America, aviation and automobiles (hot-rod Fords)

Photo:

Robert Blanchard with his 1932 Ford hot rod

Photo: Sharon Bouchard

Robert Blanchard

PARIS – While Robert Blanchard of Elverta, California was back in Maine for his 60th class reunion he took a few moments to speak to share some stories about his life, the 1932 Ford Hotrod, the first in Maine and his long military career.

Q: Where were you born and where were you brought up?

A: I was born in Dixfield, but I grew up on Whitman Street in Norway.

Q: Do you have many siblings?

A: I have two sisters; Jeanette who lives in South Paris and Barbara who lives in Florida.

Q: What did your parents do?

A: My mother, Valerie was a homemaker and an artist and my dad, Anatale was an auto mechanic.

Q: What was it like growing up?

A: It was an absolute blast and an age of discovery. I had a paper route back then and started my day at 4:30 a.m. at Stone’s Drug Store to get the papers. I was a pinsetter at Hobbs Bowling Alley and I also was an usher/ticker taker at the Rex Theater.

Q: Where did you go to school?

A: I went to Norway High School, class of ‘52 and later to the Community College of the Air Force getting a degree in electronics and to Sacramento College where I got a degree in aeronautics.

Q: Did you get into mischief or play pranks?

A: I was a bit of a prankster and I’d sketch pictures of teachers and classmates and pass them around, but I really didn’t have time to be a bad boy.

Q: What have you had for jobs?

A: I did just about anything. I worked for Lucas Tree and was in the Air Force from 1952 to 1976 and the Army National Guard. I also worked for the Air Force as an Aviation Tech. Writer.

Q: When and how did you meet your spouse?

A: Theresa’s mother and my mother were best friends.

Q: What did you do for work when you got married?

A: I was in the Air Force then.

Q: Anyone ever said you look like some famous?

A: I’ve been told when I was a pilot that I looked like a World War II actor in an aviation movie.

Q: Do you do much traveling?

A: I’ve been all over the world. I spent several years in Africa, Europe, Germany.

Q: Which place was the most fascinating and why?

A: There were a lot of fascinating places, but I liked Prague and I liked Madrid.

Q: Did anyone influence you to the point of changing your direction in life?

A: My cousin, Rexford S. Waite Sr. He was a pilot in World War II.

Q: Do you collect anything or have a hobby?

A: I collect military books, artifacts and all things aviation. I currently have four airplanes. I also do aviation drawings.

Q: Organizations?

A: American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled Veterans and I’m a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.

Q: What is the last book you read?

A: The Armature, Barack Obama in the White House by Edward Klein.

Q: What subject do you wish you knew more about?

A: Religion.

Q: What scares you the most?

A: Losing my health or someone in my family losing their health.

Q: Any hidden talents?

A: I doubt that any are hidden because I’ve explored every possibility.

Q: Do you have any heroes?

A: General Matthew Ridgeway, General George Patton and General Billy Mitchell.

Q: What is the one thing you could not give up?

A: My American way of life!

Q: Do you have children?

A: I have two sons and two daughters.

Q: What is the best memory this interview brought back?

A: The many friends I had and the old cars and hotrods and restoring my 1932 Ford.

Q: What would you like people to know about you?

A: I just thank God I was born in America and grew up in an eastern American family.

Q: Last day on earth; what would you do and with whom?

A: Get all my family together, block out that there wasn’t going to be a tomorrow and live for today.

Q: If anyone could walk in right now who would you want to see?

A: My mother.

Q: Any regrets?

A: That I didn’t have the opportunity to go to Dartmouth and be on their ski team.