Badwater Ben Jones

Badwater Hall of Fame Acceptance Speech: Ben Jones
PART I BADWATER HALL OF FAME INDUCTION 2007: BEN AND DENISE JONES

Introduction

Last November Chris Kostman, Race Director for the Badwater Ultramarathon, sent Denise and me a letter indicating that he would like to induct us into the Badwater Hall of Fame at the pre race meeting on 07-22-2007. We instantly accepted the offer. I started accumulating material for the induction acceptance speech. Audience

There was a crowd of at least 500 people in the auditorium at the Visitor's Center at Furnace Creek. The ceremony was to take place between 1530 and 1700 that Sunday afternoon. An hour-and-a-half went by with all sorts of announcements and I was getting a little edgy. A well known and reliable informant had already told me two things: (01) Keep it short and (02) Don't get ridiculous. I was not sure that I could comply with either of those warnings. Denise had already gotten up and left the auditorium for a short "break." Meanwhile, I began drawing lines through my text a line-at-a-time with each extra minute that passed. Speech

When it came time for me to speak, I questioned whether or not the ceremony would be official as it was out of the time zone indicated above. By that time the DVNP Ranger had cautioned us to use restrooms and also use courtesy when eliminating. I mentioned to the audience that I hoped Denise hadn't used one of those creosote bushes outside.

Getting a little more serious, I first of all, praised Denise for being here for me as my true love and for helping me successfully get through the Race in the early '90's. I stated hat we have had a wonderful marriage and have supported each other in our many endeavors including each of our businesses and enjoying our children, grand children, and our pets.

She mentioned beforehand that she would like to go first so I handed the microphone over to her. (Her text will be below). While she was giving her emotional speech, I took pictures of the audience and of her. This seemed to amuse many attending however it was my typical self. Staff

After her presentation, I thanked Chris Kostman who took over this event in 1999-2000. He has built this race with great expertise into what it is today. The race staff was praised as well. I wanted to have more time to acknowledge the sponsors and charities, but passed this up as much of it had already been covered. Also, a lot of what I could have said was already in the race booklet. Guests

I introduced several people. First was my son, Randy Jones. He and the rest of the family never have had the true picture of "Badwater" so I was pleased to have him attend. He lives in Long Beach, California, and does what is called non-destructive testing such as at working nuclear power plants to try to determine when they might blow up, as I understand it. Many seemed to be impressed that he was also on a West Coast motorcycle tour on a new BMW 1220 cc bike. Next was my brother, Ward Jones, who is an anesthesiologist practicing in Thousand Oaks, California. He was an M.D. in Viet Nam with the 101st Airborne on the front lines repelling out of helicopters to treat the wounded. For his actions he received the Silver Star. I only recently became aware of the significance and importance of this award. It is two notches below the Medal of Honor and one notch down from the Distinguished Service Awards. I showed that I have known as little about him as he has known about me. I personally recognized the military personnel who were attending (and there were many) for their contribution of providing our protection and preserving our freedom. I was impressed with the Wounded Warrior Project and the Semper Fi Fund organized by some of the competitors. First Contact with Death Valley

Next I covered some things which were not mentioned in the race booklet. My first encounter with Death Valley was in the late '30's when my folks brought us here on some of our travels. In the archives is a picture of my brother and me at Badwater. Also there is one of me standing by Mushroom Rock - it looked a lot bigger then. We also visited here after WWII. Years later, after moving to Lone Pine to practice medicine, I established an office in a building across from the Furnace Creek Inn. I explained that this was not the "office" many of the audience would recognize. My present "office" of course is at Badwater but unfortunately it also serves as the men's room. When visiting Death Valley I trained of the various roads and entered every competition held there over the years including the Titus Canyon/Death Valley Marathon and many of the Death Valley/Whitney bike races. Later on we organized heat training clinics which have been held on Memorial weekend and July Fourth weekends over the years. Some of the previous race winners attended these clinics. Hi-Tec Badwater 146

I went on to inform the audience that my performances in doing the Hi-Tec Badwater 146 (as it was called then) were not considered to be "Shock and Awe" by any means. I was fortunate to finish to the top of Whitney three times nevertheless. I also informed the audience that I was never trying to be first. Otherwise why would I take time out to do an autopsy, make house calls, and do Adopt-A-Highway cleanup during the race. Recognition

