This all original (except 12V conversion) 1950 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup with a 216 inline 6-cylinder engine — with 60,000 original miles — was purchased new in Pagosa Springs by Ruby and Red Sisson, and was used on their ranch located in the upper Blanco Basin.
The truck is now being offered at auction on the Hemmings Auctions website, here.
Ruby was a high school math teacher in Pagosa for many years, and Pagosa’s public library is named after her. She donated the truck to the school district in 1980, and it was kept intact for 26 years. It was then disassembled for repairs and paint, and stayed in a disassembled state until a few years ago when Mrs. Becky Guilliams, the high school vocational teacher and Mr. Glenn Sterkel, who was the vocational mechanics teacher at the high school when it was donated, decided to reassemble it to drive to graduation. So, with the mechanics students, Mrs. Guilliams and guidance from Mr. Sterkel, they refurbished all systems so it is driveable.
This resurrection took place during the 2019 and 2020 school years.
Now here we are, in 2022… and after 42 years, the truck needs to graduate from high school and go to its next chapter of life. The decision has been made to sell the truck and use the funds to start the Ruby Sisson Memorial Scholarship fund for students to attend vocational mechanics school after high school.
If you have any questions about the repairs made, or want to see and hear the truck run, contact Mr. Glenn Sterkel at rubytruckbid@centurytel.net or call (970) 903-3394 for an appointment.