HOF Members

Linda Keasling

WE are nominating Linda Shorter Keasling, a member of the K & O Steam and Gas Engine Association, Branch 11 Kansas, for the EDGETA Hall of Fame.

Linda grew up on a ranch working with her family. Raising cattle, gardening, canning and all of the many chores of the time were a part of her young life. Linda and her husband, Marvin, joined the K & O Steam & Gas Engine Association shortly after it was first organized. They remained loyal members for many years until Linda’s death in September of 2015. Marvin is still a member.

Linda was always a very active member of the association. She and her family had a large collection of John Deere tractors and equipment they took to shows, parades, and other events, along with other members of the club. Linda planned, organized and hosted many bus trips to EDGETA shows and gatherings. Some of the destinations were Texas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Canada plus many other places too numerous to mention.

Linda served as the secretary of the club for many years. Her duties included keeping club minutes and other club data i.e. sending membership dues to EDGETA, co-editing the club newspaper “Old Iron Fever,” and served on various organizational committees throughout the years. She was instrumental in organizing our KIDS DAY event. School children from area schools, school in south central Kansas, and north central Oklahoma were invited to the club’s grounds to view and experience demonstrations and exhibits of past history. Linda’s family showed children how butter was churned, using some of Linda’s personal collection of butter churns and items – many of which are of museum quality.

Linda volunteered and worked with many community projects to promote club recognition –

Constructing floats for the lighted Christmas parade
Greeting visitors at Winfield, Kansas Christmas Isle of Lights
Kanza Day exhibitions
Kansas Sampler exhibitions
Presentations of Cherokee Strip Museum

Linda was always involved in planning our annual tractor show. She would organize the club’s Country Store to display and sell t-shirts, caps and other items. The last show she attended and helped with – she organized a special exhibit honoring our veterans and displayed their unique memorabilia.

Linda Keasling was a valuable member of K & O Steam and Gas Engine Association. Even if she was not visible, she was always working behind the scenes and always with a positive attitude. Affectionately called “Sparkplug” by the club members – Linda truly was one of the sparks that kept our organization running smoothly. Our club has honored her with a Lifetime Membership.

When Linda passed away in September 2015, K & O Steam & Gas Engine Assoc. lost a great friend, member and asset to our club – that is why we now are nominating Linda Shorter Keasling for the EDGETA Hall of Fame.

Billy Metzinger, President

Lauren Langdon

I am nominating Lauren Langdon for 2017 induction into the EDGE&TA Hall of Fame for his long standing commitment to our hobby. Lauren started collecting Stationary Gas Engines and Tractors over 40 years ago and since that time has gone on to have one of the premier Engine collections in the US. He has shown great dedication to his hobby through ongoing involvement through membership in numerous antique iron organizations.

Lauren has been instrumental in the foundation of not one, but TWO EDGE&TA branches. Nearly three decades ago, along with other interested old iron collectors, Lauren worked to establish Branch 38, Magic Valley Antique Tractor Pullers. This branch is dedicated to the restoration and pulling of vintage tractors. Lauren helped to finance the first pull sled for the club and went on to organize the 1998 EDGE& TA North West Regional hosted by Branch 38 in Filer, Idaho. While working with Branch 38, spectators could always find Lauren present at events, pulling with his tractors and displaying his engines.

Later in 2003 as Lauren and other Branch 38 members started to focus more or collecting and restoring antique stationary engines, Lauren in association with those members went on to establish Branch 150, Snake River Antique Power Association which while still in its infancy would host the 2006 Northwest Regional, again organized by Lauren and held in Buhl, Idaho. Since the Branch’s inception, Lauren has continuously served as the Branch President, inviting and encouraging the growth and development of the hobby through seeking out interested individuals to join the Branch and partake of his beloved hobby.

True to his love for the hobby, Lauren has joined and participated in several other EDGE&TA branches, including Branch 15 of Brooks, Oregon. Every year Branch 15 participates in the Great Oregon Steam-Up, an event where a year has not passed in over 40 years that one could not find Lauren present and participating!

