13.

Hi, my name is Rich Cornelius. I am the last of a long line of eligible candidates for the 2009 much coveted “ Hammer Award. They say “ save the best till last “ and I have managed to do just that. The following is the reason why I was nominated by several members who had first hand knowledge the “ facts “. On Saturday morning ( 2^nd day ) of the October Classic “ fish off I prepared to leave my cabin for the launch site. I had the truck running when my fishing partner, Dave “ stump “ Rogers, made one final run for his morning constitutional. Wayne and Dora Thomley along with “ Big “ Rich Hardy left for the launch site thinking I was leaving right behind me. Dave had turned the truck off ( his truck ) while he had gone inside the cabin. While I waited I decided to start the truck and pull the boat out onto the roadway in front of the cabin. It had poured down rain the afternoon and evening before and the truck and trailer were somewhat stuck, but I made the decision that even though it was stuck I could get the truck out and be ready to head out. Everyone that knows me know I always do things in a big way, but this is my crowning achievement. I started the truck, put it in drive and began give it some gas. The more I tried to go forward, the more the truck and trailer slipped backwards. I tried going into reverse then into forward. It was getting worse by the moment. The truck and trailer were now approaching the woods behind the cabin which had a bluff just into the woods with a drop off. I began to panic envisioning the boat trailer hanging from the bluff and the head lights of the truck pointing towards the sky. Stump emerged from the cabin and surveyed the situation. He immediately called for assistance. The calvary arrived in the form of ‘Big Rich “ and Wayne. Dora could hardly contain herself, but tried her best to conceal her laughter until Wayne and Rich Hardy were able to free me from my dilemma. Needless to say the ground was left in considerable need of lawn maintenance. ( Pictures are available for review ). We all headed to the launch site. I breathed a deep sigh of relief. We all launched our boats about 30 minutes late. I continued on for my quest for victory of the October Classic ( fish off ). I managed to win it, but the events of the morning were talked about far more than my win.