Chairman's Club | Huntington's Heart: Dan Ferguson's Legacy and Vision

Jason Arthur: Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Today we have a very special guest that many of you may know. Dan Ferguson. Good morning. How are you today, sir?

Dan Ferguson: I'm doing very well. Thanks for having me.

Jason Arthur: Yeah, glad to have you. So if you can tell us a little bit about yourself.

Dan Ferguson: Well, born and raised here in Huntington. Spent, uh, my entire education here in Huntington. Only time I lived outside of Huntington was when I was in the military. I did spend some time in the military outside, but I returned immediately. And I love Huntington. I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying here. And my whole career has been in the downtown Huntington area.

Jason Arthur: Great. Now what branch of military were you in?

ited, uh, States Coast Guard,: 1967

Jason Arthur: Wow, that's outstanding. So I tell you, what was your childhood like? Any memories that really kind of stand out from your beginnings and things like that, you know.

Dan Ferguson: You know, in looking at things today and the way the lifestyle is today, what really stands out when I was a young child is coming home from school at 3 o' clock, putting my books on a table, changing clothes and immediately going across the street to the field, meeting all the guys, playing football or softball or basketball or whatever the sport was at the time. Spending all that time until 5:30 when my father would arrive home and he would come out on the porch and I knew it was time for dinner. So I would have to excuse myself, go to dinner, get that done and go back and play till the street lights came on. Then go and do my homework, go to bed. Those were good times. Those were fun times. You spent time with friends, uh, you didn't have, obviously no pagers, no cell phones, uh, no issues other than just being a normal person, having fun and growing up in a great community. We didn't have a lot of crime issues. We didn't have the issues we have today with obviously drug climate, uh, which has changed outside activity quite a bit. But to sum up my childhood, just being able to be free and enjoying my friends and doing things that kids should be doing, riding bikes and uh, being a little mischievous and doing things maybe you shouldn't do, but on a real, real low scale. But uh, I enjoyed my childhood. It was a great time.

Jason Arthur: My life, uh, yeah, it reminds me a lot of my childhood too. We did the same things. I remember those times like it was just yester I tell my daughter about it all the time. Everybody's so caught up into iPads and phones and doing all this other stuff. And I, ah, just miss going out and just being a kid, playing all those fun things. We played ball every day. We were always just doing everything. So I like that old school stuff there. What did you want to be when you were a kid?

ntington police department in: 1970

Jason Arthur: Yeah, absolutely. Uh, can you share a defining moment in your life that kind of really just shaped your perspective?

Dan Ferguson: You know, I think as I went through my career, there were ups and downs. There were times that I was, uh, intrigued. There was times that I was disgusted. There was times that I wanted to quit. There was times that I wanted to try to do better. So there was a lot of variables, and I had to pick and choose which I really wanted to proceed with. But whatever I did, I got up the next day and went to work. And, uh, I grew up in a regimented type family, good parents, but you ate dinner at the same time, you went to bed same time, you watched TV together, you prayed together, you went to church together. It was very regimented. So I felt like my life should be like. And I tried to establish that through the years as going with my family and my children, I tried to establish that. But, you know, we can do the best we can. But times change, and when they change, your children's attitudes and mannerisms change. Life itself changes, habits change. So, you know, we're away from that regimen of family now. Obviously, everybody is going in all kinds of different directions. But, uh, you know, I just wanted to make my family the way I grew up, and I did it the best I could.

Jason Arthur: Sure. Absolutely. Who has been the most influential person in your life? You would say.

Dan Ferguson: You know, as I was going through my career, I hit and miss with, uh, politics. I knew people, some people would want to run for office or were in office and would ask me if I wanted to help do this or that. And I did. Uh, I always was willing to help my friends or anybody that needed help. And, you know, I got to looking around at politics and how it worked. And, um, I got to tell you, politics is a blood sport. Uh, it's not an easy deal. Uh, but I got interested in it. And the one person that sticks out in my mind that probably influenced me to reach out to politics, I did run for magistrate, got elected. I ran for mayor, but I got defeated, um, was Bobby Nelson. Bobby Nelson was elected our first strong mayor.

Jason Arthur: Right.

Dan Ferguson: We were a city count city manager at the time, and he became the first strong city mayor. And, uh, I was involved in his inauguration as a police officer with security. And he and I kind of hit it off that time. I was doing other things in Huntington. Our regatta summerfest and putting together events. And, um, one day he called me in his office and asked if I would like to be the chief's assistant. And he wanted to detach me from the police department and work a little bit out of his office. And I did. And so, bottom line, Bobby Nelson is the one that, uh, kind of said, dan, you need to be in politics. He didn't physically say it, but it happened. And, uh, so he influenced my direction in that area.

