STAN & THE ARKANSAW WHACKER

For three summers starting in 1970 I worked with Stan in Jackson Hole at Frontier Airlines.
For a decade afterwards we made trips together or met for "cowcooks" and such in Jackson.
He was such a good friend and had so many talents, many unknown to most folks.

He could do all sorts of things with wood.  Beginning in the mid 70s the Frontier station agents in Jackson
started collecting aluminum cans to make money for station activities such as parties, gifts, etc.
They got cans from servicing the aircraft and from use in the station.  Several methods were being used
to compact them so they wouldn't take up so much room.  None seemed very efficient so I suggested to 
Stan they make an "Arkansaw Whacker" for the job.  He was immediately interested and we went to his
house where we put one together using his tools.  Basically, it is a home made mallet.  Get a chunk of
small log for the head, drill a hole thru it, insert whatever you're using as a handle, and you're in 
business.  We made a large one and it was an immediate "smash" with the can compactors.  One whack and it
was done.  

If you've ever seen Gallagher, the comedian, with his mallet, you know how it works.  Everybody wanted to smash
those cans.  It was fun and got rid of all sorts of aggressions.

In 1980 I became head of the agents' union, ALEA, at Frontier.  Around 1982 I was having a drink with Stan in a bar
in Denver.  I told him some of the problems I had a meeting where the participants didn't always pay attention
or engaged in private conversations instead of attending to business.  I guess I needed a big gavel or something.

Months went by and then I got a note from Stan that I should send him a big suitcase.  He had something he wanted
to send to me.  I was flummoxed as to what it was.  No idea & he gave no clue.

A month later I came into Denver for a big union meeting and the suitcase I had sent Stan was awaiting me
at the Ramada Inn, my regular digs in Denver.  I opened the suitcase up in my room and was amazed to find it filled 
with styrofoam into which a neat cradle had been carved to hold the largest, most beautiful, gavel I've ever seen in
my life.  The head had "JAKE"  and the handle had "The Arkansaw Whacker" engraved on it.  It was, and still is,
gorgeous.  There was a note, "Now you can handle them!"

I had a field day with it at my meeting and everyone was impressed.  Stan had taken my home made concept and turned
it into a work of art.  That was so typical of him.

I still have the gavel displayed in my den.  It is 19 inches long; the head is 8 inches long and 4 inches in
diameter.  It's varnished a beautiful deep brown hue.  It invariably causes comments and admiration and I am reminded
anew of my great friend, Stan Needham.

-Jake Lamkins
(6/18/99)