HOF Members

Harvey Dale

The Board of Directors of Branch 54 at their December 2015 meeting voted to submit the following nomination for Hall of Fame recognition in recognition of Harvey Dale’s outstanding service to Branch 54 of the EDGE&TA.

Harvey became a member of Branch 54 in 1993, and has never looked back! The club is very important to him, and he is one of our most active members. He currently serves as our Safety Officer and has also served as a member of our Board of Directors. Harvey attends virtually all club meetings, plus organizes and leads our special “garage” and “educational” tours. He is the liaison and leader for Branch 54’s large exhibit at the Nez Perce County Fair in Lewiston, his home town. Harvey prefers not to hold a line officer position, but he is quick to volunteer on projects and in many ways he “leads” from the rear! Harvey has attended and displayed at many other Branch shows—some as far away as 3-400 miles! He and his wife, Ann, have hosted Branch 54 meetings at their home.

Branch 54 is honoring him for his never ending help that he gives all club members, plus even non-members that are interested in fixing up and restoring antique engines and tractors. Harvey has a sound business mind and has a well-organized shop and storage facilities that most would love to have! He is well liked, a real worker and leader and has encouraged several new club memberships. Harvey was also the first to suggest that we have pot-luck lunches at our quarterly meetings, and this really increased the meeting attendance .In 2013, the club recognized his many contributions and help by presenting him with a Life Membership. His extensive knowledge of old engines in particular, their value plus how to salvage, repair and bring them back to life. He enjoys going to auctions and sales and therefore is quite current on values, and is well known in the “antique iron” community. He has easily become the “go-to-guy” in our club plus for many others of all ages, which has definitely earned him the widely acknowledged title of Doctor Dale.

Harvey has been especially helpful to several of our club widows by advising them on the value of their deceased husband’s collections, so they don’t get taken advantage of when selling the items. He also is helpful to High School students on their senior engine projects, and helps “newbie’s” find “starter” engines.

Harvey is a machinist extraordinaire and has fabricated many replacement parts for his and others engines. He does not back down from a project/challenge until it is working. One example was member, Bill’s, 25 H.P. Fairbanks-Morse model YH that had sat for

about 30 years, and had numerous missing parts—which Harvey didn’t have, but he knew people that had them! Bottom line, they acquired the missing parts and finally figured out all the problems. This was the largest and a different type engine than what Harvey was used to, but due to his diligence, it is now running and is a BIG draw at the many fairs where it has been shown. Also, Harvey is currently working on a rare and less than complete, 1909-10 Stover, 4 H.P. model YB vertical hit and miss engine—which was found in the scrap pile. Most people would not have even considered it as a worthy project! It was so stuck Harvey ended up having to bore out the piston in his shop—no small task. Remarkably, with Doctor Dale’s expertise and persistence, this old engine will see new life in another year or so.

In summary Harvey’ knowledge, ability and willingness to help others, plus his mild manner has done wonders to promote the membership and collections of members in Branch 54—which now has over 200 members in this small region! Although Harvey’s collection is not as extensive or outstanding as many others, it is still quite varied and very impressive plus he has worked on and knows the history of each unit in his collection.

Branch 54 is quite proud to submit this application on behalf of HAVEY DALE and asks the committee consider the outstanding efforts that this man has put forth to enhance the knowledge and education and wellbeing of the EDGE&TA and the antique engine and tractor community.

Gilbert Merry

Gilbert Merry’s HOF award was presented posthumously in 2016 by David Ruark, President of the Lewis-Clark Antique Power Club, Inc. at the 2016 Autumn meeting, to John Merry and his wife Vicky. John is Gilbert’s nephew and was instrumental in preparing his nomination.

The Board of Directors of Branch 54 at their December 2015 meeting voted unanimously to again submit the following nomination, posthumously, for Hall of Fame recognition in memory of club member Gilbert Merry.

Gil was one of the early members of Branch 15, as he went to The Great Oregon Steam- up in Brooks, OR in 1972 where he and longtime friend, Andy Gortsema, became members. They not only attended future shows, but also transported and showed their engines. Several Branch 15 members remember Gilbert showing up with a bunch of Walla Walla Sweet onions along with his engines. They all went and got some onions when he arrived, and then went back to their engines! Others remember Gil running a homemade ice cream freezer with one of his engines, and then giving free ice cream to the kids at the Brooks show.

In about 2000, due to failing eyesight from macular degeneration, Gil maintained membership in branch 54, which was located closer to home. In conjunction with his nephew, John Merry, they would read the newsletters together. Gil never held an office in either club due to the distance to Brooks and then later due his failing eyesight, but he did host many meetings for our Branch 54 where he could still tell about each engine & tractor and see that the units got started and run for the members and guests.

Three of Gil’s greatest contributions to EDGE&TA and member branches were:

His dedication to the finding, collection, restoration, education and display/operation of particularly unique and rare units;
2. Involving his nephew, John, from an early age, as will be explained later:
BUT—his instilling a growing interest into the younger generation of college students from nearby Walla Walla Community College, as explained below, was a truly very important contribution.

Les Echtenkamp, Instructor with the John Deere Technology program at Walla Walla Community College relates that for over 15 years Gilbert welcomed the WWCC classes to his farm and collection on a yearly basis. About 175 students have had the benefits of Gil’s “grandfatherly” education and hospitality. Each visit included history, operational safety and starting tips PLUS actual starting and operation of the units by the students! Gil’s presentations were intermixed with some colorful humor to hold and grow their interest. Question & answer sessions were also part of the program.

