When Just a Kid
July 5, 2021
Harold grew up on a dairy farm so the source of the manure will be obvious.
When Harold was still just a child he started a manure sacking and selling business. Cameo Dairy Farm bottled its own milk and sold it cash and carry style and through home delivery milk routes in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California. Consequently there was a constant stream of customers and manure for Harold's manure business. When he got just a little older Harold could use the dump truck to deliver a whole load of cow dung to someone. Once he dumped a whole load on the front yard of the wrong house. Oops! Drive away quick.
Harold wanted a swimming pool and his father made the mistake of saying, "if you dig the hole, I will finish the pool." Harold organized his friends and the neighborhood kids into a digging brigade. With the help of one of the farm horses pulling a big scrapper the kids dug the pool hole. The was completed and I swam in it as a small child.
When Harold was just starting high school he and his best friend began a lawncare service. They did so well that eventually the best friend and his father bought Harold out.
While still in high school Harold was already milking a string of cows by hand and helping to run the dairy.
Being well versed in business and helping run the dairy became very important later because Harold's mother died in a car accident when he was 16 and his father passed away when Harold was 19. His father spent the last year of his life teaching Harold all he could about every aspect of running the cash and carry and taking care of the cows. Harold told me he was never so scared as when he came home from his father's funeral and had the weight of all that responsibility settle on his shoulders. He had a little brother, Carroll, to take care of too. Thankfully Harold's father had the foresight to select 2 excellent guardians for his children. They were instrumental to Harold's success. These guardians remained close to Harold throughout their lives.
When Harold was still just a child he started a manure sacking and selling business. Cameo Dairy Farm bottled its own milk and sold it cash and carry style and through home delivery milk routes in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California. Consequently there was a constant stream of customers and manure for Harold's manure business. When he got just a little older Harold could use the dump truck to deliver a whole load of cow dung to someone. Once he dumped a whole load on the front yard of the wrong house. Oops! Drive away quick.
Harold wanted a swimming pool and his father made the mistake of saying, "if you dig the hole, I will finish the pool." Harold organized his friends and the neighborhood kids into a digging brigade. With the help of one of the farm horses pulling a big scrapper the kids dug the pool hole. The was completed and I swam in it as a small child.
When Harold was just starting high school he and his best friend began a lawncare service. They did so well that eventually the best friend and his father bought Harold out.
While still in high school Harold was already milking a string of cows by hand and helping to run the dairy.
Being well versed in business and helping run the dairy became very important later because Harold's mother died in a car accident when he was 16 and his father passed away when Harold was 19. His father spent the last year of his life teaching Harold all he could about every aspect of running the cash and carry and taking care of the cows. Harold told me he was never so scared as when he came home from his father's funeral and had the weight of all that responsibility settle on his shoulders. He had a little brother, Carroll, to take care of too. Thankfully Harold's father had the foresight to select 2 excellent guardians for his children. They were instrumental to Harold's success. These guardians remained close to Harold throughout their lives.