Hey Y’All
By Bob Mintz, TCA #92-35064 Fall 2026 e*Train
I first met Lone Star Division President Pat Halpin way back in the year 2000 at my very first York. He is very distinctive as the epitome of the stereotypical Texan, where the saying, “Everything is bigger in Texas,” certainly applies, specifically the Stetson Hat he wears, the belt buckle with his name on it, and, of course, the cowboy boots.
Many years ago, I met the great-granddaughters of none other than Joshua Lionel Cowen (on their mother’s side). They are actually double Lionel royalty, as their father was Ronald Saypol, he being the former grandson-in-law of ol’ Josh, who eventually became President and CEO of the Lionel Corporation in December 1968.
I had convinced “the Twins” to attend York, and one of them was the publicist for the person who wrote the book “The Perfect Storm.” Having been in the publishing industry, she had hired a film crew to interview several attendees for a documentary on York and a possible TV show, which unfortunately was never picked up. My “job” was to pick out several distinguished folks as well as a few “characters”. I chose the distinguished Richard “Clem” Clement and Dick Kughn, as well as former Lionel employee and presenter at the York Toy Train Paper & Memorabilia Group Todd Wagner, Bobby Salerno aka RGS Trains, myself, of course, and “Tex”, as the Twins referred to him, much to his chagrin, the man in that Stetson.
Pat had done double duty for the 2026 Dallas/Grapevine convention. Besides being on the TCA Board of Directors, he was also 2026 Convention Chair. And all this between selling his “ranch” and moving to what I dubbed Fort Halpin.
On the very first tour on Monday from Grapevine to the Fort Worth Stockyards, by train, of course, I had asked Pat about this belt buckle and the story behind it.
Turns out we have a real cowboy in our midst, and upon our arrival in Ft. Worth, we went looking for the plaque of the organization that he also belonged to, that being the “Old Trail Drivers Association of Texas”, located in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. We went and eventually found the bronze marker on the sidewalk in the area, as Pat had been a Past President in 1984 and 1996-1998, and at other times, Treasurer.
I really got into the whole Wild West scenario, attending the John Wayne Museum, and recording western music for the Welcome Party and Banquet.
I had a memory of an “incident” that occurred to a mutual friend of both Pat and me, that being former TCA National President Ron Stowell.
The mustache was the doing of Mark Boyd, as Chair of the 2011 National Convention while he was also Editor of the Q. He ordered over 600 mustaches with instructions to be placed at every dinner place setting at the National Banquet on Saturday night for all who attended, as a “tip of the hat” (there is that word again) to then-President Ron.
So, I figured what we could do as a Board to honor Pat?
I contacted our Membership Coordinator, Maria Penry, and she ordered the product and sent it to Dallas. I was summoned to pick up two boxes labeled “The Mintz Project”, brought out west by the TCA van. I was somewhat bewildered as to what this was with my name on it, but upon opening a box, I discovered what it was and why the secrecy and skullduggery.
As I was the very first person to arrive in Dallas, it gave me some time to reconnoiter the hotel for the opportune backdrop for the eventual traditional BOD photo shoot that is shown on the end cover of The Quarterly.
Fast forward to the actual Board meeting on Thursday; I had then TCA National President Al Szirony delay Pat outside the meeting room door while I distributed the hats and bandanas and had everyone don them.
Pat entered the room with a rather astonished and bewildered look on his face. As he was eventually seated nearby to my right, he kept staring at me, as he knew immediately who the prankster was behind all of this.
At the lunch break, I asked him if he was mad at me, to which he said, “I really didn’t know what to say or do; I was just gonna cry”, which I found to be a relief of sorts, as I mentioned to him that my idea was not to ridicule, but to admire him.
Pat was a great sport and deserves all the accolades bestowed upon him for this and everything else he does for all of his hobbies and interests, including that as President of Los Amigos Ski Club and a snow ski travel coordinator.
