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The Marshall Barber Shop 

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By Ron Munden 

Up until recently when I heard the words “barber shop” my thoughts raced back to Cotton’s Barber Shop.  Cotton’s was a large barber shop just off the Square in Marshall Texas.  My grandfather took me to get my first haircut in that shop.  I got my last haircut before I left for college in the same shop as well as all the haircuts through the yearsI lived in Marshall.

While at Austin College I went to a 3-chair barber shop just off campus.  This was the “in place” for all the jocks.  I went there every two weeks and paid $1.25 to keep my half-inch “do” just at the  right length.

Somewhere along the way I gave up going to barber shops and began going to the beauty salon. I forgot about the barber shop experience.

Fast forward to 2020 and COVID.  I decided to give up getting a haircut for a few months and wait to COVID to be behind us.  I waited and waited.  My hair got longer and longer.

In January 2022 I decided I could wait no longer.  I needed to get a haircut.

By a stroke of luck, I saw a post on facebook about Laura’s barber shop.  With a little research I found the official name for Laura’s shop was Marshall Barber Shop.  I found the phone number and scheduled an appointment.

At the first appointment Laura told me she was not a hair stylist, she was a barber.

She is right.  She is a barber.  When you walk into her shop you know that you are in a barber shop.  For the first time in years I saw a real barbers chair.  It had been over 50 years since I had sat in one but it was a good fit.  At that first appointment I realized this was not the hair stylist experience.  Little things like having your neck shaved with a straight razor.  It was like being back at Mr. Cotton’s place.  I like being back in a barber shop.

Of course what makes Marshall Barber Shop really special is Laura Dunham.

She is an accomplished barber but more importantly she is the nicest person that anyone could hope to meet.  She enjoys serving people. She does not limit her work to her shop.  If one of her clients can’t come to her, she will go to them.  

She is upbeat and kind.  I have never heard her say a negative word about anyone.  That is a rarity in Marshall, the US or the World these days.  After a haircut at Laura’s you feel good. 

I’m glad I found Laura and Marshall Barber Shop.  It’s a great place to get your haircut.  If this sounds interesting to you, you should pick up the phone and give Laura a call and book an appointment.

Remember it’s Marshall Barber Shop – 903-926-4014.

Footnote:

In late October my wife, Deloris, had Deep Brain Stimulation surgeries.  They completely shaved her head for the procedures. 

The two surgeries are behind her and her hair is growing back in.  She got her first haircut at Laura’s last week.  I like Deloris with short hair and I hope she will keep it that way.   So if she keeps it short.  Maybe Marshall Barber Shop will have two Munden customers.

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P.O. Box 721

Scottsville Texas

75688

Looking Back

1972

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Old Habits Do Die Hard 

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By Ron Munden 

Each morning I start the day with a bowl of cereal, a cup of green tea and a morning write.  I jot down notes about the previous day and a quick plan of the day.  Today, my notes included the design for a new computerized indexing system. Tomorrow it will be something different.

As I was writing today I realized some things just don’t change. 

In 1972 the Navy sent me to a time management class in San Francisco.  The instructor showed us his note keeping system.  He promised the class if we used this system consistently, we would save lots of time and be better managers.  When I returned to the Shipyard the following Monday, I started using his system.  

I used government supplied “green books”.  These were 8 inch by 11 inch hard-bound books about ¾ an inch thick.  I recorded my first note in 1972 and continued using the system until my retirement from DoD on December 31, 1998.

During those 26 years, I recorded my thoughts, daily observations and most importantly a note that recorded the date, time , subject and summary of every meeting I had during the day. I filed every completed notebook in xerox boxes used to hold the reams of paper used by our xerox machines.  When I changed jobs at DoD, all these boxes moved with me to my new office. 

In 1998 when I retired from DoD, one of my last acts was to have all of the 20+ cases of greenbooks loaded into a dumpster.  I did keep  the last three years for future reference.

