (about 8' wide and 12' long) without siderails.
Near the bridge stands a "dinner bell" mounted on a post. By pulling on the rope attached to the bell the golfer signals "all clear" to the group back on the tee -- it's safe to proceed. This being Michael's first official visit to Killbuck, Grandpa thought Michael would get a "kick" out of ringing the bell (which I'm sure he did). Michael rang the bell successfully (and without incident). However, when he got back in the cart Grandpa accelerated (some say launched) it across the bridge. Unfortunately, he crossed the bridge's width, and not its length, propelling the two of them into the creek. Fortunately upright and unhurt, but with all four wheels in the mud. As was his nature, Grandpa Jim was unflappable and took it all in stride.
Michael's biggest (and single) concern was what Killbuck's golf pro Butch Penry's reaction was going to be. Their round abruptly ended, Michael and Grandpa Jim hiked cross country back to the clubhouse to admit their "misfortune" to Butch. A log chain and a little muscle later things were back to normal. From that day forward the "Jim Dixon Bridge" always reminds us fondly of the good ol' days and the many wonderful rounds of golf that followed with Grandpa Jim.
I've actually crossed "Jim Dixon's Bridge", and hit a few balls into the aforesaid creek. I had not heard this story, but somehow when I read the word "siderails", I knew what was coming.
Here's a an aerial view:
View Larger Map
Note: Most of our golfing history will be added to this or the first post about our golfing history. Be sure to check for updates or comments added to these posts. However, I thought this merited a special feature.
The first golf "experience" Michael (Hostetler) had with his Grandpa Jim occurred at Killbuck Golf Club in Anderson at age 5 or 6. While he had been previously introduced to the game with "custom made cut-down" clubs from Grandpa, this was the first "course" outing. That alone would have made it memorable, but a single event on the back nine made it legendary -- at least in the Dixon family.
The 13th Hole (413 yards, par 4) is bisected by the mighty Killbuck Creek (or ditch most days). The tee shot for "mere mortals" is "blind" -- usually a lay-up to the bottom of the hill followed by a 2nd shot to an elevated green. The creek crosses the fairway at the bottom of the hill. Spanning the creek at its widest point is a modest concrete bridge (about 8' wide and 12' long) without siderails.
Near the bridge stands a "dinner bell" mounted on a post. By pulling on the rope attached to the bell the golfer signals "all clear" to the group back on the tee -- it's safe to proceed. This being Michael's first official visit to Killbuck, Grandpa thought Michael would get a "kick" out of ringing the bell (which I'm sure he did). Michael rang the bell successfully (and without incident). However, when he got back in the cart Grandpa accelerated (some say launched) it across the bridge. Unfortunately, he crossed the bridge's width, and not its length, propelling the two of them into the creek. Fortunately upright and unhurt, but with all four wheels in the mud. As was his nature, Grandpa Jim was unflappable and took it all in stride.
Michael's biggest (and single) concern was what Killbuck's golf pro Butch Penry's reaction was going to be. Their round abruptly ended, Michael and Grandpa Jim hiked cross country back to the clubhouse to admit their "misfortune" to Butch. A log chain and a little muscle later things were back to normal. From that day forward the "Jim Dixon Bridge" always reminds us fondly of the good ol' days and the many wonderful rounds of golf that followed with Grandpa Jim.
I've actually crossed "Jim Dixon's Bridge", and hit a few balls into the aforesaid creek. I had not heard this story, but somehow when I read the word "siderails", I knew what was coming.
Here's a an aerial view:
View Larger Map
Note: Most of our golfing history will be added to this or the first post about our golfing history. Be sure to check for updates or comments added to these posts. However, I thought this merited a special feature.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
James McClain Dixon
Jim and Lois Dixon (2003)
Uncle Jim.
He had snow white hair, perhaps even whiter than my grandfather's. (My dad inherited the wispy, mostly bald, hair pattern, but not the truly white look!) It looked great on my uncle Jim!
Uncle Jim was the tallest of the Dixon boys. I'm not sure if he was athletic. He didn't talk much about it if he was. I know he took up golf later in life and became obsessed for a time with the game. But what golfer isn't obsessed with the game?
