Better Call Lloyd Hoover
March, in like a lion out like a lamb, but I believe 2026 has been in like a lion. Cold weather like the 1960’s and snow/sleet that we have never seen before. Not only walk on top but drive on top. I pray that 2026 does not become a year of records with weather. I do want to thank those that emailed and called about my articles on butchering. For some it brought back a lot of memories. Thank you, Steve, for your call.
Now for our jingle. I’m stuck on……what could we be stuck on? Band-Aids, because band aids stuck on me. Now I remember. This month is “good to the ……”good luck.
If I was going to say “better call Lloyd Hoover” what would be the first thing in your mind. Now for any home-grown person at the age of 62 or over you would know. You see, Lloyd Hoover in the 1960’s or maybe even before then was the only wrecker service I knew of in the area. I do need to say that the statement to call Lloyd Hoover meant different things. If a person killed a large deer or bear, they would say “we need to call Lloyd Hoover to drag the animal out or if a young person purchased a certain type of automobile say a Chevrolet and a Ford man said it appeared to be a piece of junk, the friend would joking say “better call Lloyd Hoover”! For those who don’t know where Lloyd’s business was, as you are going to Broadway and pass Carley’s Auto Repair at Cootes Store, Lloyds is the next building on the right. He also had a car lot at the same location, again the only one in the area. But the most serious reason to “call Lloyd Hoover” was because if there had been an automobile accident and a wrecker was needed. As morbid as it sounds whenever there was a serious wreck in the community the car would be taken to the lot at Lloyds place of business. It was then when the people of the community would gather and look at the car. It seems the broken glass, tangled mess and bloody seats drew a crowd. They would ooooh and ahhh at the damage that was done to the car. Then when returning to one of the local stores they would encourage others to go and look at the car. Let’s face it, there was not a lot to do for entertainment in Fulks Run.
This was the case in February 1969, when a young 19-year-old boy was coming home from Rockingham Poultry where he had worked all day. He wasn’t coming home to rest, but to get a quick shower and then go back to his second job. He was going back to work for Edgar Delawder. Now for those of you like me who don’t know what Edgar Delawder did, he ran a garage and sold American Gasoline. This garage was where the Shell station is today across from the J. Frank Hillyard Middle School, beside the Supermarket. Now those were his plans, but as we all know sometimes our plans don’t work out. On this day, when he started around the turn heading west at Chimney Rock something happened with his steering. He was no longer able to control the car and slammed into the bridge on the opposite side of the road. Later in the investigation, it was thought that a rusted, broken tie-rod end may have been the problem, but it was not certain, because that may have happened when the accident occurred. Whatever the cause, the 1963 Chevy Impala was a total loss.
Research shows that a large number of crashes happen within a short distance from the driver’s home. They say about fifty to seventy-seven percent of car accidents take place within ten to fifteen miles of where the driver lives. Other studies say fifty percent of all crashes happen within three to five miles from home. Another study found that it is twice as likely for a crash to happen within one mile of home than at a further distance.
This accident may have broken all records because it happened approximately 200 yards from his home. His mother in the house heard the crash but didn’t go out to look. She didn’t know the next-door neighbor went and saw who it was then told the boy’s mother her son was in a terrible accident.
I wish I could say the boy was unhurt, but I can’t. He was rushed to Rockingham Memorial and then to Charlottesville. There they found he had a concussion, skull fracture, broken ribs, punctured lung, and many cuts and abrasions. He didn’t know anything for 34 days because he was in a coma. The doctors told the family that if he ever did wake up, he would be a vegetable for the rest of his life. After a period of time there was some improvement, and they transferred him back to RMH where he would have periods where he regained consciousness. After more improvement the doctors told the family that they had done all they could do medically. He was so homesick. They thought the best medicine now was to take the boy home. When he arrived home, he was paralyzed on his right side, and the only way to move around or to get him to the table had to be help from his mom and dad. But there was another medicine that the doctors didn’t prescribe. It was the fervent prayer of a mom and dad that believed that a higher power would heal their son. As I wondered why God chose this young man to go through this accident, it was revealed to me with my second conversation with him. When he returned home from the hospital there was a letter from the Draft Board to report to Richmond, Virginia for his physical. He had been drafted, most likely headed to Vietnam. His doctor sent a letter with his condition, and he was classified 4F, unfit for duty. The Bible tells us the Lord works in mysterious ways, and this accident may have saved his life.
Today there are scars. He lost sight in his right eye, and hearing in his right ear. This from the head injury, but no paralysis. It could have been a lot worse! When you talk to Randy May, the son of Dessil and Harrison May, it is a joy, because he has a wonderful sense of humor as he shared with me. He is now staying with his mom to care for her at age 100 years old. He makes sure she doesn’t sneak out to play golf. Also, as we spoke about his injuries I told him I didn’t like the sight of blood. He also shared with me he didn’t like the sight of blood either, especially when it was his own.
Praise the Lord that the doctors were wrong. Randy may be a nut since the accident, but he certainly isn’t a vegetable!
Believe it or not
Until next time
Ronnie
