The Superior Express -

Roy Drapal and his birthday car

Roy Drapal was born in Fairfield in 1926. After graduating three months early from Edgar High School, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Force. He was sent to Wichita Falls, Texas, for basic training. Upon completion of his basic training, he was posted to the southeastern United States. He was assigned to a battalion headed for Germany. A chance delay returning from a dance derailed those plans. His train was delayed because of derailment. The conductor of the train wrote a note for the higher ups to explain the delay was legitimate. Instead of landing in Germany, he was assigned to a group destined for Panama. It was here he served the rest of his stint in the Army. He was trained as a mechanic. He started driving cars for officers. A vacancy came up driving for General Hubert Harmon. Drapal was asked if he would like the assignment. The answer was an emphatic yes. He accompanied the general when he went to Washington, D.C., as well as other outposts. Harmon would later oversee the construction of the United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Col.

After his discharge, Drapal returned to Nebraska, residing on one bank of the Little Blue River or the other. He farmed until 1953.

He operated a custom baling operation and he also did motor vehicle body work.

He is the father of three children: Sid, who resides in Guthrie, Okla., Chris Rothchild and Stephanie Mantle who both reside in Superior.

Drapal has been an avid collector of things for many years. He likes to attend auctions. He is known to spot an item while driving and stop and make an offer. The fencing surrounding his house is testament to this. He was driving down the road near Jewell when he spotted some ornamental iron fencing. He stopped and inquired if it was for sale. He was told it was not. He left his name and number. A road widening project caused the fence owner to reconsider. He called Drapal and they agreed upon a price. A neighbor of the seller also has the same style fencing and sold that for a bargain price. Drapal picked up the fence. A while later the seller contacted Drapal from California and asked if he had picked up the fencing. When Drapal replied in the affirmative, the man was disappointed because the fence would have fetched a premium price in that state.

Drapal has been collecting automobiles for many years and currently has 15 stored in buildings on his property.

His latest addition was manufactured the same year as Drapal: 1926. It is a 1926 Model T Ford. Unlike most Model T's around today, this one features the original interior. It has been repainted black once and retains the original headlights and radiator.

Drapal's son, Sid, located the vehicle north of Kearney. Drapal took a ride out and returned home with another addition to his collection. He notes the car is similar to him in that it's a bit ragged around the edges but it still runs.

Roy Drapal and this Model T Ford share something in common: they were both manufactured in 1926. Drapal recently acquired the vehicle which sports its origina¥l interior and head lights. It joins several other vintage vehicles in his collection.

Automobiles aren't the only transportation mode in evidence. Drapal built a replica of a Nieuport 17, a French built airplane used in World War 1. He was unable to find a working rotary engine for the full-scale plane. He manufactured a replica one utilizing cylinder heads from Briggs and Stratton engines. The aircraft is covered with sheet metal rather than fabric. From a distance it appears to be ready to spring into the air to do battle with the Red Baron. It is housed in a small hangar on Drapal's property as a static display.

Drapal plays an occasional round of golf to keep in shape. He joins his long time friends for coffee each morning. Roy has several projects he would like to complete but allows they may be passed along to his children. When you reach 95 years of age, you and the Model T have driven many miles through life. It's time for Drapal to slow down, sit on the running board and watch the world move by.

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