After high school, Uncle Jim attended General Motors Institute, a college in Flint, Michigan operated by GM to train their engineers and managers. Uncle Don soon followed. Uncle Jim earned his BBA in 1953, making him our first college graduate. Uncle Don graduated in 1955. Uncle Jim was a Superintendent of Production Control for one of the Delco plants.
He worked for some time for his younger brother, my uncle Don, who was in charge of all of the Superintendents of Production Control for all of the plants in Anderson (title of General Superintendent of Materials Management, with office in the plant 1 HQ). Not many guys could work for their brother... let alone their younger brother. During those years, to the best of my young sense of things, they seemed like best friends. Uncle Jim and Uncle Don always seemed especially close. For a couple of years (I think), they even wintered together down by Fort Myers. I'm not sure that Aunt Lois didn't become the more serious golfer in the meantime. I wish I had made an effort to visit them more.
Uncle Jim had my grandfather's laugh. He really enjoyed laughing. He laughed like he couldn't control it once he got started. Uncle Don has a distinctive laugh also, but I think Uncle Jim's was more like Pappaw Dixon's.
Uncle Jim always asked me questions... even as a boy... about what was going on in my life. We would only see each other every two or three months, but he seemed to be interested in how I had been and what I'd been doing. Nobody else really ever did that in the same way.
He had snow white hair, perhaps even whiter than my grandfather's. (My dad inherited the wispy, mostly bald, hair pattern, but not the truly white look!) It looked great on my uncle Jim!
Uncle Jim was the tallest of the Dixon boys. I'm not sure if he was athletic. He didn't talk much about it if he was. I know he took up golf later in life and became obsessed for a time with the game. But what golfer isn't obsessed with the game?
After high school, Uncle Jim attended General Motors Institute, a college in Flint, Michigan operated by GM to train their engineers and managers. Uncle Don soon followed. Uncle Jim earned his BBA in 1953, making him our first college graduate. Uncle Don graduated in 1955. Uncle Jim was a Superintendent of Production Control for one of the Delco plants.
He worked for some time for his younger brother, my uncle Don, who was in charge of all of the Superintendents of Production Control for all of the plants in Anderson (title of General Superintendent of Materials Management, with office in the plant 1 HQ). Not many guys could work for their brother... let alone their younger brother. During those years, to the best of my young sense of things, they seemed like best friends. Uncle Jim and Uncle Don always seemed especially close. For a couple of years (I think), they even wintered together down by Fort Myers. I'm not sure that Aunt Lois didn't become the more serious golfer in the meantime. I wish I had made an effort to visit them more.
Uncle Jim had my grandfather's laugh. He really enjoyed laughing. He laughed like he couldn't control it once he got started. Uncle Don has a distinctive laugh also, but I think Uncle Jim's was more like Pappaw Dixon's.
Uncle Jim always asked me questions... even as a boy... about what was going on in my life. We would only see each other every two or three months, but he seemed to be interested in how I had been and what I'd been doing. Nobody else really ever did that in the same way.
Uncle Jim and Aunt Lois and their three children (Bruce, Kent and Tonia) lived in town at 1102 West 7th Street (near Madison Ave.) when the kids were young. When Bruce was in junior high, they moved to a house on Manchester Road, off of Rangeline and near Indiana 32 (across the river from the airport). Uncle Jim and Aunt Lois moved several times after the kids left home.
I remember that Uncle Jim was a leader in his church, first at Bethany Christian at Cross Street and Rangeline, and later at a new church over on Madison Avenue.
Uncle Jim retired early from Delco. He later volunteered at St. John's Hospital on a regular basis.
He died of lung cancer. I was home visiting dad and we went to go see him a few weeks before he passed. I know he was uncomfortable, but he was able to enjoy a few minutes of conversation. He was the first of George and Della's children to pass. Then Dad got sick and followed not too long after.
I remember that Uncle Jim was a leader in his church, first at Bethany Christian at Cross Street and Rangeline, and later at a new church over on Madison Avenue.
Uncle Jim retired early from Delco. He later volunteered at St. John's Hospital on a regular basis.
He died of lung cancer. I was home visiting dad and we went to go see him a few weeks before he passed. I know he was uncomfortable, but he was able to enjoy a few minutes of conversation. He was the first of George and Della's children to pass. Then Dad got sick and followed not too long after.
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