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Jim Johnson

Jim Johnson moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in 1973. He worked as a millwright for Kaiser Aluminum-Trentwood in Spokane, and enjoyed fishing as well as riding. He joined Kootenai District, ABATE of Idaho in 1991.

information from ABATE of North Idaho newsletter volume 1 issue 5,6.

Rodney Kullander

While a student at Montesano High School Rodney lost part of his leg due to cancer. But friends and family refused to let the tragedy interfere with the young motorcycle enthusiast's dreams of having his own bike. With the help of donations from many, Grays Harbor ABATE and Olympia Harley Davidson a 1976 Sportster was adapted to meet his requirements and put into Rodney's name as an incentive to help him fight the disease. Previously, the Make a Wish Foundation flew him to Alaska so he could obtain a drivers license and be legal to ride in the state of Washington. This brave young man from Montesano, WA was made an Honorary Member of Kootenai District, ABATE of Idaho. Though Rodney would eventually loose his fight with cancer in 1991 his life and display of determination is inspiring to many of us, still.

Neil V. Cooper, “Mr. Indian”

August 5, 1917 – May 27, 2005

by Al Blum

 Neil Copper was a friend of mine. He was born in Plains Montana and moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho as a child.  A man of many interests and experiences, a man that loved to enjoy life to it’s fullest. 

 He sold me my 1^st Harley basket case. It was a shrewd but honest deal, heh hee.  He also helped me build my first Indian. Over the many hours that we spent together, Neil told me stories from his expansive repertoire.  One of the great stories was how he got his first motorcycle.  It was back in 1932, he was 15 years old at he time, Neil had traded a Pen Knife and a 22 rifle for a 1917 Harley Davidson J model.  Not wanting to get in trouble with his folks he hid the bike for a couple of weeks.  When they found out about the bike, yes he got in trouble.  They took the bike away from him and put it in the shed for awhile.  None the less, Neil eventually got the bike back from his folks and has kept a hold of that bike for the rest of his life.

 While working at a logging camp in Montana in “The Hungry Thirties, Neil bought his first new motorcycle, an Indian Chief.  He’d ride that new Chief into town looking good.  When he’d come back to his bike, there on the seat would be notes and phone numbers from girls that wanted him to take them for a ride.  The adventures, the rides and the spills he took were the memories that he shared with me as my mentor.

 During WWII Neil was a machinist. He was in charge of 12 milling machines and lathes where women operators helping with the war effort.  He could whip up a part on a lathe and make it look like child’s play.

 In the 40’s Neil dabbled in dirt track racing.  He had this cool sport scout flat track bike in his shop and a bunch of trophies as a result of his experience. In the late 40’s through the early 50’s he was an Indian dealer in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. This was when he picked up the nickname “Mr. Indian”. He sold military motorcycles to the GI’s that were coming home from the war.

 Motorcycles weren’t his only passion. In the 50’s Neil began to race hydroplanes on Lake Coeur d’Alene. His boss paid him and gave him time off from work so he could travel and keep winning. The Hydroplane Race trophies lined the shop along with his dirt bike trophies.

When I bought a 1949 Triumph Speed Twin, Neil told me when he bought his 1949 Speed Twin brand new.  He uncrated it and immediately pressed it into racing service.  Later when I got into Ice Racing on my ’45 Harley, Neil was my sponsor.  He hauled me to the race, fed me, housed me, and cheered me on while sitting on a frozen lake in sub zero temperatures.

 One of his favorite trips was when he rode his military Indian Scout to the top of Glacier National Park.  Neil was in his 70’s at the time. He was a legend in his own time.

In the early 1980’s Neil was one of the founding members of the Northwest Classic Motorcycle Club.  I was invited to join the club, by Neil, as were so many others.  We have all grown to be good friends.  All of these friends, which are dear to me, are all joined in friendship because of our individual friendships with Neil and the love of old bikes.

 Some of our best times were in his basement at his lathe, custom making some piece for a project I was doing.  He sold and traded to me a bunch of bent and worn parts, which he then helped me assemble into a running Indian Chief. It’s been 19 years now, and I still ride that same bike. His knowledge of old cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, tools was indeed vast. His excitement for any and all motorcycle projects never seemed to wave, but the Indian’s were his all time favorite.  He knew them inside and out. Some times we would just sit and talk for hours about bikes, cars, bikes, women and bikes. He always had a really cool bike project or 10 going on whenever you went over to his house. No quick stop there. Neil instilled upon me the temper and determination it takes to make rusty broken parts turn into a road worthy machine.

 May 27, 2005 Neil lost his battle with cancer. Neil Cooper was family. I loved him, I will miss him. I will always remember his stories and the things he taught me. Like those shrewd but honest deals, chuckle chuckle. 

 Happy trials dear old friend.

 Al Blum

Northwest Classics Motorcycle Club, Vice President

"Joker Jack" Dougherty GJMC

top: Jack enjoying Christmas,  bottom: Old Man Dave and Joker Jack

Jack was born a Canadian and died a proud Canadian but so loved the good old USA too, I once saw him knock a guy out in Battle Creek Michigan....the guy had taken the US flag down for the night and walked into the building with it wadded up in his arms, unfortunate for him it wasn't bundled up all that well and he stepped on the skirt of it and Jack was so angry.  He told me once he was destined to move to the US because he was born to be a Gypsy Joker, he held so many strong beliefs and feelings, Lord knows there was no changing his mind once it was made up either.  His family (both blood and the extended Biker Family that he adopted) meant so much to him.  If you were Jack's friend you were his friend and there was nothing you could do about it.  So very often I saw him put parts on someone's bike or gas in the tank just so they could go for a ride and enjoy themselves.  A big man that intimidated so many with his size was just an over-grown kid that really knew how to have fun and live life to the fullest. 

                                                            Char

There is so much, it could not be said in 100 years. But there is not a
day goes by that I don't think of some thing about that man...their was never
a day of hate from that guy. The respect that he gave, which he did not
have to.

                             Old Man Dave
 

G. W. "Wolfie" Valley

Gordon Valley was born and raised in North Dakota. As a young man he moved with is his family to Hayden Lake. He worked throughout the northwest as an ironworker. In the late 1950's he became the owner and operator of Charlie's Place in Post Falls. Ten years later he sold the business and returned to ironworking, retiring in 1972.

His passion in life was motorcycles, and he attended the Sturgis Bike Rally every year since 1982. He was a member of  Kootenai District, ABATE of Idaho and the Ironworkers Union of Spokane.

information from Kootenai District, ABATE of Idaho newsletter

 Roy "Round Man" Starkey

Roy "Round Man" Starkey passed away at his home in Otis Orchards Nov. 12th. To most everyone he was known as Round Man, and advised, that is what you called him.

I knew Round Man for over fifteen years, partied, rode with him, and talked to him about alot of things. He was a man of convictions and wasn't afraid to tell you about them. Round Man would tell you like it was. He had the respect of all of us by his straight forward manner.

Those of us in ABATE of Idaho and ABATE of Wash. are saddened by this loss. He was a member of both organizations, and as a manager of the Bayou Tavern, supported events to better both groups.

Round Man loved to ride, but found it difficult to get away much this last summer. I'll remember our rides, as well as, all of his friends will. He was loved by all of us.

May the wind be in his face forever.

                                                                                                  Steve

reprinted from Kootenai District, ABATE of Idaho newsletter volume 4 issue 11.

Sue Linehan