Jason Arthur: That's big time. Yeah. And what a great person to do it. So since you mentioned it, tell us a little bit about your days with the regatta. I don't think people have any idea how influential you were with this.

Dan Ferguson: Well, back when Harris Riverfront was being developed, uh, there was an organization called the npa, the National Powerboat Association. They did power boat racing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Huntington. They launched at the old 10th street docks. And uh, it was just boat racing, nothing else. No, no carnival, no concessions, just boat racing. And uh, I was involved in an organization called the Tri State Fair and Regatta. It was Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. There were 15 board of directors from each state that got together every month and put events together. We were doing some events in Huntington, Go kart racing, things like that. And when Harris got developed, a friend of mine who has passed since, a, uh, very close friend, Charlie Beaver and I were talking one day and we saw the field in Harris park and all this new concrete. I said, you know, during the boat races next year, why don't we put a big top 10 up in the field and throw some entertainment in there. Maybe get beer license and a concession and sell some, some stuff and make it so that people have something else to do along with the racing. And we did and it was a success. That was in 81, in 82 we rented a park board stage and put it uh, facing west where the normal Summerfest stage always was. And uh, we put some bands, local bands out there and it got better, more crowds. So we extended it to 10 days and started summer. First was called Super Summer Fest. And after the third going in the third year, we just called it Summerfest. And we built a decent stage and started getting some higher level entertainment in bottom line. By 89 and 90 and 91 we were putting probably 12 to 15,000 people a night in that field for high level entertainment. Patti LaBelle, the Commodores, Righteous Brothers, Lee Greenwood, Four Tops. I mean I've got all those at home. This uh, was big money. And uh, we were all volunteers. And at the end of my term, when I resigned in 96, we were running between 325, 350 volunteers. People would take their vacation to work. Summerfest, you know, they'd do anything for a hat, a T shirt and a credential. Of course we threw out some product for them to drink. We never let them get thirsty, we never let them get hungry. So there was uh, there were some incidentals there that made you want to come. But it was just so much fun. It was, it was a major event. We had jet ski racing on the first weekend, powerboat on the second, $25,000 fireworks each Saturday night. We had an event in the amphitheater or on the water every evening. Car shows, crank, uh, it up things from Pied Piper where they used to blow the windshields out of their cars. I mean, we had carnivals, we had the bungee at the end. Uh, I mean, it was just a major undertaking, but it was all volunteer and we all loved it. We had what, what a friend of mine calls fire in the belly. We wanted it done and we got it done. And I, uh, resigned in 96. It lasted three more years. It reduced to a five day event. A three day event. And then it just went away. And um, you know, it requires a certain person with drive to make something like that happen. It doesn't just happen. I can honestly tell you I worked every day of the year on Summerfest. Sure, of some level. Either talking to somebody about something or buying some two by fours or whatever it took. And uh, it paid off in the end. But the city really benefited from it. Uh, several years. I checked the B and O taxes on the quarters and the quarter that Summerfest was in. The third quarter was higher than all the other three quarters put together. Oh, I believe it for B and O. Taxes in the city, parking, restaurants, motel, retail, you name it. It was just huge. It was huge and it was a lot of fun.

Jason Arthur: It sounds like I remember it as a child, you know, and growing up through the years and we couldn't wait. I mean, it was better than any. You see these county fairs and all this stuff, it didn't hold even a candle compared to that. I mean, it's such a great time.

Dan Ferguson: At least twice a month I'll have an old friend of mine or somebody combine. They'll say, dan, when's the regatta coming back? Sure, at least twice a month still.

Jason Arthur: I guarantee it.

Dan Ferguson: And um, you know, it's not going to come back the way it was. The economy is different. I would walk into, uh. Well, for instance, uh, I had, um, WTCR gave me 25,000, Pepsi 25,000, Budweiser 45,000. I mean, right there is close to 100 grand.

Jason Arthur: Yeah.

Dan Ferguson: Uh, just with three sponsors. Of course. We paid them dividends. They got VIP passes, they got banners, they got it exposed. Uh, lot of marketing went with those packages. Uh, but it worked out real well. It really did.

Jason Arthur: Yeah. Good memories there. So I tell you what are Some values that you hold and where did they come from?

