Sentimental Journey Day 8: Mulvane Memories

Stewart and I spent the day in the town of his birth. We went to the Mulvane Historical Museum with his nephew, Larry Norden. At the museum, there were many pictures and artifacts. Stewart recognized a lot of the names and pictures. We even saw a picture of Dr. Solomon Thomas Shelly. He had the distinction of delivering over 4000 Mulvane babies and Stewart was one of them.

So Stewart’s story begins in 1924. Around 1933, my grandfather, Otis Ephraim Boone, operated a Standard Oil Gas Station in Mulvane, KS. Many of his customers worked for Boeing and had running accounts that they would pay up on a monthly basis. One man was leaving town but didn’t have the money to settle up his account. He brought in a trumpet and asked if Otis would accept it as payment. He said that he would and he brought it home to his son, Stewart, and said, “Here, boy! See what you can do with this.”

Stewart excelled in his playing ability and entered his first talent contest. He played the stage pictured here and won second place. While in high school, he was awarded music scholarships which made it possible to attend college. He still plays most every day. His current gig is playing The National Anthem every Memorial Day in Boulder, CO at the Bolder Boulder, the largest 10k in North America. Last year, there were over 70,000 in attendance. Stewart and his trumpet have come back home for an impromptu performance.