(both in and out of

stores) to be innovative

I figuring efficient

ways to better serve our

customers. I am asking

our outside sale force to

expand our customer

base. I want everyone to

be vigilant in controlling

expenses. Lean times

are a test of commit-

ment and ability. We

will pass with flying

colors”. — Dave Settles,

President

2015 has raced

to a close now and I

want to wish you all a

very happy and success-

ful 2016.

We’ re all looking for-

ward to 2016 we are

planning to improve and

continue growing as a

company. Our presi-

dent, Dave Settles gave

a commentary on hopes

for improved success in

2016.

“ Let me take this op-

portunity to thank you

for a solid 2015. With

the oilfield comprising a

significant part of our

business, the decline in

that after will present us

with some challenges in

2016. We are going to

continue to be aggres-

sive in using vacation

time up in January, and

maybe beyond. I am

asking our managers

New Year, New Success

All of the 2015 annual Weldon

Christmas parties were filled

with good food, entertainment,

and good company overall.

In this issue we have shared a

glimpse at a few of our stores

parties.

Special points of

interest:

New Year, New

Success

Christmas Parties

Store Upgrades

Recipes

2

I TOOK THIS PICTURE OF CHUCK SUNDAY

MORNING IN OKC THE NEXT DAY AFTER

THE COMPANY CHRISTMAS PARTY.

HE CAME DOWN IN HIS JOGGING PANTS

AND T SHIRT...I DON'T THINK HE WENY

OUT JOGGING SO I ASKED HIM TO

STAND BY THE CHRISTMAS TREE IN THE

MOTEL LOBBY & SEE WOULD IT MAKE

HIM LOOK BETTER?!-Cliff McAdoo

3

Decorative Murrin’s

4

The home of Leon and his wife...the decorations

are pretty impressive!

HISTORY OF WOODWARD STORE

by Bryan Matzek I became familiar with Weldon Parts back in the Mid-80's. I was working for another parts store and we used to buy parts from Weldon Parts back then. I became familiar with the Store manager (Daryle Settles) and began dealing with Weldon's on a regular basis. The first time I met Daryle was at a truck show that was in Tulsa. Daryle and I developed a relationship that we could just call and talk and it may not have anything to do with truck parts. Weldon Parts was making calls and deliveries in the Woodward area. Daryle and I had a gentleman's agreement as far as calling on customers in Woodward. Weldon had about 8-10 accounts that they called on in this area.. They also serviced some of the accounts that we still have out in the Forgan & Liberal area. Leon Reese (Tulsa) was one of my outside sales reps when he worked in the Oklahoma City location. I don't know how many times as a custom-er that I would get a shipment and would ask for a bag of popcorn so they would sack up a Dayton Parts size bag and put it in my next ship-ment. Appx 1992 Daryle was promoted to his current position and there would be a new store manager . Gary Callahan

Jr. About 1992 in the Woodward area there was another distribu-tor that handled some truck parts that burned down and decided that they were not going to rebuild. The parts store that I was working for at the time was thinking about selling. So I called Daryle and talked to him about Weldon's maybe buying the place I was working at or options of what might be there. That is how I met Dave. Dave and I talked on the phone a few times and he wanted to see the numbers etc. I was about 30 years old at the time and 2 kids so I asked what the possibili-ties of maybe going to work in outside sales for Weldon's or better yet to open a location. I was trying to see what my options were. Things did not work out as far as the acquisition purchase. The store that I was working at was still for sale.

I continued to look at options and called Dave and asked to meet with him . Weldon's was making deliveries in Woodward so Dave said that he would just make the deliveries and we could

meet. He came to Woodward and made his deliveries and if I re-member correctly he brought a set of landing gear up with him for a customer. The customer had him unload the landing gear and asked him to just take it up stairs where they stored them, and he did.

This was the first time I met Dave in person. We went over to

5

the quick stop and talked back and forth talking about all of the oppor-tunities that may be there because of the surrounding circumstances. Both of us took a chance that day and I decided to go to work for Weldon's. This was appx middle of May 1993 and I was scheduled to go on vacation at the end of May. I went back to my employer and told him about my decision. I went on vacation and I called Dave when I got back from vacation. Now the challenge began. The first thing that I had was a fax machine and hooked it up at the house. I started looking for a building to rent and found one . The original building is a 40 x 60 metal building with no a/c. My office today is still in the origi-nal building that has been added on to 3 times since 1993. Once the building was found (probably about mid June of 93) I started getting shelving and parts from the Okc location.

