Month: September 2014

My father, Eugene Thomas Riza, was from Cleburne Texas. He married my mom after returning from WW-2 as a Navy vet who survived Pearl Harbor. They created me and my older brother Dana, then divorced shortly after, otherwise, I would be a Texan and the world I know would not exist.

My grandfather on my mothers side, James Lloyd King, was from Missouri and was a great inventor. He created several ore refinery plants in Nevada, started one of the first drive-ins in the country down in Arizona, had several patents, and was a gold miner.

I just came across this old obituary of my dads father and I was struck by his entrepreneurial spirit. Creativity is obviously in my blood…

CLEBURNE TIMES-REVIEW - January 4, 1968 - RETIRED MANUFACTURER DIES WEDNESDAY NIGHT
T.H. Riza, 77, of 1129 Alvarado Street, died Wednesday night at his home. He was a native of Somervell County and had been a resident of Cleburne for 60 years. He was a member of the Eastern Heights Baptist Church. Riza for many years operated a feed mill. He invented several machines used in the mixing and preparation of livestock feed. To manufacture one of these, a molasses mixing machine, he founded the Riza manufacturing Company, which was later purchased by his brother, Sam Riza and other members of the family and has expanded to an organization doing business internationally. In 1913 Riza was married to Miss Eugene Simpson. She outlives him. Other survivors are four sons; R.J. and Jack Riza of Cleburne, Gene of Dallas, and John Riza of Arlington. Four daughters; Mrs Alberta McKinney of Fort Worth, Mrs Irene Mitchell of Blum, Mrs Doris Moore of Arlington, and Mrs Marie Jones of Cleburne. Two brothers; Sam of Cleburne and Albert Riza of Gregg County. Thirty two grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren also survive. The funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Dillon-Emmert Chapel with Rev. George Willis officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Here’s my mom and dad:

Here’s my grandfather Jack and grandmother Maude:

Here’s an old post about my grandmothers parents.

We headed over the pass this morning for breakfast at the Bunnery in Jackson. Still great after all these years! Downtown was hopping with an art show and the market, and government spies in shades were photo-bombing the Jim and Sandy obligatory under the arches shot.

Coming back up the pass into Victor we stopped for huckleberry shakes at the Emporium (mandatory tourist stuff) and then a pose with the big spud (again, mandatory).

Jimmie bought a pellet gun at the Emporium so we went back home and shot guns while the ribs simmered in the background wrapped up in tin foil in the slow cooker.

I called our local fire department and told the captain we were fire-pitting tonight, he took our address in case the neighbors called and said have a good time! Click below…

Jim and Sandy drove to Yellowstone today, despite the fact that it’s the coldest day of the season so far, and a tour bus to the park was canceled this morning due to snow.

Steph loaned her camera to her sister Sandy, and she took some nice shots, along with a video of Old Faithful. Click below to blow…

Sandy’s Old Faithful Video:

Stephs sister Sandy and her husband Jim are at the house for a couple of days and Steph whipped up fried chicken and mashed potatoes for dinner. I do most of the dishes around here and our little manual system was a bit overwhelmed tonight.

Pictures of Sandy and Jim? Hey, we got time, firepit Saturday is coming up :-)

Family is coming to town next Thursday evening, leaving Sunday, and I’ve grabbed the forecast. Looks great! There’s nothing better than 70° weather high in the Rockies.