(S-R file photo by Dan Pelle of Charlie Ryan and his wife Ruthie)

Columnist Doug Clark talks on today's front page about Charlie Ryan, the songwriter who came up with "Hot Rod Lincoln." Ryan was something of a Spokane fixture, but I didn't know the story several years ago when I spotted his distinctive red coupe in the parking lot of a Burger King where my wife and I had stopped for dinner. Inside, the Western attire complete with "Hot Rod Lincoln" jackets identified him and his spouse as the car's owners. My casual inquiry led to a friendly, enthusiastic 20-minute conversation. My colleague Mr. Clark knew Ryan well, but I can say from my one brief encounter what a thoroughly approachable, genuine and unpresumptuous guy he was.
With that said, let this be today's loose thread. Click on "comments" and say what you want about Hot Rod Lincolns or anything else on your mind.

(Found this on YouTube. It's Charlie Ryan's version of the song. For some reason there is no video and the embedding code has been disabled,. But you can give it a listen. He could sure sing fast. -- garyc)

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