Jack Hill (Jacksonville) delivered the shelves and initial inventory . Him and I unloaded the parts and everything else by hand. I started set-ting up shelves and putting inventory on the shelf etc. Someone from Weldon's forgot to tell me that we were switching to a new computer system the upcoming January and I was informed that I would have to hand write tickets until then. It was not that big of a deal at all be-cause I had never used a computer. I was used to hand writing all tickets and keeping inventory using the card file system. All of the in-ventory in Woodward was actually part of the Okc inventory and all sales would come from them. So all tickets that I did in the course of the day would have a “Packing list only” stamped on each copy and I would fax them in to the Okc store daily and they would bill them out and send the invoices back to me. I would then get the invoices back out.

The first invoice was made out to High Gear Repair which remains to be one of Woodward's largest accounts. High Gear Repair was also one of the very first if not the first TSE's for Truck Pride. The first (unofficial delivery driver) was my wife (Donna). She would come in as needed to deliver. The first (unofficial warehouse person) Derek would put parts on the shelf. That is the ones he was tall enough to reach. From the start I kept track on the calendar of the daily sales and add-ed them up on a daily basis. It was appx the middle of July of 93 that I was talking to Daryle and told him I need some help. He told me that he was going to lunch with Dave that day and would talk to him about it. This was the middle of July 93. appx 45 days Lunch conver-sation between Daryle & Dave (my version)

Daryle : The Woodward location is needing some help. Here is my perception of how this initial response may have sounded.

Dave : ha ha ha….this is closer to what was really said (I think)

Dave : I told him that when he was at 15k in sales we would talk.

Daryle’s response “He is setting at 18k for the month right now.”

Dave: oh ok.

So at that point I started looking for a person to help. I thought of Bob Dewald (Perryton). Bob was one of the first guys that I met when I moved to Oklahoma. I actually worked for Bob when he worked in the oilfield back in the early 80's. He was a driller on a oil rig.

His wife and my wife worked together at the Safeway store.

In early Aug 1993 Bob was working out at the sale barn sorting cattle.. We had our grand opening/open house in Sept of 93. Dave, Daryle, and Leon Settles all attended this event. Bob came out for a free lunch and met and visited with Dave for the first time. Bob was hired Oct 1,1993.

Bob would leave Woodward on Monday and make calls down to Watonga (about ½ way between Woodward and Okc) and then drive on in to OKC. He would unload cores and he was the transfer truck going back to Woodward. I think in all the trips only 1 set of quarter fenders blew out!!!! that we know of.

Leon Reese (Tulsa) moved to Woodward in 1996 and went to work for me. I think it was Boiling Springs (a state park in Woodward) that attracted him to Woodward. LOL

Leon worked the counter and was Asst mgr.

In 1998 Bruce Gay was hired. Bruce's background was in the television/ electronic field. He worked for a local electronic store in Woodward. Bruce had great character qualities and I can remember talking to Bruce about going to work. I told Bruce

6

“that it is sometimes easier to teach someone about truck parts than it is to teach character qualities and how to deal with people.” Had a GREAT crew. Bob, Leon, and Bruce. And others along the way. Can still remember the many firsts that go along with a store. The first 30k month, the first 40k month, etc. and then the really huge milestone the first 100k month. Some time in 1995 I think the first 200k month was in March of 2006.

