Coadster32 793 #51 Posted January 2, 2012 I didn't get to meet him, but surely the legacy he leaves behind is truely amazing. RIP..and strength to his family during this difficult time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suburban 550 28 #52 Posted January 2, 2012 Very sad to hear. I was very lucky to meet Cecil in person and shake his hand. Rest in peace Cecil, you will be surely missed. Your tractors and your legacy will live on forever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duff 206 #53 Posted January 2, 2012 The world is a much better place for his time among us. Thank you, Mr. Pond, and may you find peace among the angels. God willing, we'll all meet there some day, and THAT will be quite the tractor show! Duff Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SousaKerry 501 #54 Posted January 2, 2012 I shook his hand at the 2008 show when I only had one tractor and it wasn't running(spun rod bearing), my friend Arron and I traveled out to the show with his RJ-58 had a blast and I was hooked. Thank you Mr. Pond for building the greatest garden tractors ever made, you will be missed! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,682 #55 Posted January 2, 2012 Rest in Peace Mr. Pond...the legacy is all the great people involved in sharing with what you started. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lane Ranger 10,943 #56 Posted January 2, 2012 I never met Mr. Pond but I think he and his whole family are a part of America that everyone can both respect cherish- to dream, to desire to make something for others and to succeed beyond your wildest dreams. Wheel Horse, Speedex and the Pond Family are forever linked to American history. Cecil Pond had a great hand in building a fantastic product. He will be long remembered and I hope emulated by others! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,124 #57 Posted January 2, 2012 This is my favorite picture of him. He was amazed when we lined up virtually every model he made. Look at that smile, he was like a little kid in a candy store. I think it's a given, this image should be featured in the new for 2012 calender this year. Confirm? 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Redbird 1 #58 Posted January 2, 2012 Monday 12-2 I just heard about Cecil today. What a great loss to all. Even harder for me as the 30th was also my birthday My prayers go out to his family. Birdie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
71_Bronco 1,072 #59 Posted January 3, 2012 Such a shame. I never got to meet him unfortunately. Hope I can in the afterlife, shake his hand and tell him how much he is appreciated. R.I.P. Mr Pond Gone, and never will be forgotten Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wh1257 226 #60 Posted January 3, 2012 this is not good I would have him to thank him as a pretty powerful machine invented I would thank him to thank you cecil.p Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SAM58 30 #61 Posted January 3, 2012 Sad day ... Mr. Pond has left a legacy that will live for years to come. To the Pond family, May the Lord Bless you and keep you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gary Pond 20 #62 Posted January 4, 2012 Hi, I am Gary Pond (Cecils son who worked for Wheel Horse for many years until sold). My son Jonathon Pond, sister Constance, and I had the pleasure of visiting your annual Wheel Horse Collectors show in PA the year that Michael Martino came out with his 2nd edition of From the Horses Mouth. As my Dad was a number of years earlier, we were greatly impressed and proud to see the large gathering of the wonderfully restored old Wheel Horse tractors and owners. Michael tracked me down about 5 years before the 1st edition to see if Cecil was alive and could be contacted. He told us of the Collectors Club and the need for more accurate information. That started a long and happy relationship (friendship) between Cecil and Michael. A family member (Jonathons Mother) showed me a link to your blog. The Pond family wanted to say "Thank You" for all of the heart felt comments about Cecil, Elmer, and Wheel Horse Products. Our appreciation and respect to all Participants. The above photo shows 4th generation Jonathon Pond with a tractor that his Great-Granddad Elmer Pond designed. 10 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,124 #63 Posted January 4, 2012 Ooooh, we gotta get that one in the calender as well. Maybe we should do an all Pond calender this year to mark Cecil's passing? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nylyon-(Admin) 7,234 #64 Posted January 4, 2012 Gary, please accept our deepest condolences on the passing of your father, I was never fortunate enough to meet him. You are always more than welcome to stop back and share any tid-bits of information you may have as our members would be interested in just about anything! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raider12 13 #65 Posted January 5, 2012 My condolences to the Pond family! Cecil has left a legacy for the world to enjoy for generations to come. May your family be comforted by family, friends and heaven above during this difficult time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
horseheadhunter 17 #66 Posted January 25, 2012 Very Sad news indeed ! ! I was able to meet Cecil & his wife both years ago at the annual meet in Arendstville,Pa. I was showing a few horses & had a few tables of N.O.S. parts set up in the swap area . The Wheel Horse Collector members were taking the couple up and down through the barns on a bench seat wagon. They stopped at my booth and was looking at my birdhouses & Cecil wanted to buy one to take to his Flordia home. I told him you can't buy one but you can have one if you will sign one for me & so he did & I will never let it get away from me. A simply amazing man who was as ALL AMERICAN as one could be. He will be missed by many,but will never be forgotten... R.I.P. Cecil ! ! ~Shawn~ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nylyon-(Admin) 7,234 #67 Posted January 25, 2012 Well Shawn, apparently your birdhouse was appreciated by Cecil as well. I was pleasantly surprised by an email today as follows: From Gary Pond: My Dad, Cecil Pond, gave me this bird house which proudly hangs in my back yard in South Bend, IN. It would be wonderful if you had a shot of your signed Birdhouse, although I'd bet that you don't have birds living in there huh? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
horseheadhunter 17 #68 Posted January 26, 2012 Well your correct my birdhouse has never had a bird living in it & never will as long as I'm the owner. I hope you all enjoy the pic . !! ~Shawn~ 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gary Pond 20 #69 Posted January 26, 2012 Very nice Shawn. Hope you have over sprayed with clear coat to preserve the signature in the best possible way. Gary Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
can whlvr 993 #70 Posted January 27, 2012 very nice to have mr ponds family here,its an honour,and really cool story of the bird house 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
horseheadhunter 17 #71 Posted January 30, 2012 I was digging through my numerous boxes of show pictures & came across these...sorry that they are not clear as I took a picture of a picture to post them on here due to my scanner is on a blitz. ~Shawn~ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gary Pond 20 #72 Posted January 30, 2012 Very nice photos. I can remember as a kid, the hand laying, resin coating, molding, and sanding processees to make the fiberglass hoods over a wood pattern for the old Pond Rideaway Sr. tractors. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
can whlvr 993 #73 Posted January 30, 2012 so on a lighter note gary do you have any wheelhorses,what was your favorite model? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
horseheadhunter 17 #74 Posted January 31, 2012 ...but your hard work paid off Gary . ~Shawn~ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gary Pond 20 #75 Posted January 31, 2012 As a kid I remember pushing a broom, making gauge wheel assemblies for cultivators, etc. I mowed lawns in the neighborhood for spending money. Cecil said I was the best test driver that they had. If I didn't break it, no one could. After coming home from "away school" at 16 years of age in early June, my Dad told me that I could report to the assembly line at 6 am for work. There went my summer at the lake plans. LOL As far as favorites. Not really, I liked them all. As a mechanically minded person, they were all interesting to me. Two summers I worked in the Engineering Department working on parts for new prototypes. Wheel Horse bought a snowmobile company and made them for several years. They bought Elect-Trac from GE and experimented with the idea of making electric tractors.........guess that made them way ahead of the current "green" movement. As a young married adult, I mowed my lawns with a Lawn Ranger and traveled for a year as a Credit Manager checking dealer floor plans. Worked a year in New England as a District Salesman for Maine, NH, VT, and Essex County in MA. Then transferred to Atlanta, GA as the SW Regional Sales Manager with a warehouse and in charge of 5 salesmen. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites