The Laughlin family received this little pup somewhere in the mid 60’s from our neighbors the Gassensmith family. He was officially a Cockapoo. He was quite a character with a notorious reputation too. Wes Tucker said he believed this dog had fathered half the puppies in the entire county. “Never knew where that dog would turn up” he said. My parents lived at 766 N Mill St. about half way between Howard St. and what is now Donnelly’s. When anyone left the house Hector would follow them, no matter where they were going. No matter how far they were going. Walking, running, on a bike or in a car, Hector never cared. He would run along behind or beside you. His face looking much like that in the picture. Happy as hell just to be going somewhere.
There was a Shell gas station on the corner of Howard and Plum St. where Satter law office is now. Hector would follow the car there. We had a ‘64 Chevy Bel-Air. That model year the Gas tanks were on the side of the vehicle behind the left rear tire. They were notorious for rusting and leaking gas. Consequently, we had to get gas every time we went somewhere. Never more than about a third of a tank. Hector knew this. Once, before we were taking a trip, mom wanted to trick Hector. She went to Main St, turned north to Morton Printing, around the corner to Mill St south to Lincoln Ave., west to Plum St. and then south on Plum to the gas station. All in an attempt to get him to follow us, only, the wrong way.
Hector was sitting in the drive of the gas station looking just like here, waiting for us.
Hector had established a reputation and police record. When the city started fining people for having a dog at large it would get published in the Leader. When it came time to pay a fine for Hector our mother told them to publish the dog’s name, not hers. She wasn’t the one “running at large.” So, Hector Laughlin was identified in print and became somewhat of an entity other than just a dog.
Exactly thirty years ago Hector Laughlin received the following letter in the mail. It was addressed to him.
A salutation was written and he was offered a challenge!
I don’t really know if Hector was eighteen years old in ‘81 or not.
The Marines were looking for a few good men.
The U.S. Army was looking for “Dog Soldiers” to fill ranks. Apparently Hector more than fit the bill.
At the end of the letter there is a note about a pair of socks in a separate envelope. Yes, Hector received a pair of khaki green US Army socks as a thank you for filling out a mailer card. We’re not sure who signed his name to it but it was good for a laugh. We still miss that dog!