In 1999 I started working with other locations on a weekly and ongoing basis. Oklahoma City had a new manager (Mike Green) and our Clinton location was just opening (Brad Orr) That was about the time I turned the store over to Leon Reese (Tulsa) and it continued to grow. Leon managed the store until moving to Muskogee in 2010. Bruce managed the store from 2010 until his passing away in Aug 2014. Daniel Gaston his now the current manager. Daniel had previously worked in the Oklahoma City location in 2002-2005. He left for a short time and came back to work for Weldon Parts for Leon at the Woodward store in 2006. Daniel left in 2012 to manage the Muskogee location and moved back to manage the store in Woodward in 2014 after Bruce's passing away. Woodward now has 11 employees. The keys to the success of the store: Have good people working for you; know and help others attain there goals.—Bryan Matzek

Before

After

7

In Other News... “This 1969 Chevrolet Nova was rescued

from the crusher in 1989. After a nut and

bolt restoration it was built as a street

cruiser for fun. The car took second

place in the National Chevy Show in

1998 and 1999. The car has received

numerous awards at local car shows

in Indiana, Illinois, and Oklahoma. It

was recently judged as "Best General

Motors" at the show in Holdenville,

OK.” —Debra Lander (husband

Mike's car).

CHASE AND ELISE'S SON RICK AND MONA'S GRANDSON

MEET SILAS LEE WALKER FROM CLINTON

8

CLEANUP AFTER THE STORM

Clinton, Oklahoma

9

Birthdays

February

January Cliff McAdoo Lrk 1/07

Mike Mulcahy Nfk 1/08

Les Roberts Mac 1/11

Zach Wolfe Tul 1/14

Myron Quapaw Tul 1/25

Danny McMullen Jop 1/26

Bob Wilson Hou 1/28

March

Happy Birth

day!

Claire Phillips Jax 2/09

Leon Reese Tul 2/09

Carolyn Clinton Corp 2/10

Danny Moore Orl 2/10

Tammy Goddard Penn 2/13

Ronnie Sales Jop 2/15

Donald Pulley Tul 2/17

Dallas Settles Omh 2/19

Budd Hembree Corp 2/21

Daryle Settles Penn 2/28

Steve Myers Elk 3/03

Rick Walker Cln 3/06

Jason Wooten Dal 3/06

Vic Benedict Tul 3/13

Billy Cole Jax 3/13

David Lane Elk 3/19

Ryan Rider Penn 3/19

Sam Settles Omh 3/21

Mike Koesters Omh 3/31

10

NOT EVERYTHING BIG IN

TEXAS [CHUCK]-- CLIFF WITH

HIS ARKANSAS MUM FROM

HIS SISTER [LINDA] AND A

ARKANSAS CANTALOUPE

Daniel at work for Mike Green

11

My wife Thanksgiving eve we had our 40 years together eating our Thanksgiving dinner,

we sat there together with candle light in our little room off from the kitchen onto

our front porch that we built together. I look at a picture of me and my twin Sam

together we were feeding our grandmother ducks and chickens we were about

two years old . My thoughts came to me at that time in life who would ever thought

that I would come this far in life. Then I notice a picture of myself that my son Troy

took while fishing together, who would ever know at that time together we had

such a good time and four years later he would be gone at age of forty two. Then I

seen on that same wall a picture of my grandson Todd and my granddaughter

Bethany I’m very proud of them. Then my eyes caught a picture of my wonderful

wife Martha and myself a few month after almost three years ago I only had a few

days in this world, but with the good Lord I’ve made it. I look at my life and I’ve got

a lot of friends and as my dad always told me if you got respect from other people

you will go a long way in life, how true is that. But the main thing I’ve got in my life

good or bad up and down she always been there for me. Three years ago I knew

how she felt for me. She was always at my bed side; she would roll me down in a

wheel chair and always had something good to say to me. She never knew that I

was down, but she not knowing, brought me up. We have done a lot together we

came a long way; we both have got a lot to be thankful on this Thanksgiving 2008.

Last week we went together to another car show and it was very cold but we both

were together. That Saturday we went to a live stage show we both laugh together

but in the two seats we were next to each other. She did not know but I looked at

her with her not knowing and I thought all the good times we had together and

how she looked that evening. I knew then I’m so proud that my wife Martha is my

love and friend. I will always love you and my heart and memories will always be

with me.

A true story written by:

Cliff McAdoo

December 22nd, 2008

12

Starry Night by Dave Earnest

The sky is lit with brilliance...

and in the darkest corner of your mind,

under a blanket of cold, it is forgotten.

The lawn chair season is broken.

To be renewed with the new life given in Spring.

Summer highlights are forgotten quickly

and the misery of season moves in

to depress the old soul

that is tired of the same routine...

