Big John Dortch............

[ezryder]

Glad to hear the John is doing better and will shortly be in rehab. That's great news!
EZ

[Gene East]

Just got off the phone with Little John.

John was supposed to move to a Nursing home/rehab facility on Friday.

That was postponed due to a nausea problem.

Everything looks like a go for the transfer tomorrow morning.

Little John reports his Dad is in good spirits and the surgical wound is healing properly.

He will call me tomorrow evening with an update on the relocation.

I will keep everyone posted.

[Gene East]

Tuesday morning:

Little John called last night.

John was transferred to the nursing home/rehab facility late yesterday afternoon.

He is considerably closer to home and in a more convenient location to receive visits from his pals from the golf course.

I wonder what kind of tall tales they will be sharing?

If I heard Little John correctly (remember BDOBR's all have hearing problems),
John's new address is:

Mr. John Dortch
Room 705 Bed 1
Brookville at Stonebridge
2963 Doddridge
Maryland Heights, MO 63043

John's phone # is:

314 743 3872

The surgical wound is healing well and doctors plan to fit John with a prosthesis in the near future.

Please keep John and the Dortch family in your prayers.

[Tim Chance]

Tuesday 3/16/10, just got back from visiting John at his home for the next 3 months or so. Nice place, but John is already to get out and get back to his real home. He is doing ok.

[Gene East]

Tim,

Is the address I posted correct?

I wasn't able to confirm it on Mapquest or through the yellow pages.

I'm sure I heard Little John correctly, but Norma keeps bugging me about getting hearing aids. What makes her think I need hearing aids??

[jrome]

I had a good visit with Johnny on the phone about 7 pm.John will be back full speed before we know it. He has the right frame of mind. John loves all his boat racing family. He said to tell everbody hello. GET WELL JOHN

[Tim Chance]

Tim,

Is the address I posted correct?

I wasn't able to confirm it on Mapquest or through the yellow pages.

I'm sure I heard Little John correctly, but Norma keeps bugging me about getting hearing aids. What makes her think I need hearing aids??

Correct address. And anybody that nods their head in recognition when the words Quincy Flathead is mentioned needs a hearing aid.

[Gene East]

Thanks Tim,

Deafness is a "Badge of Honor" to a boat racer.

I wear mine with pride!

What did you say?????

[Master Oil Racing Team]

...! I talked to John earlier today and we talked about the NOA North South races. He told me he once came within just a few points of being General Grant, but he didn't think that would be good, because he moved up from the south to St. Louis area which put him in the North.

Clayton Elmer talked to him the week before, and he said he got a card from BDOBR and was trying to explain it. We talked about racers that were in the top of their form when I first started, but quit before I was able to see how I stacked up. I told Johnny that I knew when he started racing, but reading those old Roostertails he sent me before I started, I was absorbed reading about all the places he had raced and all the guys he raced against. Johnny won lot's of races in his day. He told me how he teared up when he looked at all the Roostertails he was packing up to send me. I talked about Dick Pond and he told me stories about him and Dick tangling up in the first turn. Dick always turned left when he got to the bouy, and he always was turning into Johnny. After having torn up 3 boats each....at the start of one race....Dick's sponsor ran down to Johnny's pits and said.."You're not going to run into Dick's boat are you?" Johnny replied "Well....I can't say!...If Dick turns in front of where I'm going...then there's nothing I can do about that!".

Johnny had family members in his room that he was talking back and forth with so I left him with the fact that I would call back.

[Doug Hall Y51]

I also talked to John today. He sounded like he was in good spirits but you could tell he was not enjoying his stay. He told me the rehab place he was at was where they send the old people and he should not be there. Keep John in your prayers that he will be able to go home soon. He is very much looking forward to going to Depue in July.