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Archived Past Pages:
2007 pages
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010908 |
W
e e k l y F
e a t u r e P a g e
Links to archived past pages on lower left
| The contents of the “Weekly Feature” page are provided
to you for your entertainment, amusement, and perhaps information.
Here you may find articles of interest, pictures, historical information
on the Club, or whatever shuffles to the top of the pile on our
desk. The only defined characteristic of this space is that we
will make every effort to change/replace it around the middle of
each week. Thank you for visiting, and please stop by again. Click
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Member Profile
"Walt"
A year ago, when the “Weekly Feature” page was begun, this was one
of the ideas that I thought would be fun, informative, and worth-while. When
I finally got around to doing it, my prediction was confirmed. This is the first
attempt at profiling one of our members, but hopefully not the last. Given the
particulars, I think most will agree this was a logical place to start. The only
flaw in my logic is the fact almost everyone in the club already knows the subject,
but maybe we can fill out his resume’ with a few more details.
A little background to start, Founding Member Walt Ritenburg was
born Feb. 7th, 1934, just about a half mile from where he now resides,
just across
the corner
from our showgrounds. At only 3 pounds and a few ounces, his incubator
was a cigar box on top of Grandma’s heat register, he was told.
Walt grew up, like many of us, as a farm boy, and never really got
that out of his system.
He attended the Koyne School on the Ridge Rd. in his boyhood days, and
when the
time was right, he married Ann Herbers, in 1954, and we congratulate them
on more than 50 years together.
Whatever early plans they may have made
were soon to be interrupted, however,
when in 1955 Walt’s services were requested by Uncle Sam. Actually,
in those days, the word “request” was pronounced “draft”.
Life happens, as they say, and so it was off to Great Lakes Naval Base
for basic training, and then on to San Diego CA, where he spent most of
his duty. The Navy
Brass had a good eye for occupational specialties, so they did the natural
thing and handed Walt a wrench. His official duty was as an engine and
diesel mechanic,
no surprise there, but the interesting part is that almost all of his time
was spent in the service and repair of submarines. While submarines are
seldom spotted
in Brady Twp., the skills and knowledge gained in the USN complemented
Walt’s
natural gifts and together they have served him well over the ensuing 50
years.
In September of 1957, Walt returned home to resume his life with
Ann, shook the California beach sand from his boots, and stuck them,
once and for
all, back
in the Brady Township clay. He resumed his job at Universal Electric
in Owosso and they began the business of raising a family of 5 daughters
and
farming
all at the same time. In 1963 he purchased the farm where he has lived
and continues
to live. The property at that time included all of the open land we now
know and use as our Showgrounds. The additional wooded acreage came to
us with
the 1991 purchase of the Myra Devereaux property.
In 1971, after a total
of 14 years with the company in Owosso, Walt hired in to what was then
Saginaw Steering Gear in Saginaw, where he continued
to work
until retiring in 1991.
In 1974, with 5 other friends and neighbors,
Walt became one of the Founding members of the Mid Michigan Old Gas
Tractor Association. After the first
couple of shows, when it became clear that the club would outgrow the
original 6 acres
or so that were used at the Lawrence Haak farm, Walt decided to lease
a part of his farm to us for our annual August show. The growth continued
and as
the organization prospered, he agreed to sell us, first one 20 acre parcel,
and some
years later the second (east) 20 acres were added. In addition, today
we
lease a few acres from Walt on the east side of Brennan Rd. that is used
for trailer
parking during the show.
In all of that time, there is probably no more
familiar face to be associated with the MMOGTA than Walt’s. He
has served as a founding member, has held all the major Board positions
for one or more terms, been our landlord
and benefactor,
and one of our most tireless workers and promoters. To this day, during
the active season, he is seen daily on the showgrounds, inspecting,
checking, mowing,
repairing,
maintaining equipment, and making sure all is well. Simply stated, if
we had paid him for all the hours he has put in on our behalf, the
club would be broke,
and Walt would be wealthy.
Of course it wasn’t all work, since
our organization has a fun-loving reputation, that has always been
one of the main attractions for Walt as well as the rest
of us. He has long enjoyed the participation aspects and is still always
out there with one of his favorite John Deeres when it’s time
for a tractor pull. It is well known that the long green line is his
chosen
brand, but in the
23 or so tractors he now owns, many other brands are represented as
well. But, after 34 years, we all have come to recognize that the club
is much
more than
just the hardware, the property, and the events, it’s about the
long term friendships and associations that we have all developed over
that time.
Walt
readily acknowledges that, looking back, his connection with the MMOGTA
has been a source of great pride and gratification for him.
Today,
Walt is just a few days shy of his 74th birthday, and when I went to
visit him and Ann to glean a little info for this article,
they were
both out
in the
garage (shop), the heat was on, Walt’s pipe was lit, he still
had the wrench in his hand, grease from knees to elbows, and a John
Deere A torn down to the
frame in the corner. 74 years, several careers, 5 kids, 18 grandkids,
13 great-grandkids later, and he’s still able to be Walt. I like
the timeless consistency of that! (click photos below to enlarge)
  
 
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