We were never looking for recognition regarding Badwater, it just came our way. In the first years the event was covered by a CBS film crew and we briefly got on the sports section of the Bryant Gumbel Show. In 1999, Kirk Johnson, sports editor for the New York Times, came to a clinic and returned for the race. He wrote the book, "To the Edge" which many people have already read. That same year, Mel Stuart produced "Running on the Sun, a 101-minute DVD on the race. Several years ago the PBS/Nature crew was here to film wild life. While they were doing that, they were exposed to a spectacular wild flower display, flash floods, and the Badwater Ultramarathon. I got to be part of "Life in Death Valley." Last year a photographer and the executive editor for Best Life Magazine (Rodale Press) worked with me and did a feature article entitled" Prescription for Healthy Living." I am flattered by this attention which I did not solicit. Previous Hall of Fame Inductees

The only previous recipient of the Hall of Fame award present was Jack Denness. I wanted to acknowledge all of the other six people but time did not allow it. Jack and I first met in 1991. I was five minutes late to the 15-minute meeting and missed some announcements. When the "gun" went off at the start line, ten others leaped ahead. Jack and I looked over at each other. We introduced ourselves. Jack mentioned that he was trying for a "59:59." I told him I thought we had a 70-hour cutoff or I wouldn't have even applied. As it turned out, at age 58, I walked the course in 59:52 and got to the top 75 hours (and that included the autopsy on a fallen Death Valley trekker - not a runner). We have kept up a wonderful relationship over all of the years and that includes with Mags. Badwater Foundation (?)

One main point I brought up before closing is that I plan to turn over all of my Badwater files to a Badwater Foundation presuming one could be created. I have a wealth of documents and pictures covering all of the '90's to the present. Most if it has never been circulated as it was before I started using the Internet. There is also a lot of memorabilia including race t-shirts, uniforms, belt buckles, etc. One possibility would be to have an Eastern Sierra Endurance Athlete Foundation in Lone Pine, which would cover Badwater/Whitney as well as other races, bike events, and fast-packing on the Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail. Chris Kostman has suggested a "Virtual Library." I have already made copies of documents and digital images in preparation for this. Epilogue

In closing, I said: "Be Safe, Much Success, God Bless You All, and We Love You."

Ben

Badwater Hall of Fame Speech: What I Wanted To Say
PART III WHAT I WANTED TO SAY Had There Been Enough Time

I would have covered what I said in the live talk as well as what I wanted to say but had to delete immediately prior to getting on stage.

First of all, I am glad that this isn't a posthumous award. I thought something great was going to happen this year when the Time Magazine issue "Person of the Year" came out. Denise and I looked into the mylar mirror on the front and saw ourselves on the cover. Now I wonder if I have 15 minutes of fame or can I use some of Denise's 15 minutes.

It is nice to be on track again with the Badwater Ultramarathon after experiencing some " riffles in the stream" and have seen a lot of "water go under the bridge." Previous Inductees

I was hoping there would be more of the previous recipients of the Badwater Hall of Fame crowd in the audience. I have already mentioned Jack Denness (inductee #7).

If it hadn't been for Chris Kostman tracking down Al Arnold (inductee #1), we might not have ever met him. Since his induction in 2002 we have visited him and his wife, Betty, in Walnut Creek and we have visited a lot on the phone and via many emails. He would have loved to have been here but he didn't want to be a burden on the staff. I offered to wheel him around had he arrived anyway. His amazing accomplishment in 1977 paved the way for all of us to seek adventure in this extreme environment. Now there have been around 750 crossings by over 400 different individuals.

Jay Birmingham (inductee #2) contacted me by phone during his performance on the "Longest Hill" when he reached the Dow Villa in Lone Pine in 1982 (?). He mentioned that he had started at Badwater on foot and planned to go to the top of Whitney. He wanted some advice about altitude sickness and its prevention. I am sorry now that I didn't visit him personally. Since then we have visited twice here on the course when he was inducted and when he returned to successfully complete the race.