As mentioned above, Lauren has an impressive collection of antique iron. His collection demonstrates his love for early iron, especially the Fairbanks Morse model N series of engines. Lauren has become the “go to guy” for collectors looking for information and parts for these engines. In true dedication to the hobby, Lauren has made, collected, and commissioned patterns for hard to find parts for these engines. From those patterns, many parts have made that have brought back to life dozens of engines that would have otherwise been left incomplete, inoperable. Most notably was the restoration of one of Lauren’s own engines, a one-off Fairbanks Morse 40hp Model N sectionalized gas engine. This
engine required over three years of dedicated work with numerous parts made from patterns to complete the restoration! As alluded to above, Lauren’s dedication to the hobby and the restoration of the early iron is not only limited to his own collection, I for one can attest to (as can any one of Lauren’s many friends) his willingness to assist in the production of missing parts, locating original parts, and where necessary the borrowing of his own parts for patterns! Have a question or a problem you need to solve? Call Lauren, he’s always willing to work through the issue with you and provide invaluable advice to returning your iron to running condition!

At this time, as Branch 150 again prepares to host the 2017 North West Regional I have chosen to nominate my good friend Lauren Langdon for induction into the EDGE&TA hall of fame for 2017. I have been a club member for only 5 years, but during that time I have received nothing but encouragement and continual support from Lauren. He introduced me to the broad scope of the hobby; tractors, engines, farm equipment and the people that go along with the hobby! Every year Lauren has organized our branch’s largest yearly event held in conjunction with the local county fair. He has eagerly sought out means to not only encourage my participation, but also that of my wife and sons (ages 9,7,5, and 3). I know that it is because of his enthusiasm for the hubby that our branch has continued to grow! He has made not only our branch, but also the events we participate in, family friendly. This has encouraged further participation by other young families who have joined the branch, families which are now the future of our hobby! Finally, as Lauren has looked to the future of our Branch, he has encouraged me to organize the 2017 North West Regional, constantly available to guide me through the process as I learn the “ropes” of what it takes to be a great leader in this hobby, just as Lauren has been.

Submitted By: Ryan Gurney

Ken Amann

I would like to respectfully submit for your review Ken Amann for an EDGE&TA Hall of Fame Award.

Ken was born in 1956 and spent his youth on the family farm in North Dakota. His family settled in Billings, Montana in 1966. He enjoyed many trips back to North Dakota to visit family there on the farm where his mom grew up. Ken Amann joined our EDGE&TA Branch 29 – South Central Montana Antique Tractor & Machinery Association in August 1996. His dad, Hugo, joined in October 1996 and passed away a few years later.

Ken has always had a passion and interest in antique machinery and has a full complement of restored tractors & equipment at his place in Billings, Montana. Ken served as secretary of Branch 29 from 2000 to 2004. In 2005, he was elected President of Branch 29 and has been our President ever since (12 years now). Every year elections come around and no one wants to run against him as he has done an outstanding job.

Ken reads the highlights of the EDGE&TA quarterly newsletters at the branch meetings to ensure that we keep up with national events and shows. Ken encourages safety and participation in our branch. Our membership has now grown to over 200 families. Ken leads not only the monthly branch meetings but also schedules and attends the directors’ meetings in which we help plan the path forward for the branch and its membership. Ken also ensures we know what the other EDGE&TA branches are doing which has resulted in many of our members visiting other branches and shows throughout the year. The reciprocal effect is that other EDGE&TA branches visit us during our show (always the third weekend in August). Ken & his wife Paulette have traveled to other branch shows including the 2016 EDGE&TA NW Regional in Wyoming and 2014 EDGE&TA National Meeting in Lewistown, Montana.

In 2012, Branch 29 was fortunate enough to host the EDGE&TA National show in which we featured IHC tractors & equipment. This took a lot of extra work and planning. Ken led the effort and encouraged us on to newer heights. As a result, the EDGE&TA National Show in 2012 was the biggest and most successful show we have ever hosted. It was Ken’s mission to ensure that we exceed EDGE&TA standards and expectations. Many fellow branches from surrounding states made the trip to our Threshing Bee that year and were not disappointed.

In 2013, Branch 29 hosted the EDGE&TA NW Regional show and again Ken led the way. That year, we featured John Deere equipment and all of the “green” folks attended which was okay with the “red” IHC folks from the previous year as all had a good time.