Dan Ferguson: I believe in honesty. I, uh, believe in friendship.

Jason Arthur: Mhm.

Dan Ferguson: Uh, I believe in helping people. But I will add to that by saying I want you to help yourself also.

Jason Arthur: Absolutely.

Dan Ferguson: I will help you all I can as long as I see you trying also. I'm not just going to give you everything and walk away and let you relapse into whatever you're doing. That's like the drug epidemic that we're dealing with. These people need help, there's no question about it. They made bad decisions, they can't help it, they're addicted and they need help. But there's nothing to say that they can't help themselves also.

Jason Arthur: Correct.

ife. I've helped people since: 1970

Jason Arthur: I agree 100% on that. What do you think motivates you to keep going when times do get tough?

Dan Ferguson: Well, I hate to tell my age, but I'm not a young man anymore. I have retired twice. Both times I've retired, uh, something has come around that has intrigued me, has been, uh, something that I cock my head and say, man, I'd like to, I'd like to deal with that. I want to make a difference, right. And I jump in and I do it. It's like now I just took on a full time job, uh, a job that not a lot of people want. But I know I can make a difference and we are making progress. And uh, I just, I just like to see that happen.

Jason Arthur: I love it. You've done a great job also in your position at this time. I know it was kind of not the way you wanted it to go. And now you've gone with this different situation and you've turned it into just an outstanding situation. So I appreciate that.

Dan Ferguson: Thank you. Well, when I decided to run for mayor, my wife was iffy on it. She says, do you really want all that responsibility? I immediately said, yes, I do. I want it.

Jason Arthur: Because you want to help people.

Dan Ferguson: I want it. I love this city. I'm not happy with the condition of this city. Um, I think we all can realize what's going on and somebody has to start turning it around. It's not going to happen overnight, but somebody has to start. And that's what I wanted to do. And when I lost, it was pretty devastating. Nobody Wants to lose. And, uh, I really felt like I had a good shot. Um, um, the three people that did go up further beyond the primary all called me to a meeting asking for my help to get, uh, them elected. And I had a choice to make as to who to go with. And, uh, of course I chose Mayor Farrell. He and I campaigned on the very same issues. He has a military background. I do. He's pro police. Public, uh, safety is number one.

Jason Arthur: Absolutely.

Dan Ferguson: And, uh, I jumped on his bandwagon. I helped him get elected and he chose, uh, to ask me if I would come into his administration another full time job when I should be retired. Fishing, but I don't fish. Hunting, but I don't hunt. Golfing, but I can't golf anymore. So what am I going to do? How many houses can you paint? How many walls can you paint? So I said, yeah, let's go back to work. So I'm excited about what I'm doing.

Jason Arthur: Yeah, definitely. Yeah. You and the mayor have worked very well together. Um, so let's get now more into more of your work scene instead of more so personal. How did you navigate your career path to reach your current position?

Dan Ferguson: I don't know that I actually navigated it. I just think it evolved from one thing to another when I accomplished. I'm a type of person that status quo doesn't get it. I think you can always make things better. I think you can always change people's lives so that they're happier, they're doing better for themselves. And somebody has to look around and see what you have to do to make that happen. And that's part of what I wanted to do, was to get involved with the city. Of course, my job is the sober living homes. I'm to look out after them to see what's going on with them, to see if they're compliant with finances, see if they're compliant with the city with code. And my job is to go to them with a team of experts to inspect them. And, um, when we find violations, we talk to them about it, we give them a certain amount of time to correct those things and we go back and do follow up. Uh, to me, follow up is key.

Jason Arthur: Absolutely.

Dan Ferguson: If you don't do follow up and there's no consequences for your actions, then why should I do anything about it if they're not going to come back?

Jason Arthur: Right.

Dan Ferguson: So we're making some real progress with this.

Jason Arthur: Yeah, I agree. And I know you and Jan have worked together quite a bit on this. She's been a great Asset as well.

Dan Ferguson: Yes. Jan had a. Has a tremendous amount of knowledge, but she had no help. She was kind uh, of on her own trying to get things done, but had, didn't have really a lot of, a lot of people backing her up. And when I came on, uh, we really weren't assigned to work together. We just started working together and next thing you know, it worked out. I mean, she has a lot of knowledge and I brought to her some enforcement ability that she didn't have available to her. I mean, I don't hesitate to tell you what you have to do. I don't hesitate to tell you what's wrong. I don't hesitate to give you a certain amount of time to fix something. Uh, that's my background. I have a strong background in that area. And so we're really, uh, salt and pepper. We work well together.