The instructor was right.  The system had saved me hours of time, allowed me to answer questions that I was asked about meetings that I had held 3+ years earlier and helped me plan future projects.  I do think the system made me a better manager.

When I moved to the private sector I continued using a modified version of the system used at DoD. 

Today, I sat in the kitchen using another slightly modified version of the system used in  1972.  I have been out of the business world for 20 year but I still function the same way.  Old habits do die hard.

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P.O. Box 721

Scottsville Texas

75688

Chapter 2

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Do Companies Actually Read Customer Surveys?

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By Ron Munden

When I receive an online survey form I often think – Will anyone actually read this form or will a computer just scan the responses and store them in a database?  Will my responses just be a dot in the composite data collection?

Earlier this week I posted an article titled, “Is Peters RAM in Longview Texas Where RVs Go To Die?” It was an article about my nightmare experiences with my new Thor Sequence RV.

On the day I posted my article I  received a Customer Satisfaction Survey Form request from Thor Motor Coach.

Since it was mailed a few days prior to my publishing my article, I cannot credit my powerful, compelling writing with me receiving the survey from Thor.  But I am very happy that the Thor Customer Satisfaction sent me the survey.

Of course I was very interested in completing the survey.  If you read my last article on this subject,  it will not be a surprise to you that Thor Motor Coach did not receive high marks on the survey form.  I think my 2000 character description of the current status will clearly identify to Thor why they received very low scores.  They now know I have very serious issues with their product.

So now this is the question – will a human ever review my survey?  Will the Customer Satisfaction Team ever reach out to me?

To be fair I must let you know this is my first time dealing directly with the Thor Motor Coach  company.  My dealings have been with the RV dealership and the RAM Service Center.  So Thor begins with a clear sheet of paper.

After completing the survey I received an email from the Thor Customer Satisfaction Team.  It said: 

Thank you for participating in the Thor Motor Coach customer satisfaction survey process. Our goal is to continue to provide superior products and services. The feedback you provided will assist us in meeting this goal.

Your response will be reviewed by our dealer and product support teams. If we identify that we have not met your expectations, we will take the necessary steps to follow-up to achieve an amicable outcome.

Sincerely,

Customer Satisfaction Team

Now the question is – Is this Thor goal part of its marketing campaign or part of the company’s mission?

Time will tell and so will I.

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P.O. Box 721

Scottsville Texas

75688

A Horror Story

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Is Peters RAM in Longview Texas Where RVs Go To Die?

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By Ron Munden

The Quick Version

On July 21, 2022 I bought an RV.  I have had numerous small problems with the RV which were addressed by the RV dealer.  The cab air conditioning stopped cooling in August. The RV Dealer said it was under RAM warranty and I needed to take it to a RAM dealer. On September 1, 2022 I took it to Peters RAM to do the warranty repairs.  As of September 20, 2022 they still have the vehicle and there are no signs of progress.  I have never been able to use the unit and next week I make my first payment of many.

A Longer Version

On July 21, 2022 I became the proud owner of a new Thor Sequence RV which is built on a RAM ProMaster frame.

I have had a series of problems.  I drove the RV to Missouri where I purchased it and the dealer fixed the house problems.

On the drive up to Missouri the A/C in the cab stopped cooling.  When I reported this to the RV dealer, I was told that this was under the RAM warranty and I should take it to a RAM dealer for repairs.  The lack of A/C has made the vehicle unusable.  I just hate driving around on a 100 degree day without A/C.

The RAM dealer in Marshall said they were not certified for RAM Pro Master work and referred me to Peters RAM in Longview Texas.

I called Peters for an appointment and was told I could not make an appointment for A/C repairs. They said I would need to drive it over and they would “work it in”  but they could not guarantee one-day repairs so I would need to drop it off and they would call me when it was ready.

I arranged for someone to pick me up in Longview and drive me back to Marshall.  On September 1, 2022 I drove the 30 miles to Peters Service Center.  