Ken is a warm, friendly person that enjoys visiting with members and visitors to our shows. His calm demeanor and receptive personality encourages even the most introvert of folks to open up and share their stories. He fields many calls during the year from interested visitors, the local press, and has appeared in a local TV video explaining our Threshing Bee. Each year during the show, Ken always takes a moment each day to walk around and ensure that everything is going smoothly and circulates through the crowd that attends. Ken has made a real difference, donated much of his time to the antique engine community, and has helped spread enthusiasm in our branch. His support of EDGE&TA helps to inform and tie us all closer to the national organization. He is a team player and encourages the interest in not only this old iron hobby, but in the friendship and growth of each club member and the comradery that we enjoy in our branch.

Ken took on a Branch 29 project to restore a wagon for the local Huntley Project Museum. The finished product was outstanding and the museum proudly displays the wagon year-round to visitors. Ken put many hours into this sole volunteer restoration. This is typical of Ken, working for the benefit of others even when no one is watching.

Submitted By: Jim Tombrink

John Neitzel

Everett Martin

Everett Martin, a retired professor of Animal Sciences at Washington State University, joined Branch 54 in 1992. He took his first leadership role by becoming our president in 2002 where he served until 2004. It is especially interesting to note that Everett graciously accepted the nomination for president in 2002, without having had the opportunity to serve as vice president previously! He then served on our board of directors from 2004 until 2006 when Everett became the Branch 54 treasurer, where he has now served for 11 years. It should be noted that his bookkeeping and financial management for the club has been very detailed and is second to none! Without a doubt Everett’s 24 years of service to EDGETA and Branch 54 has been tremendously beneficial to all involved.

Everett’s 24 years of membership in Branch 54 and service to the club has been highlighted by not only his leadership duties but his attention to details. He has successfully guided us to become a 501 (c) (3) organization, which along with his detailed accounting records has complemented our fund raising activities that has allowed our club to issue two $400/each scholarships to graduating high school seniors involved in FFA each year that are located in the immediate Branch 54 membership area. Everett has also been key to finding meeting places for the chapter or knowing which member might be interested in hosting a meeting. You will always find Everett early at meetings setting up chairs or whatever must be done to help the members and officers, but most particularly our meeting hosts. Everett’s willingness to involve youth in our hobby is also to be highly commended, whether it’s a classroom of college students and/or younger students such as his grandson Jason, Everett is always more than ready to share his knowledge and passion for old iron with both the young and old.

Everett has a modest collection of John Deere two cylinder tractors and the implements they came with. His shop facilities are very limited, so he starts with nice originals and fine tunes them to make them better still. He is known as Branch 54’s detail man as he has a keen eye for what is original and correct to most brands of tractors, plus he is a great research person hunting down many details on the internet for mystery items. Everett is also very eager to put his iron to-work, as there are no trailer queens in his collection! The summer and fall are the busy times for Branch 54 activities. Plowing days, local parades and tractor drives in the scenic Palouse hills of Washington and Idaho, and recently, mowing and baling wheat straw after harvest keeps him busy. You will find Everett at every one, as usually he has put the events together in the first place! Recently he answered a Craigslist ad that was simply advertising a “plow”. Turns out that the “plow” was a very rare John Deere “Gilpin” sulky horse drawn plow! Everett made sure it was saved and that it got into the right hands for restoration and preservation. He has also recently been involved in calling attention to an experimental John Deere tractor! In summary, Everett is a hard- working, resourceful, friendly and knowledgeable individual that would fit well into any EDGETA branch, but Branch 54 is very fortunate and thankful to have him on our team. Since this is a secret, we don’t know where Everett would like to receive his award if chosen, but we would guess that the NW Regional show in Filer, ID on June 16-17 would be the proper place.

Respectfully submitted by: Bruce Petty, Past President, Branch 54

Gene Bradley

Mr. Bradley and a group of other tractor enthusiast from our area joined together for some fun and friendly competitions several years before Antique Power Association of the Ozarks Branch #131 EDGE & TA was founded. It was not uncommon for this group to use their “daily driver” tractor to compete at local pulls and county fair events. Mr. Bradley is a charter member of Antique Power. Although, he hasn’t served as an officer, he has always worked hard behind the scenes doing whatever was needed to make the club a success. He has been promoting the sport of tractor pulling over 36 years.