Each visit was finalized by the starting of the 37.5 HP Fairbanks-Morse, model

YV, semi diesel engine that required 14 yards of concrete to hold it in place.

Gilbert’s nephew helped with many of these above mentioned sessions, and today John continues to host this visitation program for the J.D. Technology Program students.

In 2012, instructor Echtenkamp experienced a serious health issue. While away from his position, a class of J.D. students and his co-instructors, utilizing lessons they learned from Gil, restored a 3 H.P. John Deere hit and miss stationary engine to running condition for Les.

Gilbert, as mentioned earlier, should be sincerely applauded for his futuristic thinking to involve and train his nephew, from an early age, so that John would learn from “the old master” and would be able to take over, maintain, add to and exhibit this collection when Gil was no longer around. This has allowed keeping “alive and intact” the collection, its history and educational aspects so many more students and others could also enjoy the fruits of Gil’s passion. John has already shown that he can amply fulfill this role for which Gil groomed him.

In summary, Gil made several significant contributions to EDGE&TA and this “Old Iron” hobby through his extensive education of the younger generation, his well-known comradery with many other serious collectors while finding, saving, restoring and exhibiting some very notable, unique and rare units including a 20 HP Brown-Cochran that he had to have new flywheels cast, at a significant cost! A 15 HP model N Fairbanks with a single flywheel was his favorite engine. Without question however, the most significant unit in Gilbert Merry’s collection is the last known, 1895 Golden Gate 7 HP engine that Gil asked John to acquire at a upcoming auction—which Gil unfortunately did not live to see happen! This engine was originally sold new in the Walla Walla area and had “lived” there all its life and Gil wanted it to stay “home”!

Branch 54 herein proudly submits this application posthumously on behalf of GILBERT MERRY and hopes the committee will appreciate the outstanding effort that this pioneer and old iron legend put forth to advance the antique engine, tractor and equipment community.

David Melton

David Melton helped organize and start Branch 28 in Cabool MO. He has served as an officer in past years, and is currently serving his second term as President. David has spent many, many hours volunteering during Br 28 activities. He is proud supporter of EDGE&TA and makes lots of donations of time and money to help newer members as well as the old timers.

David Melton should be inducted into the Hall of Fame for many reasons. Chief among these is the time he has spent organizing our facilities and activities. He is open minded to new ideas while keeping our goals and purposes in the fore front. He also has monitored the second and third generation in his own family and lots of other families. He was instrumental in developing a way for junior members to become involved in order to help provide for continuation of Branch 28. David has great leadership skills in that he is a great delegator and organizer for various personalities. He also takes an active role in educational activities that Branch 28 is involved in.

David has spent a lot of time working to collect and preserve antique farm equipment. He has maintained a tractor owned by his late father. He has purchased other tractors and equipment over the years and truly likes to exhibit the various pieces in his collection. He participates in several shows and demos in South Central Missouri. He also takes part in our annual tractor drive and various parades in our community and surrounding area. His goal is to collect, preserve and exhibit antique equipment of all kinds and strive to educate the public about the agricultural heritage of our area.
David and his wife farm and have a milking operation. Dave run a bulk milk pickup operation for many years and is always talking tractors and equipment to his farmer friends. If you need something he will always be there to help you.

If you need a part for a John Deere tractor at a pull, he would take it off his tractor to help you. David, Becky and their 2 sons will load a 48 foot lowboy trailer and go to shows. We need more people in our organization to promote EDGEA like David does. He deserves the honor of being inducted into the National Hall of Fame.

Becky Melton

Becky Melton has made significant contributions to EDGE&TA Branch 28. She has been in charge of the kitchen crew (cook shack) for all functions of Branch 28. This includes two shows annually, a fun pull, a Christmas Dinner and food shack duties at several antique tractor pulls that we organize in neighboring communities. She volunteers in other ways including the sign-in booth, advertising and educational activities and she announces the 2 daily parades. She is one of the people that you want to know.

We would like to honor this person mainly for her dedication over the past several years as our food shack supervisor. She is in charge of purchasing supplies, creating the menu and serving the visitors to our activities. She will however take time from these duties to participate in the tractor parades and pulling competition during our shows. Becky also helps with the advertising of our events and even made a quilt to raffle to help raise funds for the club. She encourages family members and other persons to keep the club active and provide educational activities in our community and surrounding areas. She is not one that goes after the glory of being in charge of these events. She is a people person and always meets you with a smile. You may think, what does the cook shack has to do with EDGETA. When you go to a show you always want to know where you are going to eat. Branch 28 doesn’t charge admission at their gate. They make their money from the food service and advertising in the community.

Becky has worked tirelessly over the past twenty or more years in helping Branch 28 to reach its goals and dreams. She owns several tractors that she drives in parades and tractor trail rides. She also is an active member of our growing list of antique pullers group. She helps a tremendous amount in the exhibition of all antique equipment. As supervisor for our food serving area, she is very aware of the need to raise money to support all of the activities of EDGE&TA Branch 28.

What are some of her other duties: Becky and her husband own a dairy farm and Becky does most of the milking operation and other farm duties while her husband owned bulk milk trucks and was gone from home a lot. Becky is the wife of Branch 28 President. She fields a lot of the calls about branch business and most of the time if you want to know what is going on, just call Becky. Becky always has a smile on her face even if she is in pain from all the farm duties. Our organization needs more people like Becky. This is the reason we think Becky Melton deserves the honor of being inducted into the EDGETA Hall of Fame.