The Journey of Ole’ Blue:

A Truck, A Legacy, and God's Timing

In 1969, my great-grandfather bought a truck we affectionately call Ole’ Blue—a Chevrolet C-10 with an inline 6-cylinder 250 engine and a 3-speed on the column. It was his daily driver and workhorse for his business, Odom’s Woodworking.

As a kid, I can still remember riding through town beside him. He was a tall, lanky man—gentle, quiet, and steady. He passed away in 1995 at the age of 89. I was just 15.

When he passed, Ole’ Blue was handed down to his oldest son—my grandfather, Papa. But Papa couldn’t drive a 3-on-the-tree to save his life. He’d grind the gears like nobody’s business, and I was constantly under the dash realigning the column. The truck mostly sat in his yard, except for the occasional trip to the landfill—oddly enough, those trips became some of my fondest memories.

Later that same year, I got my driver’s license, and Papa let me take Ole’ Blue to high school. The paint was faded, the wood bed had rotted, and by any “cool” standard, the truck was anything but. Still, it had soul. After a while, I bought a newer truck and returned Ole’ Blue to Papa.

Fast-forward a few years—I got a call from him one day. “C.W., come get this truck!” he said, frustrated after tearing up the column again. But I knew there was more to it than that. He recognized how much the truck meant to me. Deep down, he hoped I’d be the one to restore her someday.

So Ole’ Blue sat quietly in my barn for over 20 years. I’d talk about restoring her now and then, but the cost was always beyond what made sense for a truck like that. Life rolled on—I got married, raised three children, and like most people, was consumed by life.

Every now and then, one of my sons would ask, “Dad, why haven’t you fixed up Ole’ Blue?”

My answer was always the same:
“Because you’re expensive!”

But something changed when I began writing my book. In the introduction, I tell the story of Ole’ Blue—it sets the tone for the entire message and ties into the title, You Are The Man! Not long after writing that piece, a friend from church referred me to a guy named Luis to help with some paint repair on my son’s Jeep.

While we were talking, Luis said something unexpected:
“You know… I’d love to do a restoration project.”

Right then, I knew this wasn’t just coincidence—God was in this. The timing, the story, the connection—it was too perfect. I had just written about this truck, and here was someone, completely out of the blue (pun intended), ready to help bring her back to life.

Even better? Luis made it affordable. That part felt like a blessing straight from God.

So now, after more than two decades of waiting, Ole’ Blue is finally getting the love she deserves. I’m beyond excited. To my delight, her restoration was completed just after the release of my book. Today, I am blessed to drive her and share her with so many others—not just for nostalgia, but as a way to share my story, my faith, and God’s faithfulness.

Thanks for following along on this journey. Ole’ Blue isn’t just a truck—she’s a symbol of legacy, restoration, and God’s perfect timing.

-Chuckie