Prior to taking the RV over I had experienced difficulty starting the vehicle if I turned it off and then needed to restart it within a few minutes.  I had no problem if I waited a half day to restart it.

When I got  to Peters I stopped the RV beside the Service Center and turned it off.  I had the windows down driving over because of the lack of A/C. I realized I needed to raise the window.  The vehicle would not start again.

I went into the Service Center and met a very friendly Peters’ employee.  He was helpful and checked my RV in.  I detailed the problems that I was having – the A/C cooling and the RV not starting a second time.

We walked outside and he verified the problems.  The vehicle still would not start and jumping the battery did not work.

My ride arrived, I waved goodbye to my RV.  Sadly this was the last time I saw my young RV.

Today it is September 20, 2022.  Peters has never called me.  Some of my calls to them have been returned.  Everytime the story is the same – they have not found the problem but they are still looking.  They have no estimate when I might get my RV back.

Based on my conversations it appears that Peters Service Center has no clue what is wrong and they are getting NO HELP from the RAM factory.

Surely there is someone at the RAM factory that can help the Peters Service Center identify and repair these problems.

Next week I will write the check for my first RV payment.  I have not been able to use the RV a single day in the two months I have had it.  I had hoped that my RV and I could share the signing of that first check together but I fear we will be apart.  I will be at home and my RV will be at the Peters Service Center or the Peters Graveyard.

Come-on RAM – you can do better!

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P.O. Box 721

Scottsville Texas

75688

September 16, 2022

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Marshall Depot Board Accepts Original Painting of the Depot From Local Artist

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At their recent monthly board meeting, the volunteer Board of Directors for the Marshall Depot Inc. (MDI) gratefully accepted a beautiful original painting of the historic Marshall Depot painted by local artist, Jack Cargill. 

The Board will hang Mr. Cargill’s original acrylic painting of the Depot in the Marshall Depot Gift Shop, next to the Texas & Pacific Railway Museum, which is located on the second floor of the historic building.

Christina Anderson, president of the MDI Board, shared: “On behalf of the Marshall Depot Board, I want to say how much we appreciate the generosity of Jack Cargill in presenting to us and donating his lovely painting of Marshall’s beautiful, historic Depot. We’re delighted to receive this gift and will proudly display it.”

Jack Cargill shared: “I have always thought the Depot is a beautiful building, and the view of it from the Viaduct, with those old railroad cars in the foreground, is particularly scenic. One day I took a sketchbook and drew it from the Viaduct. Later I decided it warranted a painting, so I took a photograph, on which my acrylic painting is based.”

Mr. Cargill added: “I also love traveling by train, and I have been through that Depot on journeys to and from Chicago and California. Beautiful old buildings should be preserved; they are the ongoing history of our city — the Depot, the Ginocchio, the old Courthouse, and many others.”

A number of original paintings by Jack Cargill are currently or have been displayed in locations in downtown Marshall and in our East Texas region including at Joe Pine’s Coffee Shop, Texas Tea Room, Marshall Public Library, Warehouse 308, and the Longview Arboretum.

Ms. Anderson added: “There are many wonderful reasons to visit the Marshall Depot, Jack Cargill’s painting just adds another one. As you know, we have an outstanding Texas & Pacific Railway Museum at the Depot and we’re incredibly blessed, as a community, to be one of only 525 cities nationwide to have an Amtrak stop. This provides our community members a valuable transportation option for traveling on the Texas Eagle route and connecting to Amtrak’s vast National Network.”

Amtrak’s Texas Eagle provides long-distance daily service through Marshall between San Antonio and Chicago.  Amtrak ticket agent hours every day at the Marshall Depot are: 7:00am-11am and 4:30pm-8:30pm. 

The Texas Eagle train (heading west to Dallas/Fort Worth then south to San Antonio) has the scheduled departure time from Marshall each morning at 7:50am and the Texas Eagle train (heading north to Chicago) has the scheduled departure time from Marshall every evening at 7:31pm.

