HOW A LITTLE COUNTRY BOY FROM WESTERN COLORADO BECAME A HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALER
Written by Henry N. Patterson
1989

The following article was written by Henry N. Patterson which he prepared to read to his friends at a "Forty Years in Business Party" given to him by his family in the spring of 1989. Many friends came, some from a great distance, for a very fun evening. Denny called it a "Roast Party." Several friends gave their roasts telling their memories of Henry over the years, some humorous and other serious.  

I got my first bicycle when I was about ten years old. It was necessary because my parents sold their home in town and were moving to the country. They did not have big yellow busses to take kids to school then. I soon was able to take care of my own bike and kept it in good running shape. You may not know it but back then the bicycle rims were made of wood and a good rain storm might warp them so much they would not go through the forks. Steel rims were just coming out.

When I was in the eighth grade it was an era of time when motorcycles and bicycles were not as popular as they had been. The automobile age was taking over. Cycle Trades of America saw what was happening so they sent out representatives with a program to try to keep young people on bicycles. They came to our town and visited the schools to organize a Bicycle Day. It was to be a big parade with costumes, best decorated bike and etc. The big event of the day was to be a plank ride with the winner to receive a $25.00 gold watch. They borrowed 150 feet of 1 x 6 inch boards from the lumber yard and put them out on the street. Everyone who wanted to enter this contest could by being there when it started. Not knowing this contest was coming I had an edge on most everyone. We had a center parking with a curb on it and this was on my way to and from school. It was a boy's challenge to ride that curb for a block without falling off. Things went well for me and I was that last one that did not fall off the board. Then they told me that if I could go a few more laps I would set a new record. I was assured by the starter, who worked for a bike shop, that if I set a new record he would see to it that I would get a new bicycle for my efforts. I set the record but received no bike--so much for promises. The total I rode on the plank was about one and 1/4 miles. This win gave me the opportunity to ask for a job at a bicycle shop. The job did not come right away but finally when I was a freshman in high school he asked me to come to work. This meant that I would eat my lunch at the shop while he went home for lunch. Also, I was to come in after school was out and stay until six p.m. and all day on Saturdays. I had to sweep the floor, wash windows, run errands and fix flats. I received $3.00 per week, which was 50 cents a day and $1.50 for Saturdays. That comes out to $12.00 per month and times 12 months that is $144.00 per year. Inflation has come a long way. I did not realize at the time that the shop where I was working was probably the leading motorcycle shop in our town. It was there where the motorcycle riders would come for oil, chains, and to order parts. You could even order a new Harley.

In 1930 I bought my first motorcycle for $80.00. It was a 1928 21 inch Harley-Davidson side valve single. I had it for about six weeks until a car decided to take the intersection that I had almost gotten through. This wiped out both me and the motorcycle for awhile. By this time I was doing minor work on some of the motorcycles that were brought in for repair. In 1933 I bought a basket case of a 1929 45 inch twin for $65.00. I rebuilt this bike and got it running pretty good. Now what should everyone do with their bike? Of course, take a trip. I had an uncle in Chicago and the Worlds Fair was still going on there so that was my destination. I got along fine until the battery gave up just before I reached Omaha. I hitchhiked into Omaha and bought a new battery. They took me back to my bike on a new 45 and did it run smooth. I had a great time at the Worlds Fair with my uncle. I took one day and went to the Schwinn Bicycle Factory which had been the old Excelsior Motorcycle Factory.

The highlight of my trip was going to Milwaukee to visit the Harley-Davidson Factory. I went in and introduced myself and told them where I worked. The next thing was to wait for a guide. While waiting another factory man came in and asked me where my bike was parked. He said he would move it and that I was to pick it up at the south door when the tour was over. I picked it up and found they had tuned it, put in new spark plugs, checked and oiled the chain and filled it with oil. That was apparently the way they treated visitors at that time. I headed back to Colorado by the way of Victor, Colorado to see an old schoolmate who was also a bike rider. He took me deep into one of the mines. That was quite an experience. After getting home my desire for a new bike was at its peak. When the 1935's were announced I ordered a new blue and silver 45 and paid $2.00 extra for cadmium rims, the forerunner of chrome. In the fall of 1935 I got a four speed 80 inch--not many of them were made. I did not get to ride much that winter as I took my parents on an extended car trip. We spent quite a bit of time in southern California. While there I visited Rich Budelier's Harley shop, which at that time was the largest Harley-Davidson shop. There I saw all the new OHV 61s and as soon as I got home I sold my 80 inch and ordered a 61. That is one machine I wish I had back. In February of 1937 I went to Milwaukee for the Factory Service School. It lasted three weeks and I found out that I did not know much about motorcycles. While there I took delivery on a new 1937 61 and rode it home. I can remember going through Topeka because it was cold, windy and raining mud balls.

