Joe Keogh, Mike Nichols and I shut down early on Friday of a long weekend.. I'd just bought a new '84 Wing .. We gathered at Buddy Helscel's house in Irving and were hanging out, discussing plans for the weekend.. Another rider came down the street .. When he turned into the driveway, I am looking at the biggest, blackest and meanest looking hombre I'd seen in a while.. This dude was dressed in bib overalls, wearing combat boots, a thermal knit undershirt and one of those pilots caps from army surplus.. He stepped off one of the damnedest motorcycles I'd ever looked at.. It was some kind of Goldwing, but I promise, Honda never built anything similar to that thing.. He bellowed and roared when he saw my good friend Buddy.. After a couple of bear hugs, belly laughs and a tear or two, Buddy introduced his friend to the rest of us.. Big Daddy Jones from Tulsa, had just come into our lives.. Him and Buddy had been friends for many years, both growing up across the tracks from each other in Tulsa.. Big Daddy wanted us to go with him to look up some of his other friends in South Dallas at one of the Bandido's club houses.. somewhere near Fair Park.. We found it after a short search and everyone was having a grand old time getting acquainted .. Soon we were joined by four other members of the Bandidos and they told us about some motorcycle dealer in Kansas City doing a "going out of business" sale.. Needless to say, we were soon mounted and about fifteen of us were on our way... We made a run.. helluva run.. When we got to K.C. at four in the morning, we wound up in the part of town where you just don't wander.. Somebody in our group had a friend living there.. We woke 'em up and sleeping arrangements were made.. My room mate was a little black dude about my size..and age.. They called him "Dragon".. another mean lookin' dude.. There were twin beds in our room.. I was real busy trying to slide my .357 under my pillow and I glanced over at "Dragon".. He was sliding his pistol under his pillow too... We kinda grinned for a minute and then both of us sat down on our beds and laughed so hard, everyone came running in to find out what was going on.. "Dragon" and I never told them what we were laughing about.. We rode together, pegged up..for the remainder of that trip..I've often wondered what ever became of my friend "Dragon".. Never saw him again.. I did have the pleasure to ride with Big Daddy Jones several times after that introductory ride with him.. He is still in Tulsa and I will go see him, maybe this summer.. I've heard Big Daddy is failing real fast.. Sure hope I am not too late to visit and spend some time with that old black warrior of the road.. Here's to you Big Daddy and to "Dragon", wherever you are.. Your friend in Irving Bill Walker
