My daddy bought a New Cadillac from your Daddy every year.

One day, I got a telephone call from Roy Perkins.  He ran the body shop at Charles Maund Olds-Cadillac.  It seems that Mark Maund (Charles Maund's youngest son) had a Corvette and the T-Tops had been stolen.  Roy wanted me to find some T-Tops and find some used ones if I could.

I called around to all the junkyards that I normally dealt with but couldn't find any.   I finally called Frank Smith Jr's junkyard.  I can't remember the name of the yard anymore but it was out off of Howard Lane.  I had never really had any dealings with Frank Jr, but I had heard that he was kind of crazy.

At this time, Frank Smith Sr, was in prison.  I don't remember what he went to prison for, but it had to do with his bail bonds business, I think.  The shooting at the Salvage Pool is another story altogether.

Well, Frank Jr., had some T-Tops  that fit Mark's Corvette.  I went out there to look at them and talk to Frank Jr, and try to make a deal on the cost of the T-Tops.

My first impression of Frank Jr, was well, let me put it this way.  He laughs all the time while talking to you.  That makes old South Austin boys nervous.  What was so funny about T-Tops.

After awhile as we were sitting there talking, he gave me a price for the T-Tops.  I don't remember the price but it was no bargain.  I sat there and tried to get a better deal.  And this is what he told me.

Tell Charlie (Maund) to buy these T-Tops.  He said, laughing all the time, that his daddy bought a new Cadillac from Charlie every year and that now his daddy makes license plates for them.

I didn't know whether to laugh or not, although I thought it was funny as hell.  Frank Jr. was laughing.  I finally told him that I would give the price to Charlie (Maund) and I left.

I called Roy Perkins at the body shop and told him the price and said that he had to deal with Frank Jr..  I was out of it. 

I don't know the outcome of the deal and I didn't care.  That was the last time that I have ever seen Frank Jr.


I just have always remembered, Frank Jr. talking about his daddy making license plates.