It is only here to remind us of how old bones creak

and tough people..we remain.

We work, we toil and we pray

so that we will live a free life tomorrow...

Hoping the sky is full of stars everyday.

Occasionally clouds move in

and the focus is lost...

Dreams are forgotten easily with boredom

but to the intelligent...nothing is dismissed

left in the past with the stars not seen now,

knowing they still remain behind the clouds.

There is hope of seeing the stars once again

on any given night... with anticipation

and wearing a winter coat...

the sky will be brilliant once again..

as you crunch the snow under your feet,

and recall how wonderful summer came and went.

13

Every paper towel commercial I see reminds me that the cleanest solution is to not

have children.

The speed of the second hand on a clock is exactly 1 RPM.

A bed is a shelf for your body when you aren't using it.

Brushing your teeth is the only time you clean your skeleton.

Some people create their own storms, and then get upset when it rains.

If life is a gift, can someone please give me the receipt for Monday? I'd like to ex-

change it for a Saturday.

Post holiday tip: When discarding your natural Christmas tree, remember not to wa-

ter it for at least two weeks prior to taking it down. That way you can save lots of mon-

ey on your heating bills this winter when it starts on fire and burns down your house.

If you have an artificial tree, you may be able create the same savings by watering it.

Or, you'll electrocute yourself and won't really care.

I guess I've been a little too naughty this past year. Santa got a restraining order

against me.

14

Scott Hillen

I love to mess with telemarketers. I know they are for the most part honest people

trying to do a job and make a living, but still...

This is absolutely true. It happened the evening of December 14th...

I had a telemarketer call me. He was selling some kind of skin care product. I told

him I wasn't interested. When he asked why not, I told him I don't have any skin,

and wouldn't have any use for the product. HE BELIEVED ME and apologized for

calling and said he'd remove me from the call list.

My current voicemail answering message says: "Apparently either I didn't hear the

phone ring or wasn't able to take your call at this time. If you would like to leave a

message, please press the 'end' button on your phone now."

You would be surprised how many people actually DO!

15

FEBRUARY 5: NATIONAL WEATHERMAN’S DAY

Forget December: This is the most wonderful time of the year. We’re talking about none other than IHOP’s annual National Pancake Day. This year, like the years before it, you can enjoy a free short stack of buttermilks and donate to charity. It’s a win-win. (Except not for your waistline.)

FEBRUARY 5TH: NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY (AS BROUGHT TO YOU BY IHOP)

There’s a 60 percent chance of your local weatherman being at least 20 percent right about his job today, but there’s a 100 percent chance this holiday takes place on February 5. Whatever percent chance you’re convinced this should be a holiday, give a little thanks for the men and women who help you get dressed appropriately in the morning.

MARCH 5: CINCO DE MARCHO

The 12 Days of Cinco de Marcho commence on the fifth of March, followed with a rigorous training regimen by observers to prepare their livers for St. Patrick’s Day. For games and activities, check out the official site. For your inevitable 12-day-long hangover, aspirin or ibuprofen should help.

16

1 (18.25-ounce) box white cake mix 1 (3-ounce) box strawberry-flavored instant gelatin 1 (15-ounce) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed 4 large eggs 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup water Strawberry cream cheese frosting, recipe follows Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting 1/4 cup butter, softened 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 (10-ounce) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed 1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract 7 cups confectioners' sugar Freshly sliced strawberries, for garnish, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans. In a large bowl, combine cake mix and gelatin. Add pureed strawberries, eggs, oil, and water; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour into prepared pans, and bake for 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake

For the frosting: In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in 1/4 cup of the strawberry puree and the strawberry extract. (The rest of the puree is leftover but can be used in smoothies or on ice cream for a delicious treat.) Gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating until smooth. Spread frosting in between layers and on top and sides of cake. Garnish with sliced fresh strawberries, if desired.

NOTE: I do not use the normal

spring pan. I use a 9 ½ by 13 inch

pan

½ cups of graham cracker crumbs

3 Tbsp. sugar

1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted

4 packages (8 oz. each) Philadelphia

Cream Cheese

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

4 eggs

Heat oven to 325 degrees F.

Combine graham cracker crumbs, 3

Tbsp. sugar, and 1/3 cup butter melted

and put into the bottom of the pan.

