BajaNomad

Jack Devine?

Ken Bondy - 12-7-2009 at 08:59 AM

Any of you old-time Nomads (Skeet???) ever run into a guy named Jack Devine? He lived in Tijuana, was in the "salvage" business, would bring back anything from Mexico that needed to be brought back, airplanes, road vehicles, people (as in bounty hunter), etc. I met him at San Francisquito in the early 80s, and I am interested in his whereabouts. Would appreciate any information. Thanks, ++Ken++

desertcpl - 12-7-2009 at 09:24 AM

yes I remember Jack very well,, he really wasnt in the junk business he was a real bounty hunter,, and would repossess about anything,, he was a real character,, he also had a used car lot in TJ where he and his family lived,,He flew my down with him to his place in san francisco,,

one of the last times that I met him,, I was living in prta vallarta,, Jack had just repoed the cheif of police Blazer, jack was with Carman he side kick,, she didnt drive and jack was not able to drive at night,, it was getting late and jack had to get out of town like now,, any way he hired me to dirve him and carman back to TJ,,,

Jack was really some thing special,, I would think he has passed on now

Ken Bondy - 12-7-2009 at 09:34 AM

Great stuff desertcpl!! Jack was a classic!! We got to know him quite well at San Francisquito. As I recall he flew a Cessna 210. Fascinating guy, someone should write a book about him (maybe someone already has :)). He was a favorite of ours and all those who hung out at PFQ. He told us GREAT stories about finding, capturing, and delivering people to the border where they were "retrieved" and escorted to the otro lado by those interested in getting them back. I too would think he has passed on now, if not I believe he would be in his late 80s. I came across some 30-year old notes from my Baja trips, and his name appeared all over them. Just curious as to what happened to him. Anyway thanks for your input desertcpl.

Skeet/Loreto - 12-7-2009 at 09:38 AM

Ken: Have not heard from him or about him in at least 20 years. Last time I heard he was in trouble for stealing a Stolen Cessna 180 out of the Fenced area at Hermeseillo.

Skeet

Ken Bondy - 12-7-2009 at 10:03 AM

Thanks Skeet, thought you must have run into him at one time or another. With Jack the line between "repossessing" and "stealing" could be slightly blurry :).

jack

desertcpl - 12-7-2009 at 10:12 AM



jack2.jpg - 10kB

jack

desertcpl - 12-7-2009 at 10:16 AM

Jack was also an Investigator for insurance companys,, and yes he did have a cessna 210,, that is what we flew down with.. I the trip back he had a small heart problem and Carmen had to give him Nitro, to keep him going then he forgot to switch tanks and ran out of gas, but he got things going thank god

Ken Bondy - 12-7-2009 at 11:12 AM

Thanks again desertcpl. Sorry I misspelled his name, I have "Devine" in my notes.

Skeet/Loreto - 12-7-2009 at 12:20 PM

Ken:
Stealing--Thatwas the way we had to get the Stolen Planes back from Mexico several years back. The Govt. boys who recovered them South of the border were at times difficult to work with for return to the States.

That Fenced in yard at the Herm Airport was sometimes overfull.
Skeet

capt. mike - 12-7-2009 at 03:20 PM

Ken - give BC a try via his site
www.bannerbob.net

he knew all the old characters too.
good luck - fun stuff.....

Ken Bondy - 12-7-2009 at 09:43 PM

Will do mike, thanks.

wilderone - 12-8-2009 at 09:33 AM

Skeet - you should write a book yourself. You have so many stories, have known so many Baja characters. You can start by just talking into a recorder, have someone transcribe the stories and then link them together, and do some fill in. I know a writer who could help you. I can transcribe for you.

David K - 12-8-2009 at 09:38 AM

Agree... Write a book Skeet!

