The White Whale was my first car. I bought it brand new from York Gary, who was the salesman at Ball Chevrolet in Nashville, AR, my hometown. York was the father of my best friend Gloria. It was not such a special car in the beginning. It took on its grandeur when I moved to Springfield, Missouri to teach at Southwest Missouri State College. That is where I met Edward Pinegar. He was in my class at SMS. He was also the partner of Laurence Pennel, who was the husband of my friend Georgia. They ran a Texaco station, and this was where I had my car serviced. Oh, those days. Gas was so cheap then, and Ed took such good car of my car. I wish I could remember the details of all the things that happened to the "Whale," but it was so long ago. I do remember when it turned over 100,000 miles. That was in Kentucky. I also remember when I had to use a hammer on the battery to knock the acid off to get it to start. The Whale had a personality of its own.
WHITE WHALE HAS UNTIMELY DEATH
The White Whale (originally known as a 1965 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe) came to its death January 1, 1977, at the age of 12 years. The Whale was born on an assembly line in Detroit, Michigan, and spent its formative years in Springfield, Missouri, where it was christened by one Edward Pinegar.
The Whale lived its maturing years in the southern and eastern parts of the United States, namely on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, (traveling to the National Archives for research), the John F. Kennedy Turnpike, and Interstates 95, 65, 64, 40 and 30.
After a successful career as a Book Mobile and student taxi for Jefferson County Public Schools, in Louisville, Kentucky, the Whale came home to Arkansas for a brief period of semiretirement, making only short half-mile runs to and from Nashville High School in Nashville, Arkansas.
The White Whale is survived by its owner Brenda Ball and a wide following of friendly drivers, passengers and admirers. Arrangements for interment are not yet made, nor are any expected, for the White Whale defies such barbaric practices. Its spirit lives on in our hearts and on our byways. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Brenda Ball to help retire the debt of a recently acquired 1976 Chevrolet.