Ballrollers
GOLD MEMBER
2035 posts
Sep 04, 2009
8:32 AM
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For those of you who have any interest in the background of the Carolina rollers, you may be interested in the article I recently wrote and posted in the Reading Room about Don Simpson and his family of rollers after interviewing many of the Carolina veteran roller men. As you may or may not be aware, Don was inducted into the NBRC Hall of Fame, along with Ellis MacDonald and Fred Windbigler at this year's NBRC Convention in Sacremento. The article will also be published in the next issue of the NBRC Bulletin. Enjoy!
Cliff
Don Simpson, The Old Almond Cock, and Their Role in the History of South Carolina Rollers
In the spring of 1970, a young man named Frankie Reece rode his bicycle up to Don Simpson’s pigeon pen, still located at his dad’s house a short way from where Don lived with his family. Frankie had a box of young Pensom rollers that he had just that same day acquired from Lloyd Bagwell of Williamston, South Carolina. Bob Welbourne, of Greenville, South Carolina was the man responsible for bringing the Pensom family of rollers into the Carolinas in about 1956-’57, obtaining them directly from Bill Pensom. He (Welbourne) bred them pure and flew them until his daughter became terminally ill with leukemia. Along about 1970,Welbourne finally divested himself of his rollers to a friend in Greenville in order to focus on carrying for his daughter.......CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING
Last Edited by on Sep 04, 2009 8:39 AM
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Scott
2504 posts
Sep 04, 2009
9:04 AM
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Good read on Don, Cliff, Thanks !!!
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Scott Campbell
"It is about moderated fortitude !! "
Last Edited by on Sep 04, 2009 2:58 PM
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Sunflower
GOLD MEMBER
518 posts
Sep 04, 2009
9:31 AM
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Cliff/Scott,
When Don was here judging our region this spring I had the pleasure of spending some time with him. He rode with me from here out to Jim Bowen's house in Abilene. That trip plus our stop for a late breakfast gave me about 4 hours with him one on one. Truly one of the highlights of my experiences with rollermen. He is one of the finest gentlemen I have ever met, only wish I had been able to spend more time with him. He related many experiences to me and I really enjoyed it. Again a great gentleman!!
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Keep em Spinning
Joe
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Ballrollers
GOLD MEMBER
2036 posts
Sep 04, 2009
10:03 AM
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Thanks, Joe! He is one of the last active roller men of great South Carolina competitors of the 80s and 90s.
Cliff
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Ballrollers
GOLD MEMBER
2037 posts
Sep 04, 2009
12:07 PM
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Scott,
Glad you like it.
Cliff
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donnie james
688 posts
Sep 04, 2009
2:53 PM
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hay cliff very good story and really like it do you have any more story's like this???????????donny james
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winwardrollers
295 posts
Sep 04, 2009
4:39 PM
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Cliff
I would venture to guess that the Almond come from decendant that originated from a pigeon breeder in southern Utah back in the 1950's
Bwinward
Last Edited by on Sep 04, 2009 4:40 PM
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Scott
2508 posts
Sep 04, 2009
5:24 PM
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Brad, he was a Tort
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Scott Campbell
"It is about moderated fortitude !! "
Last Edited by on Sep 04, 2009 5:29 PM
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winwardrollers
296 posts
Sep 05, 2009
10:54 AM
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Scott
I see now...didn't read the fifth paragraph careful.
If the bird was a Tort...I can see a future to the bird as stated in the post..if it was a true almond...thats a differant story.
Very informative post Cliff
Bwinward
Last Edited by on Sep 06, 2009 4:24 PM
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Kou
41 posts
Sep 05, 2009
9:01 PM
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Good article there cliff. I personal enjoyed read the article and found ineresting in the article how 5011 perform in his kit.
Home Of The Trance Roller Lofts
Kou Vang
ThurderBirds
Last Edited by on Sep 05, 2009 9:04 PM
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Ballrollers
GOLD MEMBER
2040 posts
Sep 08, 2009
8:32 AM
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Bwinward
Like Scott said, the bird was a Pensom Tort; we are discussing a Grizzle factored bird and NOT an Almond.
The OLD ALMOND COCK was NOT an almond but a grizzle. He got his name because he sorta looked like an almond to somebody.
Cliff
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Sound Rollers
26 posts
Sep 09, 2009
11:14 AM
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Great read.
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John
Last Edited by on Sep 09, 2009 5:48 PM
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