On a cold January day, Stanley announced the birth of his fourth child with these words, "I've got a plow-hand." He could have inserted or added "Finally, thank goodness, yippee." We recall a grin that stretched across half of Pott County. After three girls, he must have felt his world had actually changed. Little did he know! Those prophetic words about a "plow-hand" would actually come true.

Dan's early years included lots of out-of-doors type stuff. School didn't seem to be his favorite thing, but set him on a piece of machinery and he was alright! He learned dedication and hard work helping on the farm while his Dad was doing carpentry.

Along the way he began work for the Shawnee Post Office. After stints at Earlsboro and Maud, some forty years later he would retire from the Prague, OK Postmaster's position. That retirement opened opportunity for him to do what he loves best--play with his tractors! If it makes an engine noise he likes it, however, if it sounds like a Poppin Johnny he's in heaven. A story he has told fittingly describes the joy and fright of driving his first John Deere home over a narrow bridge.

Dan is a Baptist deacon, and at various times has served as Sunday School teacher, bus driver, nursery worker, choir member, along with innumerable tasks that needed a willing heart.

He's taken time out from hauling hay and sorting mail to be the kind of guy that others want to have around. He's been a devoted, helpful husband (especially when Lana goes with him to look at a tractor). Father, grandfather, brother, friend--many rely on Dan to "go the extra mile."

- Janet Tate