February 2000

GMC Classics friends of Zack Cartwright are saddened by his death. Zack was born March 1, 1935 in Rush Springs, Oklahoma. On January 1, 1998, he was given the diagnosis of cancer in regard to a condition that had been bothering him. He passed away on February 11, 2000.

In addition to his loving wife, Faye, he is survived by one son, Gregg, and one grandson, Zack Nolan Cartwright, his parents, Clyde and Ozell Cartwright, two sisters, Wanda and Judy, two brothers, Jerry and Larry, and father-in-law, B.D. Jones.

Zack worked for some time for Union Carbide. He was active in many civic activities, including coaching a winning Little League team for several years. For some time, he raced corvettes, winning many races.

We remember him best as an active member of GMC Classics--always ready to help out in any way. He loved his GMC and took pride in it's appearance and mechanical fitness. His friendliness, his smile and his sense of humor are memories we treasure.

A tribute written by Roger Christenson sums up who Zack was;
"We will remember Zack's vehicles as being a shining example of the man and his life."

We Classics extend heartfelt sympathy to Faye and to Zack's family in this time of great loss.

REFLECTIONS

January 2, 1993, IH10 somewhere between Houston and San Antonio:

We had just purchased our GMC three months ago. We were stocking it with everything including a full set of tools so it would be ready to go at a moment's notice. A salesman at a RV store mentioned a GMC club and gave us a couple of names to contact. After a few calls we ended up talking to Corky. This was the one-stop GMC family. Between Corky and Virgie we had applications for FMCA, GMC International, GMC Classics, GMCMM information, an invite to visit their home on our way to our first "camp out", an invite to our first rally, lots of advise, and headers.

We were cruising back from a New Years Eve trip to New Orleans when the CB barked with a distinctive east Texas accent,

"Hey there GMCer". A quick visual check--No GMCs and no 18-wheelers. Must be a car.

"You got 'em. Go ahead."

"Don't I know you?"

"I don't think so." The only person with an east Texas accent I knew was a B-52 pilot.

We had a short conversation and agreed to meet at the rally in Ingram, TX. I'm very bad at remembering names but I was to look for a blue GMC with red stripes.

This was the start of a long friendship with Zack and Faye Cartwright (see GMCMM-January 1993).

Many of us remember Zack as one of the first Classics members we met. He was always there to greet members both new and old. I can see him at the coffeepot pouring coffee, making coffee, or just chewing the fat with members and visitors alike. If anyone had a problem, Zack was one of our technical resources. Many times I saw him shuck his starched and creased jeans to put on work cloths to help out. At one rally he sat at a picnic table and, with his pocketknife, hand carved an exhaust gasket from a special material for me. It seemed that he was always on the cleanup committee after meals.

Zack had a mischievous smile and quick wit. I was never completely sure when he was pulling my leg, but the twinkle in his eyes usually gave him away.

Zack lost his two-year battle with his illness on February 11, 2000. Please keep Faye and their family in your prayers.

"Hey there GMCer".

Larry

As I think about the year 2000 and the many unanswered questions about the future, I would like to share with you some questions to which I still seek answers:

--Why isn't "phonetic" spelled the way it sounds?

--Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii?

--For those of us who are scientifically inclined, if a vehicle is travelling at the speed of light, what happens when you turn on the headlights?

--And for those who love the ironic, why is it when you transport something by car it's called a shipment, but when you transport something by ship, it's called cargo?

--The one I will personally admit that I do, although I don't understand why, is: when you are driving and looking for a street address, why do you turn down the volume on the radio?

Some of life's questions will always remain unanswered. Perhaps the most important question is, how will we travel through 2000? My hope is that we will each step through the year full of optimism about life.

You know, an optimist isn't necessarily someone who sees the glass half-full rather than half-empty, but someone who sees the world as possibilities lit by the lantern of hope in the haze of pessimism.

Sad but true, the negative often outsells the positive. Just read the newspapers. But when we focus on the bad and ignore the good in life, we forfeit our chance to make a difference. Perhaps we forfeit our chance at happiness.

The world isn't perfect. There are highs and lows. But as a good friend once told me, "If there were no valleys, we would have no mountains to climb."

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything. "They just make the best of everything."

That is surely true about all of you. You are the Best of the Best. Thanks for allowing me to serve you as President this past year. I hope each of you enjoyed the journey as much as I did.

Richard Roucloux