We are doing some major work in McCamey, Texas over the next month and keep finding caps stamped Truman Gaskin 638. Couple of problems with that. According to the Texas Board PLS, Truman Gaskin never held a license in Texas. 638 on the glorious, unified State of Texas Licensing system shows as being registered to a Registered Dental Assistant named Denise Valencia or a Deceased Surveyor named Charles Koehl. A quick search of the internet reveals that Truman Gaskin was a surveyor in Jal, New Mexico, which is a stone's throw from Midland and not too far from McCamey. But Mr. Gaskin's registration number in New Mexico is listed as 2126.
Why was Gaskin setting caps in Texas if never registered, what state might 638 be from (I have now checked NM, AZ and OK), and where might his records (if any) be?
I like a good mystery.
I've seen caps with a highway project number stamped on them... not that this is necessarily the case or even a good idea.
Andy,
Can't help on this Gaskin fellow, but I sure know about that neck of the woods.
Staked many a pipeline around there back in the 70's.
Since McCamey was a in a dry county, we had to join the VFW hall to get a beer without having to drive about 50 miles.
The Dairy Queen was the best place to eat and the only hotel back then was a dive.
We made the best of it, a short drive to Iraan and you had alley-oop land. lol.
Randy
McCamey
It is certainly a fun job in my opinion. Not sure what the purpose is, but we're doing enough tracts where we will be surveying a good portion of the town. A lot of money still in the ground around there. Rugged topography and not a whole lot of civilization, but as a born and raised West Texan, I enjoy it. Looks like the place didn't even exist before 1925. Handbook of Texas says it was laid out by Corpus Christi real estate company, Burleson and Johns.
McCamey
> Handbook of Texas says it was laid out by Corpus Christi real estate company, Burleson and Johns.
There's your problem right there...a real estate company.:-D
Gaskin Surveying Co., Inc.
Truman Gaskin
P.O. Box 4422
Ruidoso, NM 88345
OK LS771 Expired '94....looks like you might be looking for a widow, or next of kin.
Yep, found him on the SSI Death index as being born in 1924 and died 1994. Also found his brother's obituary which lists some relatives.
> Gaskin Surveying Co., Inc.
> Truman Gaskin
> P.O. Box 4422
> Ruidoso, NM 88345
>
> OK LS771 Expired '94....looks like you might be looking for a widow, or next of kin.
I'm thinkin' paden is on to something. Could it be the NM #638 guy was the surveyor working for Gaskin Surveying Co. Inc. at the time?
(Colorado PE/LS number 638 was "Edgar Lee Shaw" so no luck there)
I couldn't see where that would make sense. Put my number under your company name, where your company name is the same as your given name.
These caps got me scratching my head.
i THINK i'D BE DOING SOME DIGGING ON THE OTHER DEAD GUY- Charles Koehl- WHAT WAS HIS STOMPING GROUNDS? WAS HE SOMEHOW IN CAHOOTS WITH GASKIN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME IN YOUR CURRENT PROJECT AO?-
EDIT - DIDN'T SEE ADAM'S POST. iT MAY NOT MAKE SENSE TO YOU, BUT STANGE THINGS CAN HAPPEN WHEN WORK NEEDS TO GET DONE.
Andy,
I dont think Gaskin ever had an office in Ruidoso, NM. I live here and have for the past 20 years. The surveying company I work for has been here since the early 70's. I have come across a few of his caps in the Ruidoso area. I believe that someone told me he was based out of Artesia, NM but did some work up here for some of his buddies. From what I have found, his work generally fits and he seemed to know what he was doing.
Thanks, Dennis. I think he was based out of Jal. His death certificate lists Ruidoso, so I assume that is where he retired to.
