Simmons Ruppert
Simmons Ruppert of Bluegrass Motors is Raleigh’s finest new and pre-owned automotive dealer. He plays mandolin and some banjo. His head is usually shaved so his perpetual straw hat won’t blow off. (Below is a rare image sans hat drawn from memory) Simmons can see out of his right eye but wears a patch as a distraction in order to better discern a man’s integrity. He prefers bow ties or string ties, but will wear a necktie to church because both his wife and his mama think he should do so on Sundays.
Most of his people descended from Outer Banks Ocracoke Spanish horse traders. Some of them migrated to Missouri and then later returned to North Carolina and settled down in the Raleigh area. He still has some family and bluegrass connections in Missouri.
Simmons is world-class expert on International Harvester Scouts. His great-Uncle Bentley hobnobbed with Cyrus McCormick. They belonged to the Huron Mountain Club and had a cabin on Lake Superior. Simmons spent many summers there as a kid.
Rumor has it Simmons was involved in the acquisition of the famous Harvester Scout that belonged to a Mr. Piercy, who was Earl Scruggs’ agriculture teacher in high school. They raised a lot of money for the local FFA with that vehicle.
Simmons is an important bluegrass confidant in central N.C. He’s an honest car dealer. He’ll tell you right up front he wants to make enough money on the deal to stay in business, but not enough to retire off you. He says, “Think of me like a sheep. It’s okay to shear me; just don’t skin me.”
Simmons had important background information in “Acquisition Syndrome.” He had some dirt on Riley Harper, too. You can always trust the true bluegrass people.
Bones followed his advice.
Dr. B
Tags: Cyrus McCormick, Huron Mountain Club, International Harvester Scouts, Simmons Ruppert
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Dr. Tom Bibey: Stories of the Bluegrass Music Road 
February 6, 2011 at 8:30 pm
I resemble those remarks. Thanks for the post Doc.
Nice sketch of Ruppert!
February 6, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Bingo,
It would be a hard world without the bluegrass brethren. There aren’t enough of ’em and they must be immortalized.
Dr. B
February 7, 2011 at 10:13 am
Darn good description. Just enough to make me realize I have met him someplace a few years ago, but not enough to help me remember where. Makes me want to read more about him.
February 7, 2011 at 10:35 am
Billy,
As hard as you travel, I figured you’d run into him somewhere along the way. More to follow.
Dr. B
February 7, 2011 at 8:57 pm
howdy Doc ,
just stopped by to see how y’all were doing?
and a waiting for your CD to come out 😉
February 7, 2011 at 9:02 pm
just read the post,
if he got kin~folk in MO,
his got to be a good~un!
February 7, 2011 at 11:03 pm
Jel,
Thanks for dropping in. All is well here.
Yep, he’s got some connections out that way.
I’m writing pretty hard on “Acquisition Syndrome” and also at the Doc gig, but I plan to start the CD in April.
It might be a little unconventional. (not a surprise from me I guess) It will be mostly music, but also some talk to explain the significance of the songs in the context as to the story of “The Mandolin Case.”
Dr. B
February 8, 2011 at 9:45 pm
something too look forward too! 😉
February 8, 2011 at 10:49 pm
jel,
Old Doc just has to keep being a kid; don’t know another way to be. It keeps me going.
Dr. B
February 9, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Hooking us in really well Dr. B. I know people like this guy too. They know a lot and know how to keep their mouth’s shut (most of the time). They hear a lot and see a lot.
February 9, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Cindy,
Simmons Ruppert is one of those guys you want on the home team. He knows a lot of people and knows how to make people do right. But he does so without the use of force and remains ethical.
Dr. B