Ms. Anderson added that the hard-working volunteer Board of Directors is in the process of making a number of upgrades and improvements to the operation, safety, and aesthetics of the Marshall Depot and has great plans going forward.  “We look forward to sharing more information about these plans and ongoing improvements in the coming weeks and months.”

She also shared that upcoming community events will include a Halloween at the Depot celebration and the Depot’s participation in Marshall’s popular Wonderland of Lights Festival. 

Ms. Anderson also shared that Board Vice President Donald Hocutt and Treasurer Cathy Wright are working with the Depot Board and Depot Gift Shop manager, Abby Herman, on expanding and enhancing the inventory in the Marshall Depot Gift Shop. 

She noted: “Board members and Ms. Herman are in the process of taking the steps to make the Marshall Depot Gift Shop a shopping destination for our community not only for the upcoming Christmas season but all year round.”

Marshall Depot Museum and Gift Shop hours are:  Wednesday through Friday 10:00am-3:00pm; Saturday, 11:00am-3:00pm. Closed Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.  

Ms. Anderson also noted that the Marshall Depot is one of the few Amtrak stops on the Texas Eagle route that is not operated by the city it serves. A volunteer Board of Directors operates the Depot as a working Amtrak station, history museum, and gift shop.

Marshall Depot Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit established in 1990 to assist the City with the restoration, operation, and maintenance of the Depot. The volunteer board raises funds, through tax-deductible donations from individuals as well grants from foundations and governmental entities such as the City of Marshall and Harrison County, to maintain the funding needed each year for the operation of the Depot, including insurance, utilities, security, safety, maintenance, and ongoing preservation of the Marshall Depot and T&P Railway Museum. 

She reminded the community that the 2022 Annual Marshall Depot Fundraising campaign is still underway. The Board would appreciate community members making a tax-deductible donation by sending a check to Marshall Depot Inc, at the following address:  800 North Washington Avenue, Suite 1, Marshall, Texas 75670.

Ms. Anderson concluded: “We, on the board, are very grateful for the strong support of our City, County, and community members and for recognizing the valuable transportation asset that the Marshall Depot is and the many other benefits it provides related to economic development, tourism, education, quality of life, as well as documenting and continuing Marshall’s rich and fascinating railroad history.” 

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75688

Driving Information – February 16, 2022

from Say Insurance

Driving Tips

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Editors note:

Recently I was contacted by a company that had some good information on safe driving.  I decided it would be good information for our readers.  This is the information that was provided to me. 

You needn’t be a novice behind the wheel to find yourself wondering about some seemingly basic car questions. Plenty of people are unsure about when, exactly, they should downshift, so if you’ve got some car questions you’re embarrassed to ask, we’ve got you covered with this nifty infographic.

For example, do you know how to cool off a hot car in a jiffy? It’s possible to reduce the temperature by 15 degrees by opening the driver’s door, powering on the vehicle’s accessories, lowering the passenger side rear window down, opening and closing the driver’s door five times (at normal speed), then rolling up the windows and blasting the AC. It might sound wild, but it works because opening the door sucks cooler outside air into the car through that rear window. If you’d like more information about that, or are curious about things like downshifting or choosing the appropriate type of gas for your car, give the following graphic a read before your next ride.

10 Driving Basics You May Be Embarrassed to Ask About

You may have a stellar driving record and change your own oil. You could love being behind the wheel, chasing thousands of miles on a road trip in your well-maintained vehicle. Then the low-gas warning light turns on, and you aren’t sure how far you can drive. Even if you took driver’s education and read the driver’s manual, you probably have questions about operating your vehicle. Don’t worry, we’re here to help with your driving mysteries.

How to Lifehack Your Car

Read on to learn about 10 often-misunderstood driving subjects, and discover tips to improve how you maintain and drive your vehicle.

1. Defog the windshield

After cleaning the frost or snow off your windshield, you may struggle with fog on the inside of the glass. 

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75688