This Becton
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Bectonowski
by Howard Loy Becton, Sr.
Sometime during my employment at Curtiss-Wright Corporation (1957 - 1962), one of my fellow workers named John Prowell had asked me what nationality I am.
This company had many government contracts, and we had to have security clearance by the Navy, Air Force, or the Atomic Energy Commission , in order to work on secret projects. The form for security clearance is a 4 page, very complicated form, involving every job, every address, all relatives and many other things going all the way back to 1937. I had been cleared to work on secret projects for the Atomic Energy Commission.
When John asked about my nationality, I thought I would have a joke, so I told him that our name Becton was only a short form of Bectonowski.
Later that day, I saw John talking to someone else. They were laughing, and pointing at me. Then in about 2 or 3 days, I was taken off the secret work, and was given small jobs, quite un-important work, and another 4 page security clearance form to fill out.
My little joke back fired!
The Salty Watermelon
by Howard Loy Becton, Sr.
Sometime around 1952 or '53 we came from Emporium, PA. to Clearfield to visit Grandmam and Grandpap Becton. Grandpap Becton really liked watermelon. This particular weekend he had a big one, and really made a big show of making the first cut with a thread or a string. We went into the yard with our mellon, and sat in the sun to enjoy our feast.
Grandpap and I sat together, and Nora Mae was just a little in front, and to my right. Grandmam was on Nora Mae's right.
Watermelon at our house was always eaten with salt. Watermelon is juicy, and not wanting to get her clothing messed up, Nora Mae held her slice of mellon out in front of me to drip the juice in the grass.
During the conversation, she asked Grandmam if her mellon was too salty.
Every time she held her mellon to her side and in front of me, I put salt, salt, and more salt on it!