10-4 Magazine / June 2025 71 redwoods, it was natural for him to get into logging and for woodworking to be his hobby. He has made little redwood trucks that they sell at the local tourist traps since the 1980s. Back in the day, there were 40 mills around his area, but today there are only three left. He worked at a mill for 20 years until he hurt his back, ending that career. Taking a different path, he started working for a local optician who taught him how to make prescription glasses. Now, he’s the guy in the lab that makes your lenses fit your frames. The first time Randy retired, it didn’t last. When covid came around in 2020, his old boss asked if he would come back to work, and he did. His hope is to retire again by the end of the year and be able to build his beautiful trucks full-time. Randy loves to travel, and some of his travels take him to truck shows. His plan is to be at the show in Brooks, OR, on August 22-23. Look for him there, and maybe you can take home one of his cool builds for yourself. After his third wife passed away from cancer his truck building expanded. In December 2018, he built 33 small trucks, and gave them all away as gifts. One of the little boys he gave a truck to told him his father drove a log truck, and he asked Randy if he could build the truck he drives – a Kenworth W900. Randy said, “Sure,” and the big truck division of Randy’s Custom Rigs was born. Using golf tees for air horns, he buys the wheels, so they are perfect every time. He makes the trailers and some of the heavy equipment that sits on them, too, like dozers, loaders, backhoes, and the machines that load the logs onto the trailers, he has built them all. Charity is important to Randy. He told us, “You have to give and not just take.” He takes that very seriously and has donated trucks to be auctioned to Make-A-Wish, the organization Slow Down and Move Over (so many tow truck operators are hurt or killed each year), and to cancer patients like Tina to help raise money for whatever it is they need at the time. The truck he has made for Tina is a log truck, but he said if the bid is high enough, he would build a truck of their choice. Randy Kaylor with Pro Fab from Manheim, PA has offered to help us set up a Facebook auction as soon as possible. We will get the word out as soon as we get all that set. Throughout all her struggles and challenges, Tina doesn’t ever ask for help. A woman recently dropped off art supplies to her, and she was so grateful, because now she will have some much needed therapy time. She was honored when Randy offered a truck for her to help raise much needed funds. Tina will never be able to drive a truck again, as her body is too weak, but she holds on to the memories of the road and the friends she made from those days. Tina always has something funny to say, leaving me in awe, considering her situation. Tina says, “I’m not ready to go, so I’m going to keep fighting.” Her sense of humor, strong will, and even stronger faith is why she is still here. Her doctors say she is a medical miracle. The one thing that Tina would ask is to include her in your prayers. She appreciates everyone who does this for her. We never know if one day it could be us fighting this battle. Hopefully, it never happens, but if it does, I would want to be a warrior like Tina. God bless you, Tina! Keep fighting!! n
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