http://www.agsem.com/joeporter.html

Above: in this undated The Ignitor file photo Museum Volunteer Joe Porter operates a Museum owned Caterpillar grader in a Show Parade. Below: an email Joe sent me
March 7, 2005.

Date: Mon, 07 Mar 2005 08:14:02 -0800
From: "Joe" (jjtoys.toymaker@VERIZON.NET)
Subject: Ignighter
To: agsem_ignitor@yahoo.com
Hi Greg,
Just wanted to let you know I liked the new look of the igniter very much. The new cover made a world of diference --I loved it.
Thanks, Joe

From the March – April 2005 The Ignitor,  Around and About by David Denny,   pages seventeen and eighteen:

      “I have to insert this notice, just as I received it. Director Rod Groenewold brings word out to us he had a call last night saying Joe Porter had died at his home in Hemet.”

      “This hurts! The last time Joe was in to grade our roads, we discussed his plans for a summer of traveling. Joe’s picture, with our Museum’s Caterpillar grader (above) was brought in by Joe just a short time ago. It was to be used on a personalized name badge, and it is on the color back cover of this Ignitor issue. The Ignitor staff would like to know who took the picture, just for our records? Please let the office know.”

The Ignitor staff still does not know who took this picture of Joe?

The Ignitor email address:

From: "Issabo" (kadidda@sbcglobal.net)
To: agsem_ignitor@yahoo.com
Subject: Joe & Joyce Porter
Date: Sun, 7 May 2006 15:11:59 -0700
Hello Greg

Below are some answers to your questions about my parents. I hope this helps and my brother and I appreciate very much the Museum’s remembrance of our parents.

Joyce Porter - (Sept. 8, 1929 – June 19, 2003) Loving wife for 54 years, mother of two and grandmother of 4. My brother and I loved the fact that she was a stay at home mom and was always there for us. Her hobbies included sewing, toll painting, and working with stained glass. She also had a salt and pepper shaker collection that was in existence for as long as I can remember.

Joe Porter – (Mar. 19, 1931 – Mar. 9, 2005)
Dad worked for the Riverside County Road Deptartment for 35 years. He started out driving a dump truck, and soon learned to drive a motor grader, and actually helped build a lot of the roads that we drive on today. In 1973 he was promoted to District Foreman of the Cathedral City area of Riverside County, and eventually moved down there in 1974. My parents lived in Cathedral City until he retired, and then moved to Hemet to be closer to the rest of the family. I’m not sure when Dad became a member of the Museum, but he loved being around all those old engines and helping out down there in Vista whenever he could. He especially liked hopping on that old grader at the museum and would try and improve their roadways and such, even though it tired him out so very much and could barely move afterwards (of which he didn’t like to admit).

You asked about the people in the picture that was taken in celebration of their 54th wedding anniversary (taken only 4 months before Mom’s passing). Left side of table – Joyce, granddaughter Sarah and daughter Jan Right side of table – Son-in-law Matt Hinote and Joe.
Thank you again for the tribute of my parents,
Jan Hinote

Don Porter (dporter@digital.net)
To: agsem_ignitor@yahoo.com
Subject: AGSEM & Ignitor Website Tribute...
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 00:31:26 -0400
Hello Greg -
My sister Jan forwarded me the link to your AGSEM website where you’ve added the fine tribute to “mom and dad” – your friends Joe and Joyce. It’s a very nice section and we both thank you for continuing to remember them. Dad absolutely loved and was fascinated by all things mechanical and thoroughly enjoyed his involvement in all aspects of the museum. Whenever he’d visit here in Florida, much of what he talked about were the goings-on there in Vista. Mom also had a soft spot for most things “old-timey” or antique. She loved her involvement in the shows and helping with all the other ladies. They both found great friends at the museum.

On one visit to Florida several years ago I took them to a similar museum down in Zolfo Springs and also to a gathering of the Florida Flywheelers down near West Palm Beach. I had a blast myself and half the fun was watching Dad’s eyes light up at the old engines and hearing him stop to gab with the other folks displaying their treasures. The Florida Flywheeler Main Website.

I have a couple of other pics of Dad from the museum there and a short AVI video he’d sent us – you’re welcome to use them on your website. (24 seconds, 5.5MB AVI - click here or above right picture -- a screen capture from the video -- to view or save.) On the grader beside Dad is his grand-daughter Sarah and a friend who’d come along for the day. The boating picture was from Dec 2003 – (yes it gets that cold in Florida) Dad visited us after Mom passed in June – also in the picture are my twins; his grandsons Jeff (driving – since it was his boat) and Frank (perched on the platform.) Thanks again to all the folks there who were cherished friends of Joe and Joyce…
Don Porter
Merritt Island, FL

The two guys pictured below, Museum Volunteer Members Bob Cleary on the left and Rob McCullough on the right, collaborated to produce these two Joe Porter videos. They are the same content, the only difference being the screen picture size. These links are intended to download and save to your computer. Right click on the link of your choice, click "Save As", Save to your Hard Drive, and play it from there. Videos have been played with Windows Media Player and Apple Quick Time.

Joe Porter Broadband - VJoePorterB.mpg
9,426,948b - 640 x 480 pixels screen size.
Joe Porter Dial up - VJoePorterD.mpg
5,191,684b - 320 x 240 pixels screen size.