Jason Arthur: Yeah. Kind of a good cop, bad cop situation.

Dan Ferguson: She's a good cop, I'm the bad cop. Let there be no question.

Jason Arthur: That's right. So what's a lesson you wished you had learned earlier in life?

Dan Ferguson: You know, I wouldn't take, I don't know that I'd take anything back. Uh, I just, I like everything that happened to me. The one thing I wish I had done is finished college. Yeah, I'm about 15 hours short. I went of course, out of high school, then military, kicked in Vietnam, you had two arms, two legs, you got drafted. Uh, they didn't care if you was in school or what you were. You went to the military. And uh, that knocked me out for a while. Then I came back, got on the police department. I went back to school, I think three times when I was on the department. I even went back when I was the correctional administrator for the county. And um, and I was uh, 50 years old then. I was the old guy in the classroom with all these young kids. It was kind of comical.

Jason Arthur: Yeah.

Dan Ferguson: They made fun of me and I made fun of them. I told them they didn't know nothing, I knew everything, but they thought they knew everything and I knew nothing, but anyhow. But I wish I would have, uh, uh, graduated from college and the reason would be for my dad.

Jason Arthur: Sure.

Dan Ferguson: Yeah.

Jason Arthur: Personal goal.

Dan Ferguson: Personal goal.

Jason Arthur: What personality trait would someone need to be successful in the job you have right now?

Dan Ferguson: Broad shoulders. Mhm. Uh, take a lot, be able to handle criticism.

Jason Arthur: Yeah.

Dan Ferguson: Be able to deal with things that most people don't want to deal with.

Jason Arthur: Yeah, I could see that for sure.

Dan Ferguson: Uh, that's the thing about me and Jan. She's of course A retired fire chief.

Jason Arthur: Right.

Dan Ferguson: I'm retired police officer. Uh, we both have seen it all. There's nothing, nothing any of these people in this town can do that we haven't been involved in.

Jason Arthur: Right.

Dan Ferguson: I mean, we've stepped over bodies. We've seen child abuse. We've seen good people do good things. It's not all doom and gloom, but our job really is, bottom line, negative activity. So if you can finish a career with that type of a career, uh, and move, uh, forward and do well, you've accomplished something, I think.

Jason Arthur: Yeah. Very good. Can you share a pivotal moment that has influenced your professional trajectory?

Dan Ferguson: You know, I'd go back again to Bobby, uh, Nelson. Okay. I, uh, was a police officer on the police department doing my job, riding motorcycles, writing reports, fighting, making arrests, doing what you got to do as a police officer. And I, uh, think he really sent me in a new direction, uh, looking at other opportunities for me, uh, and I feel like I had the abilities. They were within me. And I think he's the one that brought them out. I really do. I got to give him all the blame and all the credit.

Jason Arthur: Yeah, you get one with the other for sure. What's something you used to believe that you don't anymore?

Dan Ferguson: Hmm. That's a tough one.

Jason Arthur: That is a tough one.

Dan Ferguson: Well, no, it may not be that tough. I used to believe that mankind was all good. And through the course of my life, I found that mankind is not all good. You do have evil. Not just sickness, not drug related things, not drunk, not evil. I'm talking evil people that do horrible things, uh, to children. Yeah, that's a pet peeve of mine. I can remember as a police officer, going into a home at 2 in the morning, domestic call, the wife's crying, beat up, the kids crying in the bed or the couch. Dad's drunk on the couch because he got paid, went out, got drunk and came home. And. And I remember seeing that. I can remember many times seeing those kids and thinking, what human being can abuse a child?

Jason Arthur: Yeah. Wow.

Dan Ferguson: And that's the evil I'm talking about. That's just pure evil.

Jason Arthur: Absolutely, it is. Yeah. There's no reason that should ever happen.

Dan Ferguson: Nope.

Jason Arthur: What is a failure or setback? That taught you something important?

Dan Ferguson: I got terminated from being the Cabell county correctional officer running our old county jail. Dallin Fields was a sheriff and he hired me when he got elected. I helped him get elected. And I was running a good jail. Clean, neat, painted it all, had it all operating very well. The state regional jail guy said Our jail was the best jail in the state and doing very well. Unfortunately, Dallin got cancer and died. And the county commission appointed an old sheriff. I'm not even going to mention his name. I have no like for him to come in for three months before a new elected sheriff would take over. And he immediately terminated me. And I asked him in his office, as he handed me my letter. I said, why are you terminating me? There's no calls. And he looked at me and he said, you work at the will and pleasure. I don't need calls.