I first met Rich Benyo (inductee #3), Rich's brother Drew, Tom Crawford (inductee #4) and Rhonda Provost (inductee #6) near Keeler in early July1991. They were on their way to Panamint Springs for the annual desert party and training. I was never sure which situation predominated. I was getting ready for my first attempt at Badwater. I recognized them from their book, "Death Valley 300" and from an UltraRunning article, "From Fire to Ice to Fire." The next day was July 4th, 1991. I invited myself to join them on their adventure. I had above mentioned book and article autographed (on the course - first for them). We made our way to Badwater to do a training run to Furnace Creek. Several weeks later I did the Race, during which time a trekker was found dead on the salt pan near Badwater. The coroner's office asked me during the race if I would do an autopsy. I had not yet finished to the top of Whitney but after getting to the Portals, I complied. Rich Benyo later visited the family of Patrick Hodge and wrote a story for Los Angeles Time Magazine, "Death in the Valley." (The autopsy report is available on request). The following July, Rich and Tom felt it would be appropriate to create the position of Badwater Mayor Ben and First Lady Denise Jones. This ceremony was held on July 4th. At Badwater and was filmed by the CBS film crew. (None of us have ever seen the film but it must be in the archives somewhere). This farce has been perpetuated over the years. Not only did I do an autopsy during the race but I also used a casket filled with water for cooling down. We called it "Imersion I, II, and III" each of those first three years.

Jeannie Ennis (inductee #5) ran the American vs UK Challenge in the early days and also has helped Rich, tom, and Rhonda with their 300's. We have enjoyed her friendliness and charm over the years. Clinics

As time went by, we noticed Badwater invitees working out on the course each Spring and early Summer. Denise and I began organizing seminars, talks on heat related disorders, blister prevention and treatment, as well as having workouts on the course. This was no problem with the Park Servce as the groups were smaller and it wasn't a commercial project. These activities helped develop a Badwater Family, which we have enjoyed. There hs been a remarkable cross-over of runners, pacers, crew and family members helping each other not only during training but also in the events as well.. Guest speakers have included Rich and Rhonda, Marshall Ulrich, Steve Silver, and Mike Henebry to mention a few. Previous race winners include Marshall Ulrich, bill Menard, Mike Trevino, Angelika Castenada, and Anne Langstaff. Veterans and Rookies

We always look forward to seeing the veterans return. Marshall Ulrich is here for his 20th crossing, Scott Weber for his 16th and Art Webb for his 10th to name a few of the multiple crossing people. Marshall Ulrich, David Jones, and Lisa Smith-Batchen have won the event and set course records in the past. Anne Langstaff and Monica Scholtz have each won the women's division. We were hoping Scott Jurek would be here to protect his current course record. Instead Akos Konya, Charlie Engle, Dean Karnazes and David Goggins will offer quite a challenge. Robin Smit was here in 1991 and returned twice to do a double and is now here as the oldest one at age 70 - he is two months older than Jack Denness. Linda McFadden, Anita Fromm, and Lisa Bliss always put on a good show. It is wide open for the rookies. I have been warned by Mario Lacerda to look out for Valmir Nunes. Military Presence

I have already mentioned my brother who served with the 101st Airborne in Viet Nam as a physician and earned a Silver Star and other medals. On reviewing the Badwater website, I have become aware of the various charities such as the Wounded Warriors Project and the Semper Fi Fund. I am impressed by the efforts of Vito Vialla and martin Franklin is these regards. There are several soldiers with prostheses here helping with the sponsors and runners.

Don Fallis, from Hawaii, promotes his Mission Impossible having to do with age awareness and physical impairment. Frank McKinney does amazing work with his Caring House Project foundation. Many are involved with the Challenged Athlete foundation. These are just a few. Everyone is now well aware of the "Challenged Athlete Foundation." Solo Ultra Concept

In the decade from 1977 to 1987, there were about 20 solo crossings from Badwater to the top of Mt. Whitney. Six of these individuals have already been recognized above. Everyone who wants to get into the Race obviously can't, many are going back to the original concept of just getting on the course and moving toward Whitney (emphasizing going to the top of Whitney as in the old days). For the last three years at least a dozen have done this with about an 80% success rate and surprisingly enough, with very little ultrarunning or adventure racing experience. Two examples are mentioned below. Barbara Szeprethy completed the ocurse each of the last three years, the first time being at age 25 (youngest female?). Ben Eakin did it this year at age 19 going to the top in 103 hours. He is an insulin-dependent diabetic. These individuals have attended the training clinics as have the official invitees. Everyone seems to support each other and the solo performers have all benefited from having official runners pace them. Everyone is well aware of the DVNP issues: safety and tourism access. Webshots

