I've written about Gary Howard quite a bit in the past. I've followed him as a customizer since I was a kid and now call him a good friend. I just love the man. He's quiet. He's unassuming. He's genuine. He's everything that a fella should be w... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here. ................. UPDATE: To donate to the Gary Howard fund, click here. To view and bid on auctions to support Gary Howard, click here. .............
OMG! Just heartbreaking. I'm so glad neither Gary nor his family got hurt. Wish I lived closer to help with the cleanup. I think a cookie auction to benifit the collection plate is in order though.
Well, Being as how I tried to chop my leg off monday and I don't have no insurance things are going to get real tight around here.....But I can tell this is pretty important to you and I think I can drum up a couple bucks to help out.
i'd have bought the dude a pint of ale if it were in person... so i may as well send some beer money. truly sorry to see this.
I'll go as far as driving to Texas to help build a new shop. I've been to his shop before and he was a very welcoming host to a bunch of folks he didn't even know. Great guy in my book. I'll send some dough to help out, and if there's a crew that will be helping to rebuild, please count me in. Will try to keep track of what develops.... Malcolm
This just sucks! I was just talking yesterday about how cool it is to visit Gary's place. Let me put my name in for whatever I can do. Truck and trailer? Heavy equipment operator? Handyman? hard labor? You name it!
that just sucks gary has done some fine cars in that little shop I could eats some cookies how about it lady cruzer
Gary is a friend and his Interviews on my WebSite are always favorites with visitors. He & his wife are truly some of the kindest, nicest, people you'll ever meet. PLUS, Gary is one of the best builders & painters in the country...a true craftsman. This is really a tragedy. And, thanks Ryan...I didn't know it had happened. I'll contact him tomorrow. Jonnie
I don't have much but what ever i can do he's got it......please put this as a sticky or what ever it;s called ........much respect to gary..............
I was out there most of the afternoon helping Gary assess the damage. It is a total loss as you can see from the pics. The worse part is Gary has to keep working on what he does for a livin. Building the finest customs in the land. Gary works by himself and that's what makes this really tough on him. Reggie and I are going back out tomorrow to get his electricity going in his other shop right behind the one that burned down so he can get back to work. Trying to get him some air too as in a compressor. As you can see in the one pics, his compressor was a casualty also. Got to have juice and air to make it happen out there. The shop that burned was his original shop turned paint booth where built and painted so many of the award winning cars over the years. He lost all his paint equipment and supplies, many tools along w/ the customer's merc that he couldn't get out in time. By the time he saw what was going on out there it was too late. Gary does consider himself very fortunate though that no one was hurt and only the one bldg was destroyed. It was very windy and because of paint supplies the fire got very hot very quickly. It could have been so much worse, but this is Gary's life and livelyhood and this is what he does to put food on the table and take care of his family so its really tough right now. Like Ryan said he is a prince and didn't deserve this and we are going to try and make it right for him. I know he really appreciates all your thoughts and help in this time of need. Thanks so much for helping out our dear friend. He's family.
Man I hate to hear this. We had a house fire when I was little and we lost everything. I remember it like it was yesterday. I had saved up an extra thousand for some art at the Roundup, but this is more important. Tell Gary I just sent him a grand to put towards a new compressor. Doc.
This really sucks! I have met Gary in the p[ast and was lucky enough to get to see his shop a few years ago, couldn't have had a better time, or met a nicer guy! Part of my LSRU fund is in a paypal donation already. Best of luck to you Gary. jerry
Without the influence of Gary Howard on my life I might not have ever became a hotrod photographer, and the Boogie Van might have been a DONK. I am in Detroit, but if the wife and I can do anything to help locally we will, and I posted a link to this everywhere I could