Man And His Truck Travel Life’s Highway

When Ken Cross bought his truck, he was afraid to tell his wife how much he’d paid.

The year was 1956. The price was $700. And the Chevrolet half-ton, then fire-engine red, was 1 year old.

The White Knight - Cross painted the truck white after the red paint faded - has quit on him only once since then. No matter the temperature, “she” has started every morning for 40 years, some years without benefit of a garage. And she’s helped out with more family moving days than Cross, 68, cares to remember.

Even now, with about 200,000 miles under her belt, she purrs along, quiet as a new sedan. Until Cross shifts gears. Then the song of that Chevy can drag you into childhood memories as fast as a 25-cent ticket to the movies.

In younger years, Cross worked on road construction projects out of town, such as the Lolo Pass, between Montana and Idaho. Cross would spend a week on the job and drive home for weekends. In the winter months, he’d often beat his co-workers home to Spokane. The White Knight was surefooted on slick roads.

“The other guys could never understand how I could beat them back to town. But I could really motate in this truck,” Cross said with a quick grin.

Even in the early days, the truck was easy to spot around town.

Cross worked for a gas station chain headquartered in Spokane. At the time, Cross’ wife, Hap, worked at the downtown Crescent department store.

“I had a boss who loved to borrow the truck.”

When Hap’s co-workers spotted the Chevy downtown, they’d be sure to report back to Hap: “Hey, I see Kenny was parked over at the Davenport Hotel.”

Hap laughs. Even all these years later, she says, her husband “sticks out like a sore thumb in that truck.”

Particularly at traffic lights. Cross said gawking drivers in the next lane love to talk: “‘I remember my granddad had a truck like that.’ I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard people say that,” he said.

The Opportunity resident is often asked when he restored the White Knight.

“I didn’t,” he retorts. “I just didn’t tear it up.”

“People are always asking me why I don’t buy a new truck,” Cross said.

“I never wanted another pickup. I like this one.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: Saturday’s People is a regular Valley Voice feature profiling remarkable individuals in the Valley. If you know someone who would be a good profile subject, please call editor Mike Schmeltzer at 927-2170.