I was born on June 27, 1914 in Winfield, LA, Huey P. Long’s home town.  I am a twin.  I lived in Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama and later in Texas.  Living in Mississippi, I got involved with my first Model T.  I was selling newspapers at the train depot.  I was 10 years old.  Stepping out between two cars to cross the street, I was suddenly hit in my rear and knocked to the gravel street.  The driver who was the town mortician, told my Father he almost ran over me when he backed up to see what he had hit.  My Dad accused him of trying to drum up business.  A year later, I was again involved with a T.  A neighbor asked me if I wanted to go with him to get gas.  After filling the tank, I grabbed the crank (the switch way in) and pulled up on the crank.  It backfired and the crank caught me on my jaw.  Knocked me flat on my back. 

I lived and went to school in North Louisiana during the depression.  We were known as the “Depression Kids”.  Circumstances broke up my family.  I hoboed for two years going in all directions.  I ended up in Houston, Texas and worked for an oil field equipment and drilling tool manufacturing company.  I learned how to make tungsten carbide metal to put on drilling bits.  I went into the Navy in 1940, came out of the Navy in 1945 as a diesel mechanic.  I worked as a brakeman, yard switchman in San Francisco for the South Pacific Railroad.  I came to Long Beach, went to work at the Navy Shipyard as a Machinist.  I retired in 1977 as Forman of tool grinding with 37 ½ years in Civil Service.  Howard said, “Get a life”.

While working at the Navy yard, I went to Saudi Arabia as powerhouse operator.  While working at night (during the peak hours of using electricity at night and early in the morning.

One of the engines had a crankcase explosion while I was along side of it.  The explosion blew all six head covers straight up into the roof, leaving six dents in the sheet metal.  It knocked me down and I lost both shoes.  I knew the head cover was coming down, so I scooted fast for a tank and got under it.  The explosion knocked the roll up door out of its track and lifted the roof up over the door.  After I came home, I received a letter about the 1200 h.p. engine blowing the end of the building out.  And Howard told me, ”to get a life!” Ha!

I returned to the Navy yard, and then went to the South Pacific on the Atomic Blast as powerhouse Operator. 

I came back to Long Beach and Navy yard.  I stopped chasing the almighty $$.  I met up with Jeannie, convinced her she needed me for the rest of her life.  We have two daughters, Lisa and Linda.  Lisa lives in Reno, Nevada, Linda in Lakewood, CA.  I have three sons from a previous marriage, Allen Jerry and Kent.  We have nine grand children, five great-grand children.  And Howard said, “Get a Life”.  What does he know?

I also organized the union local of the American Federation of Government Employees #2237.  I was local President, then became Forman, and dropped out of AFGE. 

I retired and operated a grinding ship in my garage for twelve years and Howard told me to, “Get a life!”  HA!!

One of your LBMTC Past President’s    

Floyd Fife 

On a sad note, Floyd's beloved wife, Jeanie of 44 years, passed away on December 23rd, 2003.  Our sympathies are with the Fife family.