Don Whitehill and his Ford 641 Power Master tractor.

By Beverly Clinkingbeard

Those who are acquainted with Don Whitehill (residing between Westboro and Elmo, Missouri) also know of his ongoing affection and affair with vintage tractors. The latest attraction is a 1961 “lipstick red” Ford 641 Power Master.

“A red Ford tractor?”

Between 1957 and 1962 Ford manufactured the Power Master, and it was sold with the color red, rather than gray. The Ford Power Master joins 41 other vintage tractors of all makes and colors that Don has tucked away in farm sheds. At the time of manufacture, the Power Master tractor received good reviews for farm tasks and capabilities; however, the possibility of this tractor doing farm work isn’t too probable, but a show in a parade? Maybe so.

Several years ago, after 54 years of farming, Don retired to haul livestock for other farmers and also hauls gravel. The State Patrol stopped him recently, but with everything in order on his truck, the young officer advised Don to “drive with care.” The advice was politely received, for Don’s been driving a truck since he was 18 years old. He is a veteran of the Korean War and driving a truck on roughly bulldozed mountain roads was his duty in the Army. On one occasion while he munched lunch, sitting on a big rock at the side of the road, an enemy plane bombed and blew apart his truck. The Army issued him another truck.

Don is one of 11 children and often says, “I don’t think I was spoiled as a child.”

’Til next time.