I assume the place to start this is to say I was born in Compton, California in 1945, number three child.  My parents had built a new house in Bellflower in 1940, and that was to be home for my brother, sister and myself for all our growing-up years.  All my school years were spent in Bellflower, I graduated from Bellflower High School is 1963.  I attended Cerritos College after high school (some time before LBMTC Swap meets arrived) and graduated from the same with an AA Degree in Mechanical Drafting in 1966.

 With the Military Draft in full effect during that era, I decided I would like to try to control my destiny somewhat, so I enlisted in the Naval Air Reserve at Los Alamitos in 1965 (actually my cousin and I did it together, strength in numbers you know).  After college I was called to active duty, and assigned to Attack Squadron 94 at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.  I remember reading those orders and thinking, “Where is Lemoore, California and how do I get there?”  Out comes the California road map and I find Lemoore is west of Hanford and 45 miles south of Fresno, a fairly remote region in those days.  Now Interstate 5 goes by to the west and it’s a lot more civilized.

I spent two years active duty, during which I made two Naval WESPAC Cruises.  In 1967 I was aboard Aircraft Carrier USS Hancock, and in 1968 my squadron was assigned to the USS Bon Homme Richard, destination both times of course was Vietnam, Tonkin Gulf Region.

 After being released from military service in 1968 I resumed civilian life back in Bellflower.  Tried going back to college, but that just didn’t work out; my study habits were not so good.  I had been working part-time in the hay business during college, so that soon evolved into full-time employment at Helms Hay in Bellflower.  In 1970 I became the company driver, making daily trips to either Antelope or Imperial Valley areas, hauling hay back to Bellflower.  I enjoyed both the outdoor aspect and the feeling of independence that came with that job; there were no time clocks to punch.

 In July of 1970 I married Mary Jane Stout and we moved into the house where we still reside today.  About that same time I realized that my current job held no future for a young married family, so in December I started testing for the Fire Department.  Life went along for us and we lived the somewhat carefree style of young couples, then in 1972 we experienced some dramatic changes in our lives.  In June I received the long awaited letter stating that I had been accepted for employment with the Huntington Beach Fire Department (and I didn’t even need a road map this time).  I began employment with the Fire Department in July and in October our twin daughters Sharon and Karen were born.  The timing couldn’t have been better.  I stayed with the Fire Department for the next 29 years, attained the rank of Engineer in 1984 and retired in September 2001.

 I first became seriously interested in cars during my early teen years, working with my father and brother at home.  It seems our long driveway was always full of ’39 and ’40 Fords in those days, they just seemed to have a way of finding us. My first car was acquired in 1962, a 1947 Mercury purchased for the total sum of $25.00, it even ran and of course I still own that car today.  Nearly all the old Fords that crossed the Teitsworth driveway were kept, that’s probably why my personal collection is so out of control today.

 My interest in Model T’s started about ten years ago, I remember attending several monthly tours back during the time when Mayfair Park was the assembly point.  We joined the club about that same time, toured for a while with our 40 Ford, but the T’s just looked like more fun.  We started looking for a Model T; traveled to San Diego, Las Vegas and locally following ads.  Ultimately we found a 1926 Roadster Pickup in Apple Valley, the Ford was involved in an unfriendly separation, and after about two months delay, the owners agreed on showing us the car.  A purchase was made, the Roadster Pickup was ours, and we trailered it home.  It had been sitting for 5 years, and of course would not run.  Tom Leroux had previously offered to help get the car running if needed, we called Tom, he met us upon our arrival in Bellflower, and with his help we were test-driving the “T” an hour later.  Fast forward to the present; after that casual beginning with Model T’s at Mayfair Park ten years earlier, I am now the President of the LBMTC.  I’m enjoying my new position and am looking forward to being involved as the club now moves towards its Fiftieth Anniversary.