Darrell Carter has been a member of Branch 16 since 3-2-1985. Darrell was elected as president of Branch 16 in 1991 and served in that position through 1996. Then in 2003 he was appointed as Advisor to the North Central Region Director and still holds that appointment.
He has spent many hours working on different projects for branch 16 while he was president. One of his biggest things was hosting the 1996 National EDGETA show. This show was hosted by Branch 16 and The Ozarks Steam Engine Association of which Darrell is also a member. He has attended several National shows; Union Gap, WA in 1992, the Branch 15 show in Brooks, OR in 1995, Branch 16 show in 1996, Branch 28 Cabool, MO, The 4-Corners show in NM, Somerset, VA 2003, Santee Lakes, CA, Ozark, AR, Gentry, AR and Hutchinson, KS in 2008.
Darrell is Vice President of the Fair Grove Historical & Preservation Society which oversees the Wommack Mill. The Mill is an 1880’s vintage and he has spent many hours on this project. He operates a steam traction engine at the show and oversees a stationary boiler and engine that operates the 36 inch stone Buhr mill. Restoration is still in progress.
Darrell also spent many hours helping restore the Hulston Mill. This is another old mill that is west of Springfield, MO.
Darrell has several tractors, gas engines, a ¼ size steam traction engine and corn grinding equipment of which some will be seen at the Missouri State Fair, The Ozark Empire Fair in Springfield, MO and The New Farm Equipment show in Springfield, MO demonstrating the way our ancestors ground corn. He also will be found at times showing school children how corn meal and corn starch was made using the old equipment.
He is a member of an Antique and Vintage car club which he has a 1938 Hupmobile car, a 1928 International truck and a Studebaker car.
His life started out near the town of Medford, OK. As a small boy he remembers his Dad purchasing a new Case Steam Traction engine and a Case Separator. His Dad drove the unit 18 miles and threshed grain along the way for a month before he got home. At age 13 his dad was sick and he did a complete overhauled on a W-30 International tractor. This experience has stayed with him.
During his working career; he spent 41-1/2 years at Reyco Industries where he worked in the foundry and maintenance. They made suspensions for trucks. Then he finished with 4 years working for Dayco Rubber Company in the maintenance department working on fork trucks.
He always has time to help another person in need.
Darrell and his wife Ellen work together on several of the projects.
Darrell Carter is another person that deserves to be inducted into the National Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association Hall of Fame.
Submitted By:
Branch 16