Don Preslar
Hi my name is Don Preslar.
I lived on 406 Rose avenue just a half block away
From Harry Gilbert’s home. We were buddies and
we both went to Centerview grammer school.
It was a wooden eight room school, grades 1-7.
The extra room was for the cafeteria.
We often rode our bikes to school. Harry was a pretty
Adventurous bike rider. I remember one morning when
We coasted down a small hill toward the school,
Trying to coast without our hands on the handles.
Harry tried to ride without using his feet, lifting both
Of them off the peddles and then also lifted both hands
Off the handlebars. He shouted out ”look ma, no hands
And no feet.” It was a little too tricky, he crashed in
A cloud of dust.
When we were in seventh grade we were busy trying to make
A Muzzle loading pistol, and later building an AM radio kit.
The radio didn’t work, but eventually Harry discovered that
We missed a wire, once that was fixed it actually began
Working. Harry’s dad helped him to buy a custom made steel go-kart, and
Harry gave me the wheels and axels from his first go-kart.
I borrowed my dad’s lawn mower motor to finish my go-kart.
We used to drive our go karts to the high school for the
Summer band practices, after the class we went on some
Dirt roads west of the high school. It’s amazing that we weren’t
Run over by the car traffic. We explained to our principle, Mr. Nash,
How the go-cart chain drive worked. He acted as if he was
Really impressed with our knowledge. We used to play pickup football on
Harry’s front lawn, at least until we learned that football
Really hurt a lot. I don’t think we actually got any concussions.
Harry made money by mowing many of his neighbors lawns.
Harry let me see his dad’s guitar and phonograph. The phonograph
Was pretty old, using a container full of steel needles for a pickup.
Harry and I both played saxophone in the grammar school
Practice band. In eighth grade we were both in Mrs. Black’s English
Class. The first day Mrs. Black lined us up around the room as
We came into the classroom. As Harry came in talking loudly, I
Shouted out to him, Watch out Harry, she’s a real …
She heard that. We learned right away, you couldn’t mess with Mrs. Black.
Ms. Black encouraged me to take Latin in ninth grade, I bottomed that class.
Harry was fascinated with Elvis Presley and Harry had a big head of black
Hair that he combed like Elvis. Harry brought his guitar to English
Class and Mrs. Black encouraged him to play for the class.
Harry was a little to bashful to play much but it was clear that Mrs.
Black was glad to encourage him. I guess she was motivated by
The literature of ‘don’t step on my blue suede shoes’ and Harry was
Motivated by the guitar and the glory of Elvis like Rock and Roll.
After college I moved to New Jersey and worked for RCA.
I found out that Harry was working in New York City on the world
Trade center as an electrician. The economy was down and Harry,
Came to New York looking for work. I visited with Harry and he showed
Me around New York. We drove through Harlem in my 1965 GTO, and
Were pretty freaked out by the many black people there.
The years in Kannapolis, grammar school, junior high, and senior high
Were some of the best years of my life and to have good friends like
Harry made it all the better.