Page 32 - Blade (February 2020)

After Light Comes the PAST MASTERS |

and went to officer’s training in Newport,

Rhode Island. Then, he served as a gunnery

officer aboard the battleship USS Missouri

in Norfolk, Virginia.”
Ted remained an avid hunter and
fisherman his entire life, and while he and

Betty had talked of moving to Alaska, Ted’s
sailor friend extolled the virtues of Oregon,
its natural beauty and abundance of wildlife.
When Ted was discharged, the couple made
a big decision; it was a “calculated” risk.
“We decided that if we were ever going
to make a big break, that was the time to do
it,” Betty recalled. “So, we packed up our ’46
Ford and a trailer and moved to Oregon—
without a job. Sometimes now, I think, ‘Did
we really do that?’”

PROBLEM SOLVER
Right away, Ted got used to solving

problems. He worked briefly as a mechanic
but soon found a job teaching in Salem and
TM
the YOJIMBO 2

then Madras, Oregon, finally spending 10
Now available with black DLC-coated blade and all- years as an instructor at Central Oregon
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black hardware and Compression Lock mechanism spyderco.com 800 525 7770
Community College in Bend, where
USA MADE the Dowells made their home for years
and raised children Jeff, Lynn and Scott.

Tragically, they lost Scott in a car accident
in 1975.

Ted’s first job in the classroom was an
You’re not just making a knife, adventure with youngsters who had proven

you’re making a statement. somewhat difficult with earlier teachers. th

“On his first day of teaching, he had 7 -
and 8 -graders. He came home for lunch
th
High-quality steel worthy of your artistry. and said, ‘Honey, what do I do?’” Betty
laughed. “I told him to keep them busy. I
added that if he could last two-and-a-half
weeks until Christmas, he had it whipped.
“He came home at the end of the day
and said that when he had gotten back to
Our commitment to service and the classroom, the desks were all in a circle.
value is as strong as our products. You When he asked what the reason was, one
can count on us for the widest selection of of the more-adventurous kids told him

blade stock, internationally renowned quality, and that afternoons were spent square dancing.
accurate on-time delivery of any size order. Bar sizes Evidently, the kids had been so disruptive
and full sheets or plates from 1/32” to 1/2” in stock. Small that the teachers had given up by aft ernoon.
quantities are always welcome. He looked at them with steely eyes and
said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, your square-
• Stainless • Alloy • Nickel dancing days are over. Get these desks back
• High Carbon • Tool Steels • Titanium
into rows—we’ve got some learning to do!’”
• Low Carbon • Precision Ground • Damascus
Stainless (Incidentally, one of the would-be square
dancers still calls Betty to chat now and
Visit our website and order online at www.admiralsteel.com,, then.)
call 800-323-7055, or email us at sales@admiralsteel.com While teaching, Ted became interested
™
4152 West 123rd Street in handmade knives. He received a math
Alsip, Illinois 60803-1869 teacher’s scholarship from the National
Admiral is a registered trademark of Admiral Steel LLC. Admiralsteel.com Science Foundation to study for a year
Alsip, Illinois. Reg. No. 2430959. All rights reserved. ISO 9001 REGISTERED
at Florida State University. While there,

32 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020