Jason Arthur: Wow.

Dan Ferguson: So I was out of a job. Sure. And that devastated me. I'd never been fired from a position in my life, and I was doing a good job. I was told I was being a good job, but it was political. Obviously, the county commission didn't like the sheriff, so they appointed their sheriff, and their sheriff got rid of Dallin's appointments. It was very political. And, uh, yeah, uh, that upset me quite a bit. Uh, I spent about four or five months out of work, but. And, uh, that was a horrible four or five months. Cause I didn't have anything to do. I was wondering what the heck had happened to me, what was going on. I didn't deserve it. You know, we all wonder about those things occasionally. I never got the answer. I didn't get the. I just moved on. Yeah, I put it away. It's in a drawer somewhere at my house. It's gone.

Jason Arthur: Yeah, it's done.

Dan Ferguson: Yeah, I'm doing fine.

Jason Arthur: Like we talk about the blood sport of. This is rough sometimes.

Dan Ferguson: Oh, it's tough.

Jason Arthur: What advice would you give your younger self?

Dan Ferguson: I, uh, would say pay attention. Closer to what's really going on around you.

Jason Arthur: Yeah.

Dan Ferguson: Uh, things change constantly. Life is a cycle. I mean, I remember bell bottoms and, uh, belts that were three inches thick, uh, leisure suits, turtlenecks, mock turtles. I don't know if any of you ever know that. It was a turtleneck. And a little square here. You put your shirt over it. Ah, what a tacky thing. But, you know, I don't doubt they'll be back. I'm waiting for it. I hope I'm here when they do.

Jason Arthur: Bring them all out again.

Dan Ferguson: Life is a cycle. I mean, uh, peg pants came in after bell bottoms.

Jason Arthur: Oh, yeah.

Dan Ferguson: I mean, I remember taking my jeans as a little kid and having them seamed up. And that's all I could do was get my foot through them.

Jason Arthur: Uh, what legacy do you want to leave behind through your final workings here?

Dan Ferguson: You know, I'm extremely proud of Summerfest. I Think that is my signature. Um, that was a hard job. I loved it. I had a lot of help. But it takes any organization, takes a key person with the fire in the belly to make it go to see what's wrong or what didn't happen and correct it. Make it happen. And um, as a police officer, I was a good police officer. I, uh, didn't go up through the ranks, although I jumped from being a police officer to the chief's assistant. And I actually was acting chief of police for six weeks. Don had open heart surgery and I was appointed by the mayor as acting chief. So, um, that was a proud moment for me. But it was a short moment. But Summerfest was 14 years for me and it ended up when I left. It was just a phenomenal event and my, uh, legacy. If I see Dan Ferguson on the wall, I would like to see police and Summerfest under. And that's it. I just feel like those two things were something, uh, that I worked hard to do the best I could at.

Jason Arthur: Right. Which obviously makes you very proud.

Dan Ferguson: It does.

Jason Arthur: Yeah. Yeah. What do you miss most about being an officer?

Dan Ferguson: You know, the minute you retire, you don't realize as a police officer you have a tremendous amount of power. I'm. Mhm. In charge of you. You may be the nicest guy in the world, but I'm in charge of you. Understand that if you start acting up, I'm gonna arrest you. If you're good, I'm gonna leave you alone. That's power.

Jason Arthur: Sure.

Dan Ferguson: Um, you use it to your best ability. Obviously you do the right things with it. But you're given a badge and a gun and you're told to go get the bad guy.

Jason Arthur: Right.

Dan Ferguson: And that's a very powerful thing.

Jason Arthur: Yeah. It's not for everybody.

Dan Ferguson: When you retire, you've laid that badge and gun down.

Jason Arthur: Yeah.

Dan Ferguson: You still carry a gun. You still carry a badge. But it says retired. But you don't have those police powers. When you're out in a restaurant, something happens. You really don't have the authority to do anything. But we do. Because the calvary comes and they know you're retired and everything's okay.

Jason Arthur: Absolutely.

Dan Ferguson: But you've lost that edge. And, uh, I'd say the most thing that I miss about being a police officer is the ability to react immediately. Like when I'm driving now and I see a drunk on the side or a stoned out person, I want to deal with it, but I can't. I have to pick the phone up, go through the procedure. They've Created. What's the name of your firstborn? You know, what's. How much do you pay for stamps now? You know, I mean, it's unbelievable. They're doing their job, but we've gotten so far away from, hey, we've got a guy drunk. Start the calvary on the way. I'll give you all the information, but start them first. They don't. They want to do that. They want all this information before they do anything. That's their job. They're doing their job. Not being critical of them. I'm just saying it's the system that has changed.