He attends most monthly tractor club meetings and local events with a smile on his face and encouraging words on his lips. He is certainly an enthusiastic member and participant in spite of losing his three children and wife within the last few years.

We believe Gene Bradley deserves this award because his kind and gentle example has delivered many positive messages as he has promoted the sport of tractor pulling. His passion for tractors and tractor pulling was demonstrated at home and in town because he shared this hobby with his two sons. The three of them competed together for several years. As a seasoned tractor puller, Mr. Bradley is known to put on a good show for all to enjoy as he heads down the track with a smile on his face displaying an American flag from the back of his tractor. He isn’t afraid to extend a helping hand even to those that might out pull him. He is a very fine example of a true sportsman with a strong faith. At 81 years old, he continues to participant in about every parade and pull within a reasonable distance from home. He is an overall good guy. Mr. Bradley is an excellent candidate for this award.

Mr. Bradley worked as a mechanic so he used his professional skill set to enhance and preserve automobiles and antique tractors. He knows what to do to get all he can out of his tractor.

Mr. Bradley interests in preserving and exhibiting tractors spans many years and he is still active today. Over the years, he has owned a wide variety of tractors including: Ford, Case, Allis Chalmers, Farmall Cub, and his current pulling tractor, a 1942 Oliver 70. He currently has six antique tractors which he maintains in top running order.

Glenn T. Smith

In April of 1992 Glenn T. Smith saw the need for a tractor and engine club to serve Northwest Arkansas, Southwest Missouri, and Northeast Oklahoma. He enlisted the support of a couple of like-minded friends. About fifty letters were sent out to interested parties, and on May 8, 1992, thirty people showed up for the first meeting. Tired Iron of the Ozarks was born that night with twenty-four people joining up. Glenn thought fifty would be a big total number, but by the end of that first year, 135 people had joined. Tired Iron soon became Branch 37 of EDGE&TA. Glenn was the first president. He served four years during these formative years of the club. In 2011 he returned for a two year period as president.

Glenn and his wife have bought and sold many tractors and a few engines over the years. At one time they bought a 1913 fifty-horse power Case steam tractor. They kept it three years—it now resides in Georgia. The tractor Glenn has held on to is a John Deere AR that Glenn’s dad bought new in 1951. Glenn recalls that his dad “turned him loose” on the AR when he was about thirteen to help out with the farming while his dad ran a machine shop.

The Smiths have a restored 1945 Chevrolet two-ton truck that honors our fallen veterans. A flag draped casket rests on the bed of the truck. The truck has been shown at many festivals and parades. The old truck has an actual mileage of 3,200 on the odometer at the time of restoration. Glenn’s current restoration project is an Allis Chalmers G with a four-row cultivator. Glenn was willed a priceless collection of precious handmade models of yesteryear’s machinery by a member of Tired Iron. Glenn continues to display the machines, which include and intricate scale model of a threshing machine.

In short, Tired Iron of the Ozarks would not exist without the work of Glenn Smith. He is a great example of one who makes tractor clubs and EDGE&TA work.

Dale Crawford

Dale Crawford was born in California and began his life on a dairy farm. His father soon sold the dairy and eventually purchased two farms to produce watermelons, peaches, almonds and walnuts for market. A Ferguson TO-30 was purchased for the difficult work. Dale’s dad was so successful the local FFA sent students to see proper farming methods being used.

Dale’s work career was as one of the first truck drivers with what was then a beginning Arkansas enterprise called Wal-Mart. In 1975 he went to work as the 23rd driver with the company after being interviewed and hired by Sam Walton himself. Dale retired from driving for Wal-Mart in 1998 after having driven an amazing 4.2 million miles.

After retirement, he was introduced to old engines by Jim Caylor, his brother’s father-in-law who was a restorer of old engines and a member of EDGE&TA, Branch 13, in California. In this small world, Jim gave Dale the phone number of Randy Gallaway, a Tired Iron of the Ozarks, Branch 37, member back in Northwest Arkansas. Dale called Randy and learned all about Tired Iron. In a few days, Dale visited a club display of tractors and engines at a special occasion. He liked what he saw and joined Tired Iron and has been an active member ever since.

