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MY POINT OF VIEW
A Book: Silver Avions and Cayos. by Robert J. Muncy
To Order: Phone: (828) 963-6487. Credit cards or check.
Primary Marketer: Philip Muncy, Muncy Winds Music Co. (my son)
A REVIEW AND SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK:
I began writing this book several years ago. My original purpose was to describe why Jewel Dee and I were attracted to travel soon after we married in December 1948 and later became captivated by what we considered to be the finest RV ever produced -- the aircraft-constructed Silver Avion. It was, for us, an ideal traveling home on wheels. In the book, I speak of traveling as an important part of my "American Dream". As a teenager, I was impressed to hear about the "land of the free and home of the brave" and, the pledge of allegiance to the American flag (i.e.,"..one nation, under God,... with liberty and justice for all..."). These concepts motivated me to be part of the American landscape and to see and experience first hand, the cultural and geographical differences that exist in our beautiful country.
Our Silver Avion has taken us east, west, north, and south in style. I soon undertook an effort to learn the history of the Silver Avion and the Cayo family that envisioned and built such a high quality RV. I spent considerable time visiting with the Cayos, others who worked for the Avion and Cayo Corporations, and some town folks in Benton Harbor, Michigan where the Avion and Cayo plants were located. Having been a member of the Avion Travelcade Club for more than 20 years and primarily responsible for beginning the Silver Avion Fellowship, I had many sources that contributed to my story.
While visiting one day with Bill Cayo, he graciously loaned me some old slides that were taken in the early years of the Avion plant. I also had some slides that I had taken of Avion Travelcade Club Rallies, Rendezvous, and Travelcades. When I added the photos of Silver Avion Fellowship activities, I had a lot of photos. I converted these photos to CDs and loaded them into my computer. I continued to research the Cayo family, Julius Cayo, his three sons (two of whom were key founders of the Silver Avion factory in the mid 1950s). More and more, I developed profound respect for the Cayos. I have labeled the Cayo legacy as "quest for quality and honesty."
There are sections covering the Cayo family, early years production of Silver Avions, changes that occurred in Avion history, the Avion Travelcade Club, the Silver Avion Fellowship, some selected Avioner stories, and some material describing my early life experiences that taught me respect for quality and honesty, the Cayo legacy.The book has 176 pages. There are photos of wrecked Avions that Cayo Repair Service rebuilt to "like new" condition (some were considered "totaled" by the insurance company). Also, there are photos of a custom built camper and a motor home that Cayo built by special order in the 1980s. There are more than 80 pages of color photos (almost 200 photos). It has a quality paper (plasticized) cover that is stitched for durability. It is printed in 8 X 10 size to enhance the photos, all of which are captioned.
If you like (or love) Silver Avions, or if you just have curiosity about Avions, I believe you will find this book enjoyable. It is perfect as a coffee table book where you can go back and view the photos from time to time. You may recognize someone.
The cost: $24.95. If ordered (by credit card or check) through my son's business, Muncy Winds Music Company, shipping and handling fee is $5.99 per book. You can call (828) 963-6487. They will take your order, pack the book and ship it to you.
This is not a money-making thing for us. We have funded the book, prepared the text and photos, and then paid to have it printed. At first, we have ordered a limited supply until we can determine the demand. We can re-print if needed.
Robert J. (Bob) Muncy, author
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November 8, 2009
A TRIBUTE TO ERNEST TSOSIE ZAH, SR.
Approximately 40 years ago, I was responsible for a graduate program at New Mexico Highlands University called the "Counselor-Remediation Program". This unique Master's degree admitted ten students who had a bachelor's degree and backgrounds in culturally diverse environments. Included in the program were Hispanic, African-American, and Native-American students. Several were Native-Americans -- of Pueblo and Navajo ethnicities. During the two years of graduate study, I became very involved with these students, especially one -- Ernest Tsosie Zah, a Navajo. He became known as "Ernie" to others.
Program experiences included courses in Multi-cultural Analysis, other anthropological courses concerning cultural change, cultural differences, etc., and a number of field experiences. For instance, we took the group to SMU for a conference on Cultural Change, and there were other close-by assignments to study elements of a culture different from the student's culture, etc. During this time, I had many conversations with Ernie. I remember in particular when Ernie asked me if I believed in the "germ theory" (i.e., that germs caused disease and illness). Of course, I replied, "Yes I do." Ernie then asked me, "have you ever seen a germ? Or do you just accept the idea that these germs do exist because someone else told you to believe this?" I responded, "yes, Ernie, I believe that I have seen germs in a biology lab by looking through a microscope." He replied, "I have also looked through a microscope, but what I saw was not too clear." He went on to say that in Navajo culture, it is believed that being out of harmony with the life forms that one encounters in the world can produce illness. We agreed that both ideas (germs and need to be in harmony) are important aspects of health.
During my tenure at NM Highlands University, I advised and counseled Native-American students, especially Navajo. Highlands had quite a few Native-American students, most of whom were at the undergraduate level. On a number of occasions, I accompanied a pick-up load of Navajo students for a late night bonfire up the Gallinas Canyon and we would share in making and eating Navajo Fry Bread with lots of engaging conversation.
We had many such conversations. I enjoyed having these occasions to share what I thought I believed inasmuch as my doctoral program at the University of New Mexico several years earlier, was a multi-disciplinary program involving cultural anthropology, sociology, institutional analysis from business administration, and other social sciences. And by the way, my doctoral dissertation concerned Value-Orientations of Navajo.