Mix cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, vanilla,

and eggs with mixer until blended. Then

pour over the crust.

Bake 55 minutes or until set. I use the

knife test.

Tina’s Cheesecake Recipe

17

4 cups apple juice

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon prepared mustard

2 (3 pound) corned beef bris-

kets with spice packets

Pour the apple juice into a large slow cooker, and mix in the

brown sugar and mustard, stirring until the brown sugar has

dissolved. Mix in the contents of the spice packets, and lay the

briskets into the apple juice mixture. Top with red potatoes,

carrots, onions, and cabbage chunks. Push all ingredients into

the liquid.

Cover and cook on High until corned beef is very tender, 4 to

5 hours; or cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours. Slice meat thinly

across the grain, and serve with vegetables.

Apple and Brown Sugar Corned Beef

1/2 cup butter

1 finely chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup sliced carrots

1/2 pound fresh sliced mushrooms

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

6 cups chicken broth

2 cups cooked wild rice

1 pound boneless skinless chicken

breasts, cooked and cubed

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion, celery

and carrots and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and sauté for 2

more minutes. Then add the flour and stir well. Gradually pour in the chick-

en broth, stirring constantly, until all has been added. Bring just to a boil,

reduce heat to low and let simmer.

Next, add the rice, chicken, salt, curry powder, mustard powder, parsley,

ground black pepper, almonds and sherry. Allow to heat through, then

pour in the half-and-half. Let simmer for 1 to 2 hours. (Note: Do not boil or

your roux will break.)

20 small red potatoes, scrubbed

4 carrots, cut into chunks

2 onions, cut into 8 wedges

1 head cabbage, cored and cut

into large chunks

Chicken Wild Rice Soup

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon curry powder

1/2 teaspoon mustard powder

1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 cup slivered almonds

3 tablespoons dry sherry

2 cups half-and-half

18

Pets of Weldon

Eddie and Abby

Kit

19

Weldon Joke A hip young man goes out and buys the best car available: a brand-new Ferrari 550. It is also the

most expensive car in the world, and it costs him $500,000. He takes it out for a spin and stops for a

red light.

An old man (about 75 years old) on a moped pulls up next to him. The old man looks over at the

sleek, shiny new car and asks, "What kind of car ya got there, sonny?"

The young man replies, "A Ferrari 550. It cost half a million dollars!"

"That's a lot of money," says the old man. "Why does it cost so much?"

"Because this car can do up to 320 miles an hour!" states the young dude proudly. The old man asks,

"Mind if I take a look inside?"

"No problem," replies the owner.

So the old guy pokes his head in the window and looks around. Then, sitting back on his moped, he

says, "That's a pretty nice car, all right... but I'll stick with my moped!"

Just then the light changes, so the young guy decides to show the old man just what his car can do.

He floors it, and within 30 seconds the speedometer reads 160 mph. Suddenly, he notices a dot in his

rearview mirror.

It seems to be getting closer! He slows down to see what it could be, and suddenly, WHHHOOOOS-

SSHHH! Something whips by him, going much faster.

What on earth could be going faster than my Ferrari?! the young man asks himself. He floors the ac-

celerator and takes the Ferrari up to 250 mph. Then, up ahead of him, he sees that it's the old man on

the moped.

Amazed that the moped could pass his Ferrari, he gives it some more gas and passes the moped at

275 mph. WHHOOOOSSSHH!

He's feeling pretty good until he looks in his mirror and sees the old man gaining on him again.

Astounded by the speed of this old guy, he floors the gas pedal and takes the Ferrari all the way up

to 320 mph.

Not 10 seconds later he sees the moped bearing down on him again. The Ferrari is flat out and

there's nothing he can do.

Suddenly the moped plows into the back of his Ferrari, demolishing the rear. The young man jumps

out; unbelievably, the old man is still alive!!! He runs up to the mangled old man and says, "Oh, my

God! Is there anything I can do for you?"

The old man whispers softly, "Unhook... my... suspenders... from... your... side-view... mirror."

Debra Lander

20

The Weldon Gazette

By: McKayla Johnson

Volume 17, Issue 17

Jan-March 2016

21