Richard was known as "anti social" however he was good friends of my grandparents and family in Schellville CA. 1938 voter registration shows his mailing address is "RFD 303", the same as my mother who was still unmarried living at home with her folks running Neumans Auto Camp and Garage in Schellville (a story in itself!). Richard was a "ships carpenter" on sailing ships, my grandfather also had been on sailing ships Rounding Cape Horn 1896, on Whalers to the Bering Sea, a Marine Engineer on coastal steam ships or a Donkeyman and sailor on sailing ships on which he and Richard both voyaged for the Alaska Packers Association to the salmon Canneries in Alaska, which is where they became friends. His "Fresh Air" nickname came from him NOT sleeping in a ships focs'le with the crew, he preferred to sleep on deck while onboard ship, whether still true while living alone on his ark I don't know. The railroad section gang would throw used ties into Sonoma Creek to float to him, so he had carving materials. He fell into a peat fire was burned and passed away at the County Hospital in Santa Rosa. I was born in 1950 so it's "possible" he had been introduced to the "new baby" before he died the following year, my mother died in Feb 1953 due to cancer. My Great aunt painted his duck decoys for him when she was 9-11 years old. While reviewing the records and noting the commonality of the "RFD Box 303" with my family I was somewhat stunned...........
In the 1990's while working for the DOT plowing Snow in Lake Tahoe my radio ID call sign was 303!!!!!!! read more
