My dad started driving trucks in 1950 at the ripe old age of 16. He, William (Cannonball) Butler, drove until he died in september 1998. While my dad drove he never had an accident that was his fault or been involved in a major accident. How many million miles he drove is beyond me and only God knows.

Men like my father never seem to get any recognition. They were old school hard workers, they loved the road and took pride in their job. They didn't seek to be recognized for their work either, all they asked was for decent pay and decent equipment to drive.

I come here today to SALUTE my father and all the other lifetime truckers who have gone on to driving the hiway of Gold up yonder. These men and a few ladies paved the way for those of us who have followed. It is easy to complain and gripte about trucking today but I wonder just how many of us would still drive if we had to do it like they did it back in the 50's and 60's with only 2 lane roads and small or no sleepers, with small diesels or gas engines, no a/c or power steering, ect....probably not too many!

Blessings All
Tim (Fireball) Butler......3rd generation driver

More respect and less traffic. Where'd I put that friggin time machine?

Nice Post TIM!

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Fireball, aka Tim

First my condolances to you an yrs and blessings always ,wonderful to read post of remembrance ....the emptness never realy goes away but time heals ...i am sure he would be proud to see your words of his memory alwys as he watchs from the highway in heaven another angel to guide their fellow truckers safly home ..Take care nice post ..Sincerely Angel

I am sorry also for your loss. It is so hard to loose a parent. I lost my mother back in 84 and it seems like yesterday sometimes.
Your father was one of the men who made it possible for a lot of us to be able to drive now days.
It was much harder to earn a living back then I am told and we all need to be reminded of the good men that built the trucking business.
I could never have driven the trucks back then with out power steering. I drove my first truck that had center point steering. It was hard enough.

My husband met a man at a truckstop once while fueling up and he told me , He was blown away by this guy who was 83 yrs old and still driving, he told my husband this is my life......

Wow! Tim that is a beautiful post!