The U.S. Custom Harvesters Hall of Fame

INDUCTEES OF USCHI HALL OF FAME

Ed & Brenda Cole, Hamlin, TX - (2006)

Born in 1943, Ed was the only son born into Henry and Ruth Cole’s house full of girls. Maybe it was because he could never get a word in, but my dad has never been a man of many words. Still, he’s always had a quiet determination that drove him.

When he was ten years old, Granddad taught Daddy to drive a tractor and planned to let him work in the field the next day. That night, Daddy overheard my Grandmother insisting to Granddad that Daddy was too young to work in the field alone all day. Determined to prove her wrong, he stayed in the field from daylight until dark without a single complaint. He’s still as stubborn today about what he can do, as he was then.

Dad graduated from high school and began his college career at Tarleton College in Stephenville, TX. During a visit home from school, he went to help a friend at a local cotton gin. The glove he was wearing became caught in a machine and Dad ended up losing his left hand due to the injuries.

A lot of people would consider this a handicap, but it’s never stopped my Dad. His will and determination kept him going. He was fitted with a hook on his left arm and it’s never stopped him from doing what he wanted to do.

In 1961, after the unexpected death of his father, Dad left college to return home and help care for his mom and the farm. That same year, a neighbor hired dad to help him with the farming and dozer operation, and together, they later made their first harvest run.

In 1967, Dad purchased his own combine and began the run on his own. Tired of eating his own cooking, Dad married my Mom, Brenda Lee, in 1974, and they raised my brother Donnie and me on the harvest trail.

Today, farming is still the family business. Donnie works at Four Star Feed and Chemical where they specialize in fertilization and pesticide applications. Dad and Mom, along with my family still make the harvest run from Texas to Kansas each summer, but it’s a little shorter than it used to be because of our growing farm and ranch operation at home.

Dad’s still a man of few words, but his drive and work ethic speak volumes. I’m proud to introduce my father Ed Cole.