Ken Bondy - 12-8-2009 at 11:15 AM

I agree that Skeet should write a book, but he should write it himself. No ghost writers or spellers. Part of Skeet's charm is his "unorthodox" punctuation and creative spelling. The book needs that, along with his amazing history in Baja. For example, there could be a whole chapter on Gobble Warming.

Santiago - 12-8-2009 at 11:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Bondy
For example, there could be a whole chapter on Gobble Warming.


That had me rolling on the floor myself. SWMBO suggested 375 degrees for 4 hours or until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part.....blah blah.

Ken Bondy - 12-8-2009 at 12:41 PM

I'm sure Skeeter meant "global warming" or, in Skeeterese, "Global Warming" but he was probably influenced by the proximity of Thanksgiving.

Skeet/Loreto - 12-8-2009 at 01:18 PM

I meant "Gobble Warming as a Play on words"". Everybody is starting to see that for the most part it was a "Turkey from the Start"!

I really appreciate all of your support in me writing a book! I have started but run into some dead ends about subject matter or to do a book on Baja an book on Youthful experiences as a Golden Glove Fighter, Logger, Cowboy and HoBo.
Then I had so many esperiences in the Investigation business especially in Aviation and then as a Private Investigator in Nevada at the Brothells.
I get confused as where and how to contro- Maybe just Baja and fishing but it seems I have trouble getting people to beleive I experienced all these things.

Then there was the Three years in Hollywood .


What do some of youall think. Give me some Hints. Should I use the peoples real Names??

I am really serious about doing this thing and your comments will be worth a lot to me.

Thanks Skeet


Gobble! Gobble! Gobble!

You've got my attention

Dave - 12-8-2009 at 01:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
then as a Private Investigator in Nevada at the Brothells.


I'd start with this.

Ken Bondy - 12-8-2009 at 01:49 PM

Skeet

Why don't you start with just a brief outline of your experiences in chronological order? That will jog your memory and you can fill things in as you remember them or come up with notes or other things that will help get the dates and happenings right. Once you have that, a professional writer can put the whole thing together. Your background is so varied and so interesting that I think ALL of it should be included. But I agree with Dave, start with the brothel stuff :)

Skeet/Loreto - 12-8-2009 at 04:31 PM

O. K. But for a starter why don't one of you Goggle up Emerson Titlow" Nevada Senator Tonopah Nev.. I will work on a short one.

Skeet

DENNIS - 12-8-2009 at 04:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Bondy
That will jog your memory



Oh my....the popcorn is popping. Let's hear it, Skeeter. Do that hoarhouse stuff as a hook to get attention. You'se got mine, for sure.

Did By Chance You Know

Sonora Wind - 12-8-2009 at 04:52 PM

Old Dobie Doc :cool:

Skeet/Loreto - 12-8-2009 at 05:51 PM

Emerson Titlow, past Senator , and a good one, started at the age of 15 as a Towel Boy for the Best Brothell in Tonopah, Nev. He bacme a Insurance Agent and covered the two Brothells with Firemans Fund Ins. Co.
While working in Bishop I was called to investigate a Claim of Damage.
On arriving in Emersons office he advised me of some damage and escoreted me to the Brothell where on I proceeded to survey quite a bit of damage to the "Bath" rooms. Two large Tubs with Jets and Mirrors all around.

Not knowing what had caused this damage I requested an interview with the people involved. Shortly thereagter two of the prettist, long legged,buxom, lakies came an informed me that onet o the Customers had been drinking in the "Bath" room, had become angry and started throwing any loose object he could find. They proved this by raising their clothes in vaarious places and showing me a number of cuts and bruises!!
Being a good Investigator I closely examined each of the cuts and bruises.

After a good half and hour or so I had eanough information to proceed with paying the Claim. Friemans Fund ask me to collect the amount p[aid and I did so by contacting the damaging party. A very well known gentleman from Reno.

Skeet

Oh Dear Goodness, Skeet

Gypsy Jan - 12-8-2009 at 07:32 PM

You must, must record your recollections and experiences of your life.

