Featured Member

TriFive (Otis)

Otis, is a man we can all be proud to know.  He will already be upset with me for making that statement.  He is an honest, humble man with a lot to teach all of us in how to deal with people

Otis was raised the son of a sharecropper on a tobacco farm near Wilson , North Carolina .  As a young man, he helped his brother work on his white 57 Convertible along with a few other hot rods.  He told me that’s why he has a white 57 today.  Those of you who know him would completely understand how he broke his thumb helping his brother put some spacer blocks in the coil springs of the 57’.  He seems to be filling up the new forum on Safety. 

He found his 57 Chevy on E-bay and had it shipped to his present home near Ft. Knox , Kentucky , where he lives with his wife Julie.  His only daughter, Liesha, lives nearby.

He founded TriFive.com  in December of 2005 and, as such, he is member number 1.  He wanted it to be a spam-free place -- free from people trying to sell you anything; a place for people to gather to get and give advice on repairing and restoring the 55’,56’,57 Chevys; a  safe, friendly place for members to get to know one another with three simple rules:  No profanity, no politics, and be kind to one another.

Otis  retired after 21 years in the U.S. Army where he served in the Airborne Infantry,  or in his words a “Target”.  He joined when he was 18 and retired as an E-8 First Sergeant.  He spent his time in Viet Nam with the 11th Armored Calvary regiment.  I asked him who most inspired him, expecting to hear John Wayne or Audie Murphy.  His answer touched me to the heart. He told me a story about a fellow solder, Arthur Likens.  He was the last solder killed in his unit before leaving Viet Nam .  He told me that Arthur was a father of three who took several rounds before throwing himself on a live grenade to save Otis and his fellow soldiers.  Otis and others are here today due to the sacrifice and bravery of that one man.  Otis also supports a web site dedicated to Viet Nam era veterans.

I asked Otis what would he do if he won the lottery.  He said, "Move to Hawaii."  He loves the tropical weather.  His hobbies are obvious -- the Internet, computers and working on his classic car. His favorite music is out of the late 60's -- Credence Clearwater Revival is his favorite band and Jimi Hendrix his favorite musician.  He had aspirations of being a pilot and passed ground school, but it was not to be a parachute accident, while assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division that kept him from earning his wings.  His favorite hot rod movie is "Hollywood Nights".  He said that there is a great 57' Chevy in there.  He was shy in admitting that 57s hasn't always been his favorite car.  He said his favorite car he owned was a 1970 Superbee with a 440 and a four speed.  So we now know why he is putting that big block in his 57.

When asked what would you like to tell every member of TriFive.com he said, " Thank you all for being friendly, kind and helpful in the forum."

Otis, for one I am proud to know you and on behalf of the rest of the members of  TriFive I want to say, "Thank you for bringing us all together and keeping this site running so well.  You are appreciated.' -- Editor    

TriFive's garage                            

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