“Little Joe” Morgan left quite a mark in Manteca and Ripon as well as on the California National Guard he served for some 49 years from the rank of sergeant to that of a much-respected Chief Warrant Officer 4.
Joe, whose real name was Eulis, died at 89 last Thursday surrounded by his family who cherished their memories of dad and husband and grandfather who continued to work on his tractor and exercise in the swimming pool as long as he was able.
While at Ripon High, he had an interesting and challenging hobby alongside his dad, breaking horses and joining the rodeo circuit where he rode bareback while his dad served as the rodeo clown while all the time following the Golden Rule tenet that he learned as a young boy — treating others the way he wanted to be treated.
His high school friends were attached to their horses too, and they put together a pack train that they took up into the Sierra earning the name, “The Bonanza Bunch” after the TV show of the same name. That’s where his moniker “Little Joe” was born.
It was in Morgan’s era in Ripon schools that Harry Knopf was principal Ripon Elementary School
Morgan’s funeral is set for Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Park View Cemetery chapel on French Camp Road.
Grocery store helps catch identity thefts
The Save Mart team in Ripon did all the right things in reporting three individuals back in October with Ripon officers finding nearly 1,000 pieces of mail, credit cards and social security cards in their U-Haul truck outside their Ripon Store on Colony Avenue.
The district attorney called a press conference on Friday to applaud the efforts of the store clerk and the quick response of the Ripon officers who took the three into custody — all in state prison today. That act saved the 400 individuals represented in those 1,000 pieces of identity theft from countless headaches.
It was awesome to see the district attorney and the Chief Postal Inspector from San Francisco all on top of the case with Ripon Police Chief Ed Ormonde also stepping up to the microphone at the DA’s press conference. The three sent to prison also had a history of allegedly causing identity theft problems as far south as Los Angeles.
Friends in strategic places
Learned a great lesson recently — not to ignore the red trouble light on the dash the shape of a battery. It was obvious it meant the battery was not charging i.e. alternator — when it goes out you can drive on battery power but not for very long.
Pulled out of my garage to go to work. Stopped at the cluster mail box to get my bills and advertising junk. You guessed it, the car wouldn’t start since it had been tool long since seeing that red box the night before. Living in a 55-plus community, a number of the residents drove by and kindly just waved. Hey, what I really needed was a jump from their car.
Finally, as I was about to call AAA, another gent rides up on his bike and asked if he could help.
“You don’t have the resources I need,” I quipped.
But he rode back home and got a small portable jump device and the engine started right up telling me that should be good for about six miles — and it was getting me to Moffat and Industrial Park Drive. Coming up to the signal the engine sputtered and I coasted around the corner into the Laura Scudder’s potato chief distribution center driveway.
Now it was time to quit being so proud and call AAA.
Not so fast.
Called my friends at Second Harvest Food Bank hoping someone would be free to come and rescue me. Rudy Valencia was on the way as soon as he hung up. But, what do I see, but a Manteca Fire Department Battalion Chief and fellow Rotarian pull in behind me.
Dave Marques was my hero who gave me enough of a charge to get to my auto repair shop down Moffat Boulevard. Had to call Second Harvest off, but I sure appreciate their effort. Thanks Rudy! And you too, Dave!
To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.