I lost contact with Ernie for almost 30 years. And actually I never had a face-to-face contact with him after I left New Mexico in 1972 to accept a position on the faculty at the University of Tennessee (Martin Campus). Recently, I tried once more to "google" Ernie to see what I could find out. I was dismayed to learn that Ernie passed away, at age 67 in May 2009. The obituary gave the following information.
Zah died May 6, 2009. He was born July 21, 1941, in Kinlichee, into the Black Streaked Forest People Clan for the Red Running Into the Water People Clan.
Zah graduated from Holbrook High School and attended City Tech in Omaelgee, Oklahoma, Los Angeles City College and graduated with a Master's Degree from New Mexico Highlands University. He was the Dean for financial aid officer at Dine College and was a school board member for Window Rock School District. His hobbies included being a Pow Wow singer, medicine man, rancher, and Oklahoma Sooner fan. At the time of his death he was a counselor/teacher at Navajo Pine High School.
I am proud of Ernie Zah and his accomplishments. I shall never forget him.
Robert J. Muncy
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MORE TOPICS:
CONCERNING SILVER AVIONS: (Updated: 8/20/09) Jewel Dee and I acquired our first Silver Avion in 1983. We wanted an Avion long before that time, but we didn't think we could afford one on "teacher income." Looking back, we think we could have.
Anyway, we camped in tents, VW buses, homebuilt trailers, and a couple of inexpensive travel trailers before we took the big plunge into an Avion. We wish we had done this much earlier, although we thoroughly enjoyed our camping experiences. We travelled a lot, across country and also weekend camping near our home.
In 1983, we joined the Avion Travelcade Club and over the next 20 plus years, Bob served as TN unit president several times, Jewel Dee served as unit Sec/Treasurer a number of times, we attended more than 30 International ATC Rendezvous', we participated in Travelcades (planned caravans), we directed the Memphis Rendezvous in 1996 (400 RVs in attendance), served as Ass't Directors of several other Rendezvous', and served as SC Region Governor. We made many friends. It was a great life.
We watched the membership of the ATC decline after Fleetwood discontinued production of aircraft-constructed Silver Avions. We painfully observed the feuding, fussing, and fighting (another definition of the 3 F's) that dominated meetings, etc. We hoped at that time, that the club would remain independent and adjust the program (and budget) to the shrinking membership. But it didn't.
A few years ago, the ATC merged with the Fleetwood Club. The decal for the RVs was changed from ATC to Fleetwood Travelcade Club, the Red Jackets became obsolete, and various Fleetwood brand RVs (Prowler, Wilderness, large motor homes, etc.) began to replace the Silvers at rallies and Rendezvous'. We decided about this time not to continue as members of the FTC. We just didn't want to be "Fleetwooders". We wanted to continue as "Avioners".The Travelcade Club ceased operation recently. It is but a memory now.
Beginning in 1998, Jewel Dee and I, with enormous help from other "Silver Owners", voluntarily sponsored a Program that we called the "Silver Avion Fellowship". We scheduled a number of rallies, and even several caravans, the most organized one being the New Mexico Caravan, and maintained contact with other Silver Owners via the internet and USPS Mail. We enjoyed the support of several Silver Avion groups (see the links on our Webspawner homepage). In 2008, Jewel Dee and I asked Marguerite and Fred Meyers to serve as the National Leaders of the Silver Avion Fellowship and Bobbie & Al Bailitz as the Coordinators of SAF Rallies. They graciously accepted. We believe that the Silver Avion movement will continue for a long time. We hope that you will continue to celebrate the Silver Avions.
Bob and Jewel Dee Muncy, SAF Founders and Past Nat'l Leaders
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TRANSFORMATION OF THE SILVER AVION FELLOWSHIP (Updated 8/20/09)
At this time, the SAF is undergoing a significant change of leaders and direction of the program. Prior to 1998, there was a lot of discussion among owners of Silver Avions concerning "what now?" Silvers were orphans after Fleetwood discontinued production of the riveted, aircraft-constructed Avion RVs and some of the officers of the Travelcade Club began to talk about Silvers as "obsolete RVs of the past". Dedicated Silver lovers were not convinced that the thousands of Silvers on the road would soon be scrapped and replaced by the new "plastic models."
And thus, many Silver owners in the Travelcade Club encouraged efforts to have some kind of program for the Silvers. Out of this climate, the SAF was founded in 1998 when a newsletter, written by Bob & Jewel Dee Muncy, was mailed to 34 interested Silver Owners. The essence of the newsletter was that Silvers should be cherished and celebrated in an independent program. The newsletter soon grew to as many as 18 pages and was US mailed to about 400 Silver owners, and many rallies were held, some attracting more than 70 RVs and a number of smaller, but very important mini-rallies were offered in a number of States. The concept was "sharing information about restoration and maintenance of Silvers", through various methodologies---by newsletters, face-to-face exchange, correspondence, and rallies---and later, by the internet. All of these activities were supported by donations. The movement grew and for about 10 years, the Muncys guided this process.
With new leadership, the future for the Silver Avion Fellowship looks great. Please support it and plan to attend the SAF Reunion Rally in Elkhart next July. Bob & Jewel Dee
Send E-Mail to: bobmuncy@frontiernet.net
Copyright © 2009 Robert Muncy. All Rights Reserved