Please! You know all about the good guys, the haplessness, the cons and the outright thieves. Also undoubtedly about the real criminals.

Don't let the history of your life go unrecorded.

With all respect, Gypsy Jan

capt. mike - 12-9-2009 at 09:17 AM

Skeet!!!!!! you can do it. your stuff will rate up there with Jimmy Smith and that guy who built Chivato's hotel (who writes with great wit) Lou Federico!!

get a cheap digital recorder, hell even a cassette if that's easier.
sit in an old easy chair, pour a little 2 eyed tequila and start telling stories like you were talking to your best friend on the porch.

Skeet/Loreto - 12-9-2009 at 04:06 PM

#The Day Before I got my P.I License in Las Vegas.

Drove from Bishop to Las Vegas through Death Valley, stopped to visit the Manager and Girls at the Beatty Brothell. All Girls had been transferred prime and Proper from Ash Meadows--Evry 6 weeks a plane picked up 6 Girls from the Meadows flew them to Beatty, then took the 6 girls from Beatty to Lida Junction then to Mina Junction, Tonopah, and Reno.

I was set up for a 2 hour exam in Las Vegas the next day so got to bed early but could not sleep so proceeded downstairs to the Bar to have a Quiet Drink. But Lo and Behold there were a couple of guys at the Bar raising Hell, being Loud and Noisey..On very tall Barstools.

Moved over a ways and had my drink and was just getting up to leave when "Whopp"", One of the Guys at the Bar had leaned backward a mite to far and fell Flat on his Back! Knocked a little Dizzy!

I stepped over to help and Guess Who it was? "Lee Marvin""..

He was up there making a movie.

Skeet/Loreto - 12-9-2009 at 04:30 PM

5,000 Pairs of Panties;

There I was at Lida Junction investigating and Airplane Incident when I got caught up in 5,000 Pairs of Panties!!!

Red, Gree, Yellow, Blue, Black with all kinds of little Do Dads attached, all packed in boxes to be transferred to Beatty. But, there was a Catch! The pilot transferring the girls did not have the space to take poor Lila Maes Panties!!

I walked in and being a kind soul ask Lila Mae if I could be of any help??

She spread her knees a Tad, unbuttoned her Blouse and looked at me with those beautifull eyes and Said:I just cannot leave my Panties behind. I have to have them for my Work!!

At that time I was drivinf a pick up, so Yes you Guessed I agreed to take her and her Panties to Mina Junction.As we departed she exclaimed "I need to go by Goldfield and see my Aunt!! so we took a slight Detour to Goldfield{A somewhat famous place} where by chance since in was late i was offerred a Position next to Lila Mae for the Night.
Since I was a good boy I declined but Lila Mae insisted that I see a few of her 5,000 Panties. I did get about an Hour of sleep that night and proceeded to Mina Junction the next Morning.

Skeet

monoloco - 12-9-2009 at 04:31 PM

Those are some good stories Skeet!

Ken Bondy - 12-9-2009 at 05:36 PM

More! More!!!

tripledigitken - 12-10-2009 at 04:31 AM

Skeet,

Please consider doing the book!

What year was the encounter with Lee Marvin?

Ken

Skeet/Loreto - 12-10-2009 at 07:40 AM

itken:

1965- Found out he was doing a Movie "Thunder something".

wilderone - 12-11-2009 at 07:01 PM

Skeet - save them for the book!!!! Maybe start with a search of your posts and cull the ones that tell a story or jog your memory. Then just start recording recollections - individual stories. Later, they can be put in some sort of order. That's where a writer/editor would come in handy, and using the format that publishers want. I know you can get it published in a small amount - ask all the Baja authors how they've done it. You should do it as a remembrance for your family too. Include old photos - they'd be historic given the stories that would go along.

Skeet/Loreto - 12-13-2009 at 08:26 AM

Thanks all for you support. Thinking seriously of going to work.

Skeet