Many of you are now aware that I have been posting various albums mainly of extreme adventure racing on the Internet using a program called Webshots. It is user friendly and does not require a login or password. I take high resolution (2000 x 3000) and edit them. Then I reduce them (640 X 480) a quicker upload. In this category of images I am now in 10th place in over 15,000 individuals submitting in this category. I prefer this method rather than using a photo gallery on my website (http://www.badwaterbenjones.com) Email Addresses

If anyone wants me to add their name/address to my send list, please send me an email requesting this. This will allow me to reach you easier rather than making general announcements. Master List

Along this line, I have volunteered to be the host of the so-called Master List. It ws started by rich Benyo and then turned over to Chris Kostman. Mike Henebry later organized it into an Excel format. Several years ago I inherited it. Many people have become extremely interested in the data. I still need to get ages/birth dates on many listed. As well as getting times to the top of Whitney. So far there have been over 750 crossings by aver 400 different individuals. It would be nice to begin to recognize age group and gender categories. Epilogue

Same as in my limited speech.

Ben

Badwater Hall of Fame: What I Could Have Said
PART IV WHAT I COULD HAVE SAID The Ridiculous/I Can't Say I Wasn't Warned

From this point on, in the past, I usually warn the audience to not believe a word I say. I have patterned most of what I want to say from watching Imus in the Morning. Unfortunately he used three words which I have not heard of or used before. Campaign and Speech Advisors

All during the campaign I have had the advice of my managers on Capitol Hill. They have warned me not to use certain phrases or words. These will be listed below:

01) "Stay the course" - Bush-43

02) "Mission accomplished" - Bush 43

03) "You've done a heck of a job, Brownie" - Bush 43

04) "Losing the war is not an option" - Bush 43

05) "Do I make you horny?" - M. Foley Catheter

06) "If you don't quit calling us violent, we're going to kill you" - Islamic Fundamentalist

07) "Macaca" - Senator from Virginia

08) "N" word; also the "NH" (nappy-headed) - Don Imus

09) "Ho" (shortened from whore) - Don Imus

10) "I ain't takin' nothin' from nobody no how!" - quadruple negative by James Brown

Most of my material has been inspired by Don Imus and his "Imus in the Morning" program. Unfortunately, in the last few months I have had to improvise after his sonsors and CEO's fired him. Denise's material has been derived from Rosie O'Donnell, Oprah, Dr. Phil, and Martha Stewart. Lately I really became concerned when she started watching "Desperate Housewives." The Election

This in particular applies to my position of being the "Mayor of Badwater." The crowd is usually anxious to hear about the last election for "Mayor." Below is the story of the last election and subsequent issues:

First I have to describe the "office." My "Office" also serves as the men's room at Badwater. It is a little disconcerting when I am doing legislative work to have to let people in to take care of business. In the last year-or-so there have been many tour busses starting to return after 9/11. Lately some have been from the Middle East. Quite a few are filled with Kurdish and Sunni muslims. The 'customers" begin to form a queue. After becoming impatient, the first one in line would often knock on the door and say, "I have to take a Shi'ite." After this went on for quite a while, I asked the tour director if he could just have them request taking a "Muqtada al Sadr."

Last November's election took place at Badwater. I had to do some re-arranging. The first thing I usually notice is the deep pit and I think about that UPS commercial, "What can brown do for you?" [They could do a lot!]. I closed the lid and weight it down so the vapors will not lift it up. I folded up the baby-changer rack and pad-locked the condom machine. Katherine Harris from Florida was there to supervise the election. (She was the one you helped George Bush win the 2000 presidential election). We put in one of those new electronic voting machines.

On election-day, I entered the voting booth and voted for myself, as usual. Immediately after that there was a flash flood and the roads were closed. There was concern that the three other potential voters wouldn't make it. As it turned out they didn't as their flights out of Islamabad were cancelled. I won the election by one vote. The Impeachment

The celebration didn't last long as impeachment took place. The Superintendent of Death Valley National Park found out about a conspiracy of exterminating 90 people by force-marching them from Badwater to Whitney. This forced some impeachment proceedings. After the grand jury investigation it looked as if I was going to prison. I began applying to the one at Brushy Mountain, Tennessee, where James Earl Ray had been. He escaped from there briefly (for 36 hours but prayed to be caught) I was already planning my escape to take place during the Barkley Marathons. Once I got out I planned to blend in with the runners. This plan was able to be scrubbed as my status was reduced to being a "person-of-interest." I have been under house-arrest but now I can get out by wearing one of those ankle-bracelets. That is why I am wearing long pants now. The Badwater "Cabinet"

Well, during the period of time when I was headed for the SuperMax facility. The Badwater Cabinet got revised. I might mention that some of these individuals are either dying or dead and others are in prison. The names have been altered in order to protect the guilty. The table below gives the names and offices.