Jason Arthur: And that's what we've talked about. Changes everywhere right now.

Dan Ferguson: But, um, the power of being a police officer is the first thing you miss when you retire. All of them will tell you that. They may not admit it, but that's what you miss.

Jason Arthur: Well, your mindset is programmed in that. Yeah. How do you envision the future of.

Dan Ferguson: This city with this mayor and the team he's established, uh, and council. I see this city moving forward in a good light. I see, uh, the homeless issue being addressed. I see the sober living homes being addressed. I see the housing issue in the town being addressed. Um, I see a lot of things on a positive note. As long as we can continue. It's not going to happen overnight. You got to realize, in my opinion, and Steve Williams was a friend of mine, and I like Steve, but I gotta tell you, I don't understand the last six, eight years, how things were moving in whatever direction they moved in. But that's just my opinion. Um, I'm sure there's other opinions out there. M. But with this mayor and this team starting the transition I think you're looking for, I would hope, uh, another term. I don't know that I'll be here, because I'm, um. I don't know about that, but I think this mayor is. Is determined to make Huntington public. Safety, infrastructure and economic growth his main priority.

Jason Arthur: 100%.

Dan Ferguson: Yeah.

Jason Arthur: Yeah. What do you think will be the big game changers in these upcoming years?

Dan Ferguson: Cleaning the street up, I think, is the number one priority. Cleaning our town up so that people feel comfortable, people will come back to our city. I hear it all the time, especially running for mayor. And I hear from a lot of my friends, they just don't go downtown. You park, the first thing you get is hit from a panhandler wanting money, and they're aggressive. Back in the day, a panhandler would come up and say, sir, do you have any spare change? No, I Don't. Thank you, sir. And that's the end of it. Now it's, I need money. I'm hungry. I know you got money, Give me money. They're aggressive and that offends people, especially females.

Jason Arthur: Well, it scares them too.

Dan Ferguson: And look at Pullman, the parking garage. They lay in a parking garage, wait for somebody to park. I mean, we've got these issues all over town that we know about and we're addressing, but one at a time. We're going to knock them down like shooting them ducks in a row. You know, we're taking them out the best we can, but it's going to be a process that we have to go through.

Jason Arthur: Yeah, well, it took a lot of time to get here. It's gonna take a lot of time to fit exactly.

Dan Ferguson: Right.

Jason Arthur: Yeah. So I'd like to ask you what is a controversial opinion that you hold that you're willing to discuss?

Dan Ferguson: Controversial opinion that I hold. Yeah, I'm filtering them out right now.

Jason Arthur: Okay.

Dan Ferguson: Uh, I am confused about hiring a police officer.

Jason Arthur: Mhm.

Dan Ferguson: Swearing him in, sending him out in the field, finding a violation, making an arrest, taking them to court, having a trial, finding them guilty, sentencing them to jail and them not going to jail.

Jason Arthur: Yeah, that's rough.

Dan Ferguson: Think about that process. I just told you.

Jason Arthur: Yeah.

Dan Ferguson: Now I said as a police officer, I sat as a magistrate judge. I also ran a jail. I think I've been involved in all three of those.

Jason Arthur: Yeah, you've been in all the steps.

Dan Ferguson: And I'm concerned and confused why the public, elected officials and lawmakers don't want people to pay for the crimes they commit.

Jason Arthur: Yeah, absolutely.

Dan Ferguson: And trust me, you put a person in jail for 10 days, they want them out in two because they don't want to pay the jail bill. So this person gets out in two, goes right back and does the same thing because he doesn't care. There's no consequences.

Jason Arthur: Yeah.

Dan Ferguson: You stick your finger over a fire, what do you do? You jerk it back and say, ouch.

Jason Arthur: Right.

Dan Ferguson: You gonna do it again?

Jason Arthur: No way.

Dan Ferguson: Uh, no way.

Jason Arthur: Yeah.

Dan Ferguson: You send a person to jail for the crime they committed. Due process. Let them serve that time.

Jason Arthur: Right.