At the time he joined, Dale didn’t have any engines. He soon bought two engines from another Tired Iron member. The engines were an LB International and an incomplete but running Fuller Johnson pump engine. He now has fourteen old engines, some of which are quite rare. His collection also includes several engine-operated implements. They include two metal saws, several water pumps, and two corn grinders. His favorite engine to exhibit is his 8 H.P. Witte engine which powers a big buzz saw for sawing logs. Dale is any club president’s dream member. He willingly and frequently trailers his exhibits to events all around Northwest Arkansas, Eastern Oklahoma, and Southwest Missouri where crowds of people gather to hear about his engines. Dale serves as an excellent ambassador for Tired Iron at these special presentations and at our shows as he attracts people from all walks of life to Tired Iron and its mission to the region. Dale has served Tired Iron as a director for the last six years and has just been elected for another three year term.

Tommy Addison

Tommy Addison was raised in rural De Soto Parish, LA. He served his country in the Air Force. Through his life, Tommy developed a love for old farm tractors and equipment. Tommy was involved with antique tractor clubs in east Texas and became a founding member of North Louisiana Vintage Tractor Club. Later,Tommy assisted in forming other clubs in Louisiana which all joined EDGE&TA.

Tommy did not seek to be an officer of the clubs, but did serve as Chairman of the Board for North Louisiana Vintage Tractor Club.

Tommy recognized the leadership in others and encourage them to seek the office that would benefit the club in its activities.

If there was a World Championship for Tractor Drivers, then Tommy Addison would be the recipient of that award. Tommy was a people person and helped everyone that was around him. He never turned down any problem that was brought before him. Tommy gave you his undivided attention when you were discussing tractors and you felt as though you and he was the only one that was on the earth. He gave everyone the opportunity to better themselves with their tractors from giving them pointers on pulling or fine tuning a 40+ year old tractor that was dragged out of the weeds and woods that everyone else had given up on. Tommy knew the EDGE&TA rules and was track master at almost every pull or club that he was active in. He was the hub that made the wheels turn in several clubs in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. He was the one person that was looked upon to steer you in the right direction and get these clubs up and going. Tommy is sorely missed since his passing but left a legacy that will never be forgotten. Heaven gained the best all around tractor man that was known to this area.

There were no EDGE&TA branches in North Louisiana. With the encouragement and support of Tommy Addison, there is now three strong and active branches in North Louisiana. The members of these branches and the branches in East Texas will verify that Tommy Addison is truly deserving the honor of being in the EDGE&TA Hall of Fame.

Alan Schurman

Contribution to EDGE&TA

Alan’s lifetime has been spent in Ridgefield, Washington and he comes from a long line of mechanical talent. His grandfather was the “village blacksmith” who repaired most everything in his rural community and threshed for the area. Alan’s father, Paul, and his Uncle Clyde were geniuses at machine design, construction and repair and Alan was raised in this environment.

Alan’s exposure to old equipment started at age 8 when his dad, Paul, held the first steam threshing bee on the west coast in 1950. From then on his life has been very busy collecting, restoring and displaying old iron at fairs, parades and shows. His favorite activity is restoring anything old – especially the rough and incomplete projects. His current project is reconstruction of three Best 75 Tractors (14 tons each) starting with only an engine, radiator and front wheel for each one, building from scratch frames, tracks, sprockets, transmissions, etc.

Alan’s farm has been dubbed “The Iron Ranch” because of the large volume of old iron scattered around and in eight buildings, all stuffed full of collectables of all kinds. The Iron Ranch is host to tractor pulls, club meetings, tours, field events and individual tours. It hosts the Branch 23 annual show and monthly meetings and has hosted an EDGE&TA National Meet and an EDGE&TA Regional Meet.

Alan’s involvement with EDGE&TA started in the 1970’s and includes several years as President of Branch 15, forming Fort Vancouver Antique Equipment Association (Branch 23), helping form Branch 206, being an EDGE&TA Advisor for northwest and southwest regions as well as membership in other branches and many other collector and community organizations.

Submitted by,
Buster Brown