Name/Badwater Office/Qualification

George HW Brush/ Chairperson/Former U.S. president

Colon Bowel/Department of Interior/Flatulance I

Al Sharptongue/Black Caucus/"N" word

Charles Strangel/Ways and Means Committee/Soc Sec benefits

OJ Simpleton/Ethics Committee/"I Did It" book

Jake Kevorkian/ Attorney General/Carbon Monoxide knowledge

Al Bore/Environmental Protection Agency/Grumman Gulfstrean jet use

Debra Lafever/Department of Education/Planks young boys/Why couldn't I have been in that class?

Pufh Dogg/Drug Enforcement Agency/Scary 5-minutes after quitting Marijuana

Alex Litvenenko/Strategic Arms Limitation/Plutonium 210 recipient/ Resides in lead-lined casket in London

M. Foley Catheter/Child Protectioin Services/Planks young choir boys

Muhamad Abdul Ibn Fartoon/Health and Human Services/Flatulance II

Kenneth Play/Secretary of Treasury/Money laundering

John Abramoff/Lobbying Committee/Indian casinos expertise

Bob Nerdelli/Retirement Funding/Home Depot CEO (former) Achievements

In order to establish my campaign promises since the last election I am listing some major improvements:

01)Terrorism: We are now targeting mother's whose infants are using "sippy cups" at the Furnace Creek International Airport. We no longer are going to tolerate mothers defiantly dumping the contents of the "sippy cup" on the floor of the terminal building, especially without cleaning up the mess

02)Vandalism: Video surveillance of the "Office" at Badwater to discourage graffiti especially at election time.

03)Gay and Lesbian Rights: I am going by Kiny Friedman's statement when he ran (unsuccessfully - for some reason) for Governor of Texas: "They have every right to be just as miserable as the rest of us."

04)Racial Profiling: We are now waving Paiute and Timbisha/Shoshone natives through without hassling at the Furnace Creek International Airport.

05)Affirmative Action: We are now bussing kids to schools in Inyo County with reckless abandon.

06)Lobbying and Campaign Finance: Jack Abramoff is able to now help us from his jail cell. Suggestions for Improving Performance and Offsetting Time Penalties

01)Thermal vest. Everyone is aware of not being able to use an "ice vest" because it provides an unfair advantage for those not using such a device. I have come up with a reciprocal idea and that is a newly patented "thermal vest." It is made out of Kevlar and is lined with titanium tubes. The tubs are filled with glowing charcoal briquettes. It looks much like one of those suicide vests. I think the race committee is ready to allow the use of this vest in tomorrow's race. This innovative device can be used to offset time-penalties imposed. If there have been no such penalties accumulated, then a certain amount of time will be deducted from your finish-time. The rating scale is just being finalized. I am looking into carbon monoxide inhalation from the tube vents for further points.

02)Some of you witnessed an endurance performance by a famous runner at Times Square recently. He had been given an overdose of "Accelerade" and started to bonk about halfway through the 24-hour treadmill distance record quest. I came up with an antidote for this product which I am calling "Decellerade." For you crew members, if you see your runner going too fast and then faltering after using the former drink, give an unlimited amount of "Decellerade." You at least will be able to get your runner to the finish line before the cutoff.

03)Nine-Hundred-Mile-Astronaut Diapers are now available via Zombierunners right here in the auditorium. They will prevent the need of peeing and pooping along the roadside or other inappropriate places in DVNP and further along the course. These were inspired by Lisa Nowak of NASA who tracked her boyfriend's other lover for some 900 miles from Houston to Orlando without having to stop en route. The use of these diapers will really get you to the finish-line quicker. There will be no time penalties issued for using these products. You will just be able to breeze by that new time-station at the foot of the switchback on the Portal Road.

04)There is now an exception for having cheerleaders on the sidelines. I have arranged with the Race Director to have some of my patients with Tourette's Syndrome line up along the Portal Road and shout all sorts of obscenities and profanity to the runners as they pass. This group effort should get the athletes to the finish line faster than otherwise and there will be no time-penalties. Disclosure

At this time I usually disclose certain facts and fiction about my activities:

01)Now that DNA results are back, I am no longer considered to be a person of interest as the father of Vice President's daughter's baby.