Dan Ferguson: They may think twice about doing it again. Yeah. Ah, it's an accountability factor and counseling while they're in jail. This is why. Why did you do this? This is what happens if you do it again. This is what happens if you don't do it again. Yeah. That's the most confusing part of me right now. I am very upset with the, uh, the legal process. I don't like it at all. It is not right. It's broken and it needs fixed. And I don't know of anybody will disagree with that.

Jason Arthur: No, I don't think so. Honestly, um, like what you said, who would know better than you? You've been in all the steps of it. Right? Well, one thing that I know that is very dear to your heart, that you have done such an outstanding job on is the Gold Star Monument. I'd like for you to talk about that a little bit.

ceremonies. And we had maybe: 1500

Jason Arthur: That was awesome. I remember that.

Dan Ferguson: Uh, and then at one point, we unveiled the monument and we had gold star families there. And one at a time they came up. And the Blue Knights organization, which I'm a charter member of, handed yellow roses to each one of them to place on the monument. But, uh, in fact, they're down there right now getting ready for Monday's, uh, dedication. We're doing mulch and weed eating and stuff like that. I replaced all the flags last Saturday. Yeah, but that's a proud moment. That was a lot. Again, fire, uh, in the belly. I was determined, and, uh, we got it done.

Jason Arthur: Huge accomplishment. Yeah, I really enjoy that whole outfit now down there. Just everything is so uniformed and nice and militant, and you've done an outstanding job with that.

Dan Ferguson: And we put the three flags on either side of the monument, all six branches of service with the new, uh, space, uh, force. And of course you, uh, sponsoring your flag, the army flag. I'm sponsoring the Coast Guard flag. And all the flags are sponsored and people that are sponsoring their names on the flagpole. It's a two year commitment. Every two years, you can either renew or we'll get someone else. And that money goes just to replace the flags, to keep them fresh. But it's a beautiful site. If you haven't seen the Woody Williams Monument down by the Memorial Arch, you need to go Absolutely.

Jason Arthur: Do you see any kind of foresee any future endeavors down there at all?

Dan Ferguson: Yeah, I mean, there are some things, you know, it's up to the park board. It's their land, it's their property. Uh, I have suggested, uh, the arch has concrete in front of it. The monument has concrete in front of it. Both of them are going to the Boulevard and 11th Avenue. I would like to see that connected on the side so that it would make a walking circle, so to speak, where people could park. We're the four place parking pad for cars so they can get out and walk in a circle. We need to determine how many times around is a mile, how many times around is 2 miles. Put a little board up, and I'd like to see that done. I'd also, uh, like to see two benches on either side on the outside of that walking path so that people could maybe eat their lunch and observe the arch and the monument. I would like to see that. Those are the things I'd like to see happen down the road. If I could get that done. I know we can get it done. I just got to get the permission from the park to do it.

Jason Arthur: And I hope they'll follow suit with that because I think it's a phenomenal idea. We've talked about some of that many times. And what a testimony that would be to the men and women that are a part of all those monuments. That would be the best, uh, in my opinion, the best in the state as far as the way that would be set up.

Dan Ferguson: Yeah. And one other thing down there, you know, you got the arch at one end which recognizes, uh, World War I. Correct. And then you got the Woody Williams Monument, which actually I would consider World War II.

Jason Arthur: Right.

Dan Ferguson: Uh, that creates a field.

Jason Arthur: Sure does.

Dan Ferguson: A military setting. I would like to do a competition in the city of Huntington or the community to name that field. Our organization, Southside alliance, would put up $500 to a winner. We'd run about a four week. Send, uh, your name, what you want to name it, your name, and we pick a winner. I don't want it to be after a person. I feel like the field needs to be honor field, field of honor, military field, or something tricky. Not, uh, necessarily a person, but. And I'd like to see that named with some nice signage. And I think that that, with the walk path, the benches, I think that brings that area full circle to where it really needs to be. That's my opinion.

Jason Arthur: Oh, I love it. Yeah, I agree 100%. Obviously, anything I could do to Help. I would obviously be behind that 100%. Uh, light things up just a little bit. You know, a lot of people have, you know, she sheds and, uh, man caves and things like that. You, you have something a little different called a bomb shelter. Talk a little bit about that.

