South County Profile: Jack Faulkenbury

Jack Faulkenbury is our South County Profile. He is the president of the Anderson Historical Society and Museum.

Benjamin Franklin Faulkenbury III said to his wife Mamie Magnolia Brown that there was not going to be a Benjamin Franklin Faulkenbury IV, so he named their son “Jack” when born 80 years ago in Newton, Kan.

Jack’s older brother was in the U.S. Navy when he and his sister Jerry traveled with their parents to California in 1942 in their Model A Ford. Jack’s father, who was making 35 cents an hour in Kansas, was promised $1.50 an hour at a job at an engraving plant near Los Angeles.

Jack enlisted in the U.S. Army’s infantry, while still a student at Belmont High School in Los Angeles. Before he could finish his military training, however, the war ended. He was sent to Japan as part of the U.S. Occupation forces, where he entered the U.S. Army’s air borne division and practiced jumping out of aircraft. He also became an avid reader with a particular love for history.

Prior to his return to Southern California, Jack’s parents moved to Redondo Beach. Meanwhile, Jack found out that one of his friends was engaged in gold mining at Shasta, so he decided to move to the north. While living in Project City—now a part of the City of Shasta Lake, Jack was hired to change tires for a Redding car dealership. Jack’s interest for the area grew, as did his knowledge of the area’s history.

He later landed a job with Sierra Tractor, which eventually became Peterson Tractor Co. Jack relocated with the company to San Leandro and, eventually, the San Jose area. He worked for the company for thirty years until 1989, when he retired at age 62.

Five years ago, Jack Faulkenbury returned to the area he had originally discovered in his youth. He moved to Cottonwood and joined the Anderson Historical Society where he is the organization’s current president. As a member of the society, he does what he loves best, reading and enjoying local history.

Name: Jack Faulkenbury.

Born where and when: Newton, Kan., 1927.

Occupation: Retired.

Marital Status: Widower.

Family: “My children and their kids.”

Pets: “I love other folks’ pets.”

My worst job: “Repairing truck tires for S.J. Denham’s shop.”

My first job: “Thirty days in a bakery.”

In my spare time I: Read and watch old movies.

My favorite book: “Way Back When” (a history of Cottonwood).

My favorite movie: The original “Good Bye, Mr. Chips.”

My favorite recording artist: “Maybe Willie Nelson.”

My dream car: Is a “Roller.”

My friends like me because: I can not presume I’m liked.

If stranded on a deserted island, I would want: “All the books ever printed.”

The one thing in life I’ve learned is: There ain’t any free lunch.

The best advice my parents gave me: “None – they showed me.”

My most embarrassing moment was: Too many to mention.

My most irrational act: “Jumping from a plane in flight.”

My most valued material possession: Two acres of Cottonwood land.

What I like best about the North State: are the people I meet daily.

My hero is: Marine General Smedley Butler (now deceased).

My pet peeve is: “I’ve lived too long to count them.”

My fantasy is: Clean government.

If I could change one thing about myself I would: Read and write Latin.

The one thing Shasta County needs most is: Intelligent government.

The most enjoyable thing about life is: A good breakfast.