In 1969 my great-grandfather bought “Ole Blue"!” She is a 1969 Chevrolet C-10 with a Inline 6 cylinder 250 and 3-speed on the column. This truck was used as a Daily Driver for my great-grandfather who owned and ran a woodworking business “Odom’s Woodworking.” I remember being a kid and riding with my great-grandfather through town. He was a tall lanky man who I remember as soft spoken. He passed away in 1995 at the age of 89. I was just 15 years old. When my great-grandfather passed away he left this trunk to his oldest son, my grandfather “Papa.” My Papa could not drive a 3-speed on the column to save his neck. He would grind the gears and I was constantly working to realign the column. It mainly sat in his yard with the occasional trip the the landfill, which are some of my fondest memories. I had just got my license in 1995 and my grandfather allowed me to drive this truck to high-school. It had faded blue paint and the wood bed had been rotted for years. It was not eye pleasing or cool by any standard in those days. Later I bought a new truck and returned Ole’ Blue to my grandfather.

Many years later I received a call from my Papa and he said, “C.W. come get this truck!” He had torn up the column again and out of frustration gave me the truck. Plus he knew we had a connection with the truck and he hoped that one day I would restore it to its former glory. That truck sat in my barn for 20 years. I would occasionally talk to people about restoring it but the cost was always outside my budget and was way beyond the worth the truck. My life got busy and expensive. I got married and had 3 kids. My boys would always ask me, “Dad, why have you not restored Ole’ Blue?” “Because you are expensive,” I would reply.

It was not till I started writing my book did God open an opportunity to restore Ole’ Blue. In the introduction of my book I tell a story about Ole’ Blue which lays the foundation for the title and wordplay “You Are The Man!” Shortly after writing the introduction I was introduced to an incredible guy named Luis who was interested in doing a restoration. This introduction was through a friend at church who was referring me for some paint repair on my son’s jeep. While talking to Luis he said, you know…I would like to do a restoration. I knew God was in this. It was out of the blue and immediately followed my writing about this truck. I was being obedient and bringing my Father glory through my story, and He in turn was blessing this work. To top it all off, he blessed me by making it affordable. So, here we are. After 20+ years of waiting, I am finally getting Ole’ Blue restored and I am beyond excited. My hope is that Ole’ Blue will be finished close to the time of the release of my book. I cannot wait to drive it around and use it as an opportunity to share my story for His Glory.

Thanks for following my journey with “Ole’ Blue.”