Honoring Our Citizens – Doug Stevens
Author: Matt Nelson
Honoring Our Citizens – Doug Stevens
Matt Nelson
Doug Stevens is an interesting and determined man. He is 56, and moved to Montana in 2016, after spending most of his life in Florida. In August 2023 he suffered a major stroke. However, that hasn’t stopped him. He has owned Townsend Towing (406 287-0010) since 2019, and he still drives his tow truck.
Doug said, “I was born in Memphis (Millington) Tennessee. Tom Stevens, my father, grew up partly in a small town in Ohio. The Vietnam War was on and all the fellas were signing up - my dad joined the Navy as an enlisted man, pay grade E-1, and retired as a Commander, pay grade O-5. Going from an enlisted man to an officer is called “mustanging”. He was in charge of maintenance for the P-3 Orion anti-submarine aircraft. He started out working and flying on the WC-121N “Willie Victor” airplanes as a member of the Hurricane Hunters in squadron VW4.
My family has always been good with electricity - my paternal grandfather (also from Ohio - he guarded an airfield in Okinawa) worked at NCR after WWII. My folks were soon stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida (NAS JAX). Dad was an AT Avionics Technician. We next moved to NAS Patuxent River Maryland. There we lived on base in military quarters. I remember meeting some of the guys Dad was working with and learning to harvest oysters and Momma taking us to beaches in the area. While stationed at Pax River, my father marched in the inauguration parade for President Jimmy Carter. We then moved back to Florida where Dad was stationed at NAS JAX and would spend most of his career. He was never on a ship. In high school I marched in the “Raider Marching Band” among other things - I was in NJROTC and almost joined the Navy myself. I wanted to fly F-14’s but my eyes weren’t good enough. I even later met General Doolittle’s Executive Officer., Colonel Weaver, who had a $500 bill signed by the General that he said he won in a poker game!
Doug's friend the Typsy Gypsy made the leather portfolio for Doug’s father’s photos/clippings/career; which shows the different naval squadrons that his dad had been in.
“My maternal grandfather was an expert welder and worked at Cape Canaveral; when he retired they flew him to England to teach the British how to build spaceships that wouldn't explode.”
“Out of High School, I worked at Software City. I put hands on my first computer at age 11 so it only made sense to work there (a family background in electricity sure helped). My former boss from the Junkyard “recruited” me there (my grandfather owned a used car dealership on his farm - I guess you could say that “junkin” is in my blood). At McKee Wrecker & Salvage I learned to drive tow trucks. I fixed computers (rough conditions in those early days - I remember floppy disks and 10Mb hard drives). We had a body shop, mechanic(s), a crusher, scale(s), used car dealerships, wreckers and much heavy equipment (I was even OSHA-certified for forklifts - do you think I could have been a SeaBee?). You could say that I learned a lot. I later ran an upholstery shop for one of the 'yard's previous managers.
Next, I went into business for myself as “Orange Park Computer” where I did it all: built, repaired, advertised and sold systems. Then I took over “Galactic Oddites”, an arcade, and eventually turned it into and opened up “The Cool Bean Cafe” and booked bands and recorded albums and fixed video games
I opened a Spanish-language newspaper called Nuestra Communidad. I sold the ads, typeset, printed, folded and distributed the paper myself (I wore a lot of hats in those days). We had people who liked to read in their own language.
Fast Forward to Montana where I purchased “The Dirty Dozen Donuts” from the previous owner primarily as a training exercise for some of my kids (I have 9 children from 2 marriages, 4 boys and 5 girls, scattered all over America (and one is in the Navy stationed in Hawaii “mustanging” and in charge of maintenance of Submarines (he’s a Submariner - good luck China). I closed the donut shop in 2023 (though I still fry a good turkey and make good jam) to drive a tow truck full time and I just renewed my driver’s license (I haven’t had a driving test since I was 16 in Florida).
I wanted to say that if someone has a stroke, no matter how you get care or who cares for you, keep trying as hard as you can no matter what. I might be towing in 5 to 10 years but if I can’t drive my tow truck for any reason I would open a computer shop. My plan was to tow or rent equipment until I am 80. I am not proud. I might live until I am 100, you never know. I like solving problems. I always have.
I have seen the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western borders of our country and I have seen the Appalachian, Ozark and Rocky Mountains. Florida is very flat and wet - I’ll take the snow (though my people in Florida say I’m crazy). I think Montana is beautiful.”
Article Images
Click on Image Thumbnail(s) to view fullsize image
PhotoCredit: Matt Nelson Photo
Image 1 Caption: Doug Stevens
Matt Nelson Photo
Image 2 Caption: The leather portfolio for photos/clippings/career for Tom Stevens, Doug's dad, shows the different naval squadrons that his dad had been in. This was made by Doug's friend, the Typsy Gypsy!
Matt Nelson Photo