Dan Ferguson: Well, the house, I have two houses there by the arch. I, uh, live in the house that we built for my mom when my dad passed. And when she passed, my wife and I moved in it. We live next door in a house that was built in the 30s. Dr. Uh, Guthrie actually lived there. Dr. Guthrie was a doctor at Guthrie Hospital, which was 6th street and 6th Avenue at one time. And I grew up across the street, played his son. My son and me, we were the same age. So I was very familiar with that house. And I was living with mom. And I came home on midnight shift one night to eat, eat lunch. And I saw a sale sign in the yard. So my wife and I now were dating at the time, and so we bought it. And, uh, I played in that thing when I was young. And there's a room out back that was built by Dr. Guthrie in the 60s. And it was built because of the Cuban crisis, when Castro pointed all the missiles toward the United States. The missiles carried fallout material. Fallout travels in one area and it will not penetrate lead. When he built this building, he built it on two by sixes, not two by fours, on 12 inch centers, not 16 inch centers. And he put quarter inch lead on the inside all the way around. He put a pump in there, air pump. He put. Built closets for his two, his two sons lived on both sides with a bathroom in the middle. And he put closets in the corners for their clothes. And then the drawers. He had rationized food that would last forever. So. And he had panels to go over the windows with lead in them, lead in the door. So this entire room would be tight, air free. And you turn that pump 200 times an hour to freshen the air. So he was pretty much wanting to live forever. But I tell you, when we bought that house, uh, I've remodeled quite a bit. But, uh, that room will be there when the rest of Huntington's gone. I mean, you can bang on the wall just like hitting concrete. It's unbelievable. That's why we call it the bomb shelter. You can heat it with a match in the winter and the summer, it doesn't get hot. I mean, it's just unbelievable, uh, the way it is. But, yeah. And I started working on I'm a Keeper. I'm A novelty guy. I keep stuff, I buy stuff, I save stuff. I just started pinning stuff on the walls and putting a few TVs up, and it's evolved. You've been there, you've seen it. It's a pretty handy little room. If you've got any problems, you go in that room. When you leave, your problems are solved.

Jason Arthur: That's a fact. Now, there's been some pretty famous people in there. Do you care to name some of them?

Dan Ferguson: Well, I've had Muhammad Ali in there. Uh, Lee Greenwood was in there. Joe Manchin was in there. Um, those are probably the heaviest hitters.

Jason Arthur: Yeah, well, that's pretty big time for one of those.

Dan Ferguson: Yeah, you had Muhammad Ali in here in 85 and 86 for the Golden Gloves, which our fop used to do. And, uh, we hired him to come in to promote Golden Gloves. And he, of course, was at the fights and saw the kids signed autographs. And one year, Buster Douglas out of Columbus, who was the reigning champ, we had both of them in here, and I had both of them in the ring at one time. That was a heck of a show. And, uh, the thing about Muhammad was he. He liked to eat. And, uh, the promoter brought him in, was a friend of mine. He said, muhammad wants a good cooked meal. I said, well, mom can cook some meal. What's he want? He wanted fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. So I had him at the house both years for dinner. And, uh, he's a funny guy. He's a big man.

Jason Arthur: Yeah.

Dan Ferguson: I stood between Buster and him, and I put my hands on their forearms, and I couldn't bend my hand. My hands wouldn't bend, and they just tired over me. They're just huge human beings. Uh, they don't look like it by themselves in a picture, but, my gosh, they're big, big men, and they take a beating. But, yeah, he was really a unique person. And now I would have bought Everlast gloves and had him sign them with me, hugging him, but I had him sign some pictures. I got pictures of him holding my daughter, who's 34 now, she was eight months old, in his arms. I have pictures of him in the house eating dinner. Uh, I got a video of him leaving. And when he gets to the. Outside the front door and I'm backing up, he points at me, he says, I'll be back, like Arnold Schwarzenegger said. But, uh, yeah, he was a unique one.

Jason Arthur: Yeah, what some awesome memories there. Um, obviously, you know, you've told a lot of great history a lot of great things, you know. Is there anything else you'd like for the general public to know or hear about?

Dan Ferguson: Yes, there is. I, uh, would like the public to know that, uh, I would like to see the public give this administration the opportunity to do what we want to do. If you do that, if you support us, if you help us and back us, we promise you that you will see a difference. We promise you that you will like Huntington. We promise you you will feel better about living here and being a Huntingtonian. Uh, we're on a mission. We have an agenda, and we're going to see to it it gets done. The right people are in the right place, I think.

Jason Arthur: I agree.

Dan Ferguson: And I just would like to see the general public support us.

Jason Arthur: Uh, that's outstanding. I love to hear that. We appreciate you coming on the show. Come back anytime. Love to have you.

Dan Ferguson: I don't know if I have any more stories. It takes a couple of years. I may be back. Thanks for having me. I do appreciate it.

Jason Arthur: Absolutely. Thank you.