After getting home we organized the Sunset Riders Motorcycle Club. Any rider on the Western Slope of Colorado was eligible to become a member. With this club we had some of the best times of our lives and still have some great friendships. In 1938 I took on my present marriage partner, Leola. We celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary this past summer. The war came along stopped the club for a few years, as many left for the service or for defense jobs. When the war was over I fixed up a GI opposed motor but I was used to more performance than it had and sold it and fixed up a GI 45 into a play bike.

By this time our family was growing and I had the urge to have a business of my own. I tried to buy the shop where I was working but he didn't want to sell. I waited until Jim Phillips came through, he was our Harley-Davidson factory representative. I told him I would like to find a dealership, if possible. It wasn't long until he wrote and said Topeka was available as Dutch Myers wanted to take over the Tulsa, Oklahoma shop which was larger and near his home town. Sometime in December of 1948 I came to Topeka and looked over the situation. We decided to try to make a deal for it and Dutch came up with a contract we were able to handle. The contract was signed on February 28th and March 1st of 1949 and the cash register was mine. At that time Denny was three and Mike's Dad, Larry, was 8. I moved to Topeka and went back to Grand Junction to bring Leola and the boys after Larry's school was out and I had found a place for us to live for awhile. Dutch was to keep the building, at 306 Kansas Avenue, and rent it to me. That was fine for awhile. After he got to Tulsa he found the building there not satisfactory and he sold the building I was in to be able to buy another building in Tulsa. Everything was still ok until my contract on the building was up and the new owner immediately raised the rent a great deal and said he had a new tenant for it. An empty building across the street, 327 Kansas Avenue, became the next Harley Shop. We were in that building just long enough to get organized and the Throop Hotel next door caught on fire. So out to the side walk and vacant lot near by we went. I slept out with our stock for several nights as they would not allow us to move back in after the fire was put out. The hotel building was gutted and they were about to knock down the walls to save the next door building. But that was delayed because there was a body in the hotel ruins that had to be recovered first. Four days later we received a call in the early morning that the wall had fallen and completely flattened our building. We had watched that wall swaying in the wind those four days. While waiting a friendly roofing contractor said he could move his supplies into his basement at 304 Kansas Avenue in order for us to get our stock under cover. After the wall fell we camped there for less than a year when the building at 2410 West Sixth Street, which we are presently in, became available for us to purchase.

We were getting settled there when the Great Flood of 1951 came. Because of the backup water from the river we were flooded out of business again for about a week. Don't let anyone tell you that being a Harley dealer is a "bed of roses." We have really been through "hell and high water." Since then things have gone rather smoothly. Some rough spots, of course, but we have survived. The best thing that has happened to our business was when, after five years in Uncle Sam's Air Force, Denny decided to become a partner in our business. His abilities and lots of hard work is what has made the shop the success it is now. As for me I'm back where I started. I'm at the shop so the help can go to lunch and I keep the shop open when the BOSS goes to Dealer Meetings, etc. Again I sweep the floor, dust and wash windows.

I want to thank all of you as customers and better yet as friends for coming tonight to this party.

AN ADDITION TO BRING YOU UP-TO-DATE
In April of 1991 we bought our present building at 600 NW Highway 24. After much remodeling of the building and with all the great help of our staff we made the big move to our new location.

In May of 1990 Mike, our grandson and son of our older son, Larry, graduated from Kansas University with a Business Degree and immediately joined our corporation. However, he had been working at our shop part time since he was in junior high school. With his enthusiasm and hard work he has added much to our business.

Early in 1993 we realized we needed more space to better display all the Harley-Davidson accessories that are now available. Also, we had added to our stock the KTM off road dirt bikes and needed more room to better display them and their accessories. The new addition will soon be finished and we are looking forward to our "Open House" in the near future.