I ran into some old friends this weekend who live on a large cattle ranch near Van Horn in deep west Texas. They are delightful people, but like all my friends and relatives who live off the land in this part of the world, have firm values and set ways in which they treat people and insist on being treated. These folks are kind, good hearted people, but never take their good nature for weakness and, for your own sake, don’t try to take advantage of them. I remember the stubborn strength of my Czech grandfather, a dry land farmer, and grew up myself stringing miles of barb wire fence and herding cattle on our ranch. A person was “as good as their word” and a “straight shooter” was high praise.
My friends recalled the story of when the cell company ask to put a tower on their land. A price was agreed upon and they allowed the construction. The money was of little consequence, but they were civic minded and each had cell phones themselves. All went well for a few years until they received a letter stating that the fee to them was being dramatically reduced due to cost cutting at the company. They were told the equipment was company property and already installed, and they had no option but to accept the new deal. The rancher calmly called the number on the letter and let the person know that he could pick up his tower outside the main gate the following monday. He was taking the boys off the herd to pull it down first thing in the morning. I understand that he never raised his voice.
Like my grandfather, my friend was a man who would give you the shirt off his back. Just don’t try to take it off him yourself!
The tower? It’s still there today sending out calls and data. And, oh yes, the company apologized profusely and pays the original amount. Wise choicer on their part!