02)The same applies to Anna Nicole Smith's baby, Danielynn

03)So far my name has not been revealed by the DC Madam and her "escort service. I do remember someone borrowing my cell phone at the time my name came up.

04)When I am terminated from office I plan to not accept the $2.00 severance package as I am sure it came from some Indian casino shenanigans.

05)Upon my probable untimely departure from office I will miss not being able to use any of the six corporate jets, particularly that new Airbus (A380).

06)Steroid usage is on the rise to the extent that it is casually called "Rhoid Rage." The only reference I have had in the past has been that of "hemorrhoids."

Happy Holidays from Ben and Denise Jones
MERRY CHRISTMAS 2006 AND HAPPY NEW YEAR After closing the medical office in Lone Pine, I was offered a job working at the out patient clinic at Southern Inyo Hospital. I have been working there one-day-a-week for over a year now. In addition I still work as an autopsy surgeon for Inyo and Mono Counties doing coroner’s cases: highway accidents, unexplained deaths, suicides, exposure cases, etc. These cases often turn out to be very challenging and interesting. We have pretty much cut down on our competitive running except for our local Wild Wild West Marathon, which is now approaching the 29th year. I have the honor to be the only one to have completed all 28 of them so far bringing the total to 135 marathons plus 60+ ultramarathons. Denise has been running shorter distances such as half marathons and 30K’s. We both enjoy the outdoors and hope to do some back country adventures next summer if our schedules will allow for more time off. During the year we get a chance to see my three children, Randy, Sara, and Shelly and the seven grandchildren about two or three times, but hardly ever at the same time. They are spread out in Long Beach, Sonoma, and Carlsbad – all in California. Denise continues to do her cosmetology work two-to-three days a week at the local beauty shop doing colors, weaves, etc. Part of her passion in life is staying on top of her profession by getting advanced education. She continues to do the corporate bookkeeping for my medical jobs too. Between those two jobs and her fitness training, she keeps more than busy. Of course, she makes time, always to have her grandchildren either at our house or she goes up to Crowley Lake to visit the girls. Our Jack Russell Terrier, Bammer, still enjoys the “good life” in our home. I take him hiking and Denise takes him running, so he remains quite fit. He’s also content to find any lap to sit and have a belly rub. We usually take him on all trips now, because he’s small and loves to ride along. We now have a second dog named Nike. He is a Parson Russell Terrier. We got him from a breeder at seven weeks of age. There will be many more months of chewing, tugging, and pulling to go through. My Nikon D70s SLR digital zoom camera is a delight. I am uploading a lot of picture albums to “Webshots” and am getting a large number of hits. Our website will be improved after I get more proficient with Microsoft FrontPage 2003. There were two nice publications during 2006. The first was an article featuring me in Best Life (Men’s Health), by Rodale Press in the March 2006 issue. The title of the article is, “A Prescription for Lifelong Health.” A photographer visited me and took 20 rolls of 12 shots each with his Hasselblad camera using IMAX film; one was used in the article. Then I was interviewed by the executive editor for three hours for the two-page article. The second was a DVD produced by PBS/Nature entitled, “Life in Death Valley.” While they were there on a half-dozen trips not only did they film the wildlife, but they were also involved in flash floods, a once-in-a-lifetime wildflower display, and the Badwater Ultramarathon. I was pleased to be a part of the feature. During the year, Denise co-authored a book, “Death Valley Ultras: The Complete Crewing Guide.” Admittedly, this publication will only have a small audience, but it gives great advice to those hoping to get their runner from Badwater to Whitney successfully. We continue to hold clinics in Death Valley each spring to accomplish the same task. The Inyo and Mono County Coroners Offices keep my busy as does the local hospital clinic. I continue to spend quite a bit of time doing community service: Lions Club International, Volunteer Hospice of Southern Inyo, Wild Iris (for victims of violence and abuse), Adopt-A-Highway (litter pickup), AARP, IMAAA Governing Board (Inyo Mono Area Agency on Aging) and the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce. Bless you all ] Please forward any new address information you have so we can update our files. Also, if you don’t get this, please let us know (joke).

Ben and Denise Jones

PO Box “S”

Lone Pine, California, 93545

760/876-5354 (home)

email: benandden@lonepinetv.com (denise)

ben@lonepinetv.com (ben)

website: http://www.badwaterbenjones.com