Post your favorite memories about Major Culver

[Jefferson Adams]

My favorite memory of Dick Culver is actually a conglomeration of several memories: Dick and Gloria and I met many times for lunch, in a couple of local restaurants which still allowed cigar smoking. We would have lunch and literally sit there for 4 or 5 hours talking, most of which was Dick telling sea stories, camel tales, and the like. I have never - NEVER - laughed so hard or so long in my entire life. Dick had an incredibly rich history of things that he'd either been a part of or that had happened to him, and they way he told most of them they were simply hysterical. If you didn't actually know him, you'd swear that all of those things could not possibly have happened to one man, but I have no doubt that they did. And many of them are here on this website, in his Camel Tales or Jouster Tales.

My absolute favorite - and one which I tried for years, unsuccessfully, to get him to write down - was the story of his being accosted by an airport security guard in the Spokane airport as he and Gloria were headed for a flight. Dick, as was customary, had a cigar in his mouth - unlit - and this very large (they found out later he was a retired state patrolman) security guard approached them and told Dick to take the cigar out of his mouth, there was no smoking in the airport. Dick replied - and I quote - "I will NOT!" (it wasn't lit, after all), and the situation deteriorated from there. Suffice to say that the security guard had NO idea who he was messing with, and he was WAY out of his league

I grin ear to ear every time I think about that story, and I really, really wish Dick had written it down.

[da gimp]

I'm like Jefferson ,Kurt & Brad....... I flat out love the Major's stories posted here... & the ones he used to post on the crackerbarrel/guntalk........... he used to regale us with stories of him & Gloria at gunshows, with her 1903 Pederson device in hand trolling for crooked dealers........

[Brad in Idaho]

My absolute favorite - and one which I tried for years, unsuccessfully, to get him to write down - was the story of his being accosted by an airport security guard in the Spokane airport as he and Gloria were headed for a flight. Dick, as was customary, had a cigar in his mouth - unlit - and this very large (they found out later he was a retired state patrolman) security guard approached them and told Dick to take the cigar out of his mouth, there was no smoking in the airport. Dick replied - and I quote - "I will NOT!" (it wasn't lit, after all), and the situation deteriorated from there. Suffice to say that the security guard had NO idea who he was messing with, and he was WAY out of his league

I grin ear to ear every time I think about that story, and I really, really wish Dick had written it down.

That was one of my favorite stories too. I think they were on the way to a GCA convention that time. I remember Gloria rolling her eyes when he started telling that tale.

BTW da gimp, I followed Gloria around once at the Big Reno Gun Show when she trolled with the Pedersen Device equipped rifle. I had to stay close enough to hear what was being said, but far enough away to keep the dealers from seeing or hearing me laugh while they tried to con Gloria out of the rifle. What a hoot!

[da gimp]

When I was trying to recover from my first bout with lung cancer in late 1999 & early 2000............ I know in my heart that our Lord sent me here to Jousters'.......... The Major's stories & all the posts from the very many good people I met here, helped me to regain my interest in living & to rekindle my love for fine old firearms & good people in general..........


Here's one for the Major & the Swede, ... I wish there was one of someone smoking a good cigar..........................but the good ale lifted in tribute to two good people will do just fine.

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

I remember the event where Dick was accosted by airport security at the Spokane, WA airport. Dick and Gloria were on their way to the NRA Convention in Charlotte, NC, I believe it was 2001. Dick had told me to meet him at the show, that he would be at the Soldier of Fortune booth. He said if he wasn't at the booth when I arrived, just tell Col. Bob Brown I was a friend of Dick Culver. Boy, did that go a long way with the Colonel, he said "Hey Gunny, good to meet you, Dick said you would be stopping by, pull up a chair." So I sat down waiting for Dick and Gloria, passing the time talking to the Colonel. Hours went by, no sign of Dick, so I walked the show (had a young nephew with me, he was getting restless), walked the entire show, still no sign of Dick and Gloria. We stayed at the show until almost closing time and decided there must have been a delay with the flight, little did I know it was Dick and his cigar that delayed his boarding the flight. We decided since we had already seen all the exhibits we would head back to Alabama, (since we had not checked into the hotel yet). We were half way back home when Gloria called and said "Hey, where are you at", I told her we had been at the show all day and thought they were not coming. Gloria told me what had happened with the cigar and Dick standing his ground. Once the security guard had Dick in an interview room, he told Dick "Sit Down" Dick replied "No thank you, I'll stand" it went down hill from there. Not only was Dick pulled from the flight, the FBI was called in. When Dick told the FBI agents the story, they thought it was the funniest thing they had heard in a long time. The airport security guard embarrassed, just kind of disappeared in the distance, though got the upper hand, Dick and Gloria missed their flight.

When Dick was relating the story he commenced to tell me about the time Lou Costello was driving in Northern California at a time smoking was banned while driving during the dry season of the year. He said Lou was chewing on his cigar and was pulled over for smoking. Lou said "My cigar is not lit" the trooper said, "But you were going to smoke it" Lou said, "I've got shoes on, but I'm not walking" Dick had a few choice words of ill will toward the security guard for making him miss the first day of the show.

I always enjoyed how Dick would tie a good story into a character in history or a good movie, such as "Hey, do you remember the time Tom Mix and his horse Tony--------fill in the blank as you may. There will never be another like him.

[Jefferson Adams]

Richard, THANK YOU for adding to the Spokane Airport story - I'd forgotten the "No thank you, I'll stand" part!

Damn. I REALLY wish he'd written that one down. For those who never heard it, it was basically a back and forth between Dick and the security guard, just like that, with the guard trying to show his authority with every statement and Dick effortlessly slicing and dicing him with each reply. Truly hysterical. That poor guy was so outgunned he never stood a chance! :O

And da gimp, this is for you - best pic of somebody smoking a cigar I could find



I'm sure that if Clint had known Major Culver he'd be saying something about like that.

[holdover]

I only knew the Major through the emails we sent each other over the years. The USMC was a common bond between us as well as the enjoyment of a nice 03. I passed the notice of his passing to my neighbor and good friend, who was a fellow Rat, here is what he sent me.
"He wa a First Classman when I was a Rat. Didn't know him well, but he was a nice guy. He was famous for throwing large firecrackers in the courtyard after taps!"

I can hear them going off! Rest in Peace Sir, your service has left the world a better place.

[Critch]

I have to agree with JBWhite. It was so nice of the Culvers to open their doors here to us. I never met the Major personally, but I also love his sea stories. Thanks to both of you.

[Doug Douglass]

Dick and Glorias website has been a source of expert opinion for thousands involved in our hobby. Thank you.

We all know who guards the Gates of Heaven, the U.S.M.C.

[Vern Humphrey]

Good bye for a while, Dick. I'll meet you in the American Sector in Valhalla at the Bob Hope show.

Major Vern Humphrey

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

Back in early 2005, I called Dick and Gloria to see if they were interested in meeting us at the Big Reno Gun Show in April of that year. They said they would plan on it, and they would see if they could get the CMP to come as well, (which they did). Messages was posted on the forum and we made it a big CSP get together, for a meet and greet.

Gloria called me later and said it was the same month as Dick's Birthday (69th), and could we help plan a surprise party at the hotel. So me and Camille (my better half affectionately known as Melebug), said we would help in reserving a conference room at the Hilton. Everything went off without a hitch, Dick had no idea what he was in for, I believe the party was on Saturday night. I don't know how many forum members from CSP showed up, but I know we had 50 or better. Mike Ginger was in charge as the MC and the surprise party quickly turned into a roast, and Dick was the main dish.

Dick brought his M1903 W/Pedersen Device, and Gloria and Camille had fun trolling at the show. Gloria would pass by unsuspecting collectors and table holders and give then some story about how she inherited this old rifle from her grandfather and didn't know if it was worth anything or not. Upon returning to our tables, it looked like Gloria was the Pied Piper, with a bunch of dealers in tow, trying to buy the M1903 and Pedersen Device for pennies on the dollar.

Here are some photos of the party and roast. I don't know why I only have one of Dick wearing the kids plastic helmet, albeit from the rear, but if I can't find a better one, I know Gloria probably has one.

Edit: See PhillipM's post below for photos. (Thanks! Phillip)

Well, apparently I have forgot how to upload photos to CSP without one having to click on a Photobucket link. Any instruction would be greatly appreciated.

[PhillipM]

Richard, Top left row of icons above the reply window, third icon from the right is a mini portrait. Go to your photobucket and look at the sharing options on the right and click "Direct" Next click the portrait icon and when the dialoge box appears right click in the text window and select "Paste"

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

Phillip:

Thanks for posting the photos for me and the tutorial.

I despise computers, hate them actually. The wife tells all her friends, that I have dog cussed computers ever since we had to learn how to use them at CID @ CamPen, 1988 time frame.
They took away our Remington Selectrics and installed these huge computers, about three times the size of a Mermite can on the deck by our desk. We were told if we didn't like it, go find a typewriter.

Since I had contacts at DRMO, we found out when the Remingtons were coming up for auction. Several of us showed up at the Thursday auction, bid a grand total of $20 and bought the d@mn things back. When we put the things back in our respective offices, we gained the ire of the Gunner and MasterGuns, whom thought after the things having been gone for about two weeks, they mysteriously showed back up, albeit now sporting a large personal property tag.

Semper Fi,

Richard

[aintright]

Never met Dick or Gloria , but i can tell by the post of those who did , it was a treat to know them . I do appreciate the site they created here and reading and learning provided by it . Thank you , Kenneth

[Jefferson Adams]

Richard, great photos - that first one of Dick with the big grin, cigar in one hand and knife in the other, is pure, unadulterated Dick Culver! I'll always remember him with that mischievous, hand-in-the-cookie-jar grin!

For those who never had a chance to meet him in person, THAT is Pure Essence of Culver!!