Mr. Richard A. "Mike" Muston was born on his parents' farm one mile east of Zionsville, Indiana, on the tract at the northeast corner of US 421 & SR 334.
Educated in the public schools of Zionsville, Mike also attended the University of Cincinnati majoring in civil engineering. After leaving the university, Mike's experience includes 2 years' service in the Merchant Marines seeing the world, and 10 years of hotel work from 1925, at Mountain View House, Whitefield, New Hampshire, in the summer, and at the Soreno Grand Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida during winters. During this time, Mike filled in on every job from dishwasher to room clerk. He also was manager and owner for a time of a restaurant in Poughkeepsie, New York. After going broke, Mike worked for 3 years in a B&G sandwich shop for $7 a week in Los Angeles, California.
Mike's Merchant Marine service began in 1932 as a bartender (and bootlegger) on the S.S. President Hoover, the largest passenger liner at that time in the Pacific, which sailed from New York, through the Canal Zone to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Rokohama, Kobe, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila, Philippines, and then returned to New York. Mike left the service to attend to family matters upon the death of his mother, but his experience on the Hoover established Mike's great love for the sea, a love that he retained for the rest of his life.
It was in 1935 that he began an eleven-year broker operation for Ziffrin Truck Lines in Indianapolis. This was a leased-equipment shipping operation involving six large trucks, one of which he drove to Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, and other Midwestern points. While driving his truck one day, Mike stopped off at a restaurant for a bite to eat. He noticed an attractive young woman working at the restaurant, and began a romantic relationship (despite the fact that she said that his nose was "a little too big"). The woman was Laura Catherine "Katie" Allen, and on December 24, 1939, she became his beloved wife. Their romance continued for the next fifty years.
Mike's World War II service began in 1942 at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi, where he was a buck private for two months. While there he met Mr. F.J. McGinnis ("Mac"), Mr. L.R. Hobson Jr. ("Hob"), and Mr. A.A. Fowler, Sr. ("Al, Sr."). After the war, all of these men were to work together in the trucking business that Mike co-founded with Al, Sr. All four men were shipped to Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia for two weeks and then to Camp Anza in Richmond, California, just outside of Los Angeles. After three weeks there they boarded the U.S.S. Hermitage (Navy AP-54) and sailed for Endomesh, Hamadan, and Kermanshhah, Iran, in Spring of 1943. Mike spent his time in Iran as a corporal, hauling supplies over a 300-mile run through desert and mountains to Kazvin, Iran, at which point the Russians took over the shipments.
Al, Sr. served as dispatcher on the 24-hour operation, while Hob and Mac drove and worked in the motor pool. In the Spring of 1945, Al Sr. left for home. Mac and Hob stayed with one-third of one battalion for a while longer, and Mike, still a corporal, left for Marseilles to join the First Army under General Hodges hauling supplies up front to Leige, Belgium. In September 1945, Mike flew home in one of the Army's C-4 transports and began work in the trucking business again. Mike and Al, Sr. co-founded I.K.C. Motor Express (Indianapolis - Kansas City Motor Express) with Al Sr. running operations in Kansas City, Mo, and Mike running operations in Indianapolis, Indiana. I.K.C. began business in September of 1946 with two worn-out trucks and trailers, with the first run leaving Indianapolis for Kansas City on September 12. The operation began was one truck traveling each way, with the first Kansas City truckload headed east on September 15. Mike operated the Indianapolis terminal in rented space at the Central Union Transfer Company where he interlined (i.e. transferred shipments to other shipping firms) freight shipments. In Kansas City, Al, Sr. rented space at 11703 West 9th Street with Darling Transfer and Green Truck Lines and used leased operators until they could purchase additional equipment of their own.
Salesmen were hired in Kansas City, but in Indianapolis, Mike was the office/dock/loading force for months. By 1959, Mike and his wife Katie lived on four acres northwest of Zionsville (at 630 Bloor Lane with a lake out back), one block outside of then what was the city limits.
Katie grew roses while Mike supervised the entire Indianapolis operation, including a brand new terminal building capable of handling 12 million pounds of freight a week. With 80 employees, Mike ran the hub of I.K.C.'s system, daily scheduling 5 trucks inbound and outbound to Richmond, VA, 3 to Decatur, IL, 2 to Springfield, IL, and 8 to 10 to Kansas City as well as serving other points through the United States by way of interline connections and expediting through-trailer service between the east and west coasts in conjunction with Pacific Intermountain Express (P.I.E. - another shipping firm). Mike also supervised the truck maintenance and repair building adjacent to the Indianapolis shipping terminal, and preferred to have his office near his mechanics inside the maintenance building.
In 1965, Mike sold his interest in I.K.C. to Transcon Lines Inc. (of Los Angeles, California) and went into semi-retirement. For the next ten years, until 1975, he spent time working on a farm he bought northeast of Zionsville (in Hamilton County), and managed his many other investments.
In 1975, Mike and Katie moved to Key Colony Beach, Florida where they enjoyed living on the water. Mike went fishing nearly every day and they entertained regularly. In July 1981, Katie suffered a mini-stroke that left her partially disabled, and afterward her health slowly continued to deteriorate. Mike personally cared for Katie, and in March, 1988, they moved to a life-care retirement community in Naples, Florida. There, they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in December 1989. Less that six months later, Katie passed away on June 1, 1990. On Tuesday, August 16, 1994, Mike died peacefully at his home in Naples.
During his lifetime, Mike was a bartender, dish washer, waiter, truck driver, soldier, farmer, businessman, and millionaire. He was also a devoted husband, a kind and generous boss, a loving and supportive brother, and a constant inspiration to his many nieces and nephews. He was a strong man, when strength was required, and he was a gentle man, when a gentle touch was needed. He was a man who