PUBLISHED IN THE DECEMBER 6, 2023 EDITION
Most of the time, I have a clever idea as to what the topic of my article will be about mid-week. Other times someone will be talking with me, and a person or subject will come up and a smile will appear on my face.
That happened this week. The Perry Township / Southport Historical Society had a program about another former Southside family and their businesses. Sara Harrell and her brother and cousin were at the program and Sara talked about several businesses including the car wash and the appliance business.
Over the week, I have talked with several people about the program, and we also chatted about other former Southside businesses. One that popped up a couple of times was Fred Keller’s Auto Repair Shop.
That business was located behind his family home on Mathews Avenue. They were my paper route customers for a few years. Their oldest son, Ron, was a good friend. Ron and his friend that lived a few houses from him were good friends. They were about three years older than me.
They took me out Halloweening with them one time. That was a long scary evening for me. That was my one- and only-time doing things like that.
They also got me a job at Longacre for a couple of summers. All three of us worked in the men’s locker room attending to making new keys for those lockers and installing them.
Twenty-five years later, I acquired some great tickets to see Liza Minnelli. Her show was being held at the Indiana State Fair Coliseum. After we were seated, I decided to go back out to the lobby for some refreshments.
As I was walking through the lobby carrying our refreshments, I heard my name being called. I looked around but at first did not see anyone that I knew. I started walking again and once again heard my name.
I once again stopped and looked through the crowd. This time, I saw someone waving at me. He moved through the crowd and all of a sudden, I recognized Ron Keller. I thought it was very cool that we both had come to see Liza Minnelli.
We started talking right in the middle of the lobby that was filled with lots of people. I was still carrying our snacks and drinks. We asked each other what we had been doing for twenty some years. I made an explanation of my past and current life and achievements.
Ron started telling me things when he must have heard a noise on the P.A. system. He then quickly explained that he had to get going. I probably looked very puzzled because he smiled and told me that he was a member of Liza Minnelli’s band and he had to get going.
I was a bit surprised. I did remember that he was involved in the band during high school. I later found out that he spent many years performing in bands for singers like Liza Minnelli.
I eventually returned to my seat and told my wife about my reconnection with Ron Keller. It was a special evening. The show was fantastic. Our seats were close enough to the stage that Ron and I could make eye contact throughout the evening.
Many years later, I got a call from Ron. He and his wife were in Indianapolis visiting and thought we might get together for a while. We did get to spend a few hours together and relived several stories. I got to tell him how scared I was during our Halloween escapade.
A few years later, his wife called to tell me of Ron’s passing. She was back in Indianapolis a few years after that, and we got to visit a bit.
I haven’t talked with her for a while. Maybe I’ll give her a call later today.
Shonk is a 1960 graduate of Southport High School, a ’63 grad of Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis) and a retired bus driver from Beech Grove Schools. He can be reached through email at [email protected].
Most of the time, I have a clever idea as to what the topic of my article will be about mid-week. Other times someone will be talking with me, and a person or subject will come up and a smile will appear on my face.
That happened this week. The Perry Township / Southport Historical Society had a program about another former Southside family and their businesses. Sara Harrell and her brother and cousin were at the program and Sara talked about several businesses including the car wash and the appliance business.
Over the week, I have talked with several people about the program, and we also chatted about other former Southside businesses. One that popped up a couple of times was Fred Keller’s Auto Repair Shop.
That business was located behind his family home on Mathews Avenue. They were my paper route customers for a few years. Their oldest son, Ron, was a good friend. Ron and his friend that lived a few houses from him were good friends. They were about three years older than me.
They took me out Halloweening with them one time. That was a long scary evening for me. That was my one- and only-time doing things like that.
They also got me a job at Longacre for a couple of summers. All three of us worked in the men’s locker room attending to making new keys for those lockers and installing them.
Twenty-five years later, I acquired some great tickets to see Liza Minnelli. Her show was being held at the Indiana State Fair Coliseum. After we were seated, I decided to go back out to the lobby for some refreshments.
As I was walking through the lobby carrying our refreshments, I heard my name being called. I looked around but at first did not see anyone that I knew. I started walking again and once again heard my name.
I once again stopped and looked through the crowd. This time, I saw someone waving at me. He moved through the crowd and all of a sudden, I recognized Ron Keller. I thought it was very cool that we both had come to see Liza Minnelli.
We started talking right in the middle of the lobby that was filled with lots of people. I was still carrying our snacks and drinks. We asked each other what we had been doing for twenty some years. I made an explanation of my past and current life and achievements.
Ron started telling me things when he must have heard a noise on the P.A. system. He then quickly explained that he had to get going. I probably looked very puzzled because he smiled and told me that he was a member of Liza Minnelli’s band and he had to get going.
I was a bit surprised. I did remember that he was involved in the band during high school. I later found out that he spent many years performing in bands for singers like Liza Minnelli.
I eventually returned to my seat and told my wife about my reconnection with Ron Keller. It was a special evening. The show was fantastic. Our seats were close enough to the stage that Ron and I could make eye contact throughout the evening.
Many years later, I got a call from Ron. He and his wife were in Indianapolis visiting and thought we might get together for a while. We did get to spend a few hours together and relived several stories. I got to tell him how scared I was during our Halloween escapade.
A few years later, his wife called to tell me of Ron’s passing. She was back in Indianapolis a few years after that, and we got to visit a bit.
I haven’t talked with her for a while. Maybe I’ll give her a call later today.
Shonk is a 1960 graduate of Southport High School, a ’63 grad of Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis) and a retired bus driver from Beech Grove Schools. He can be reached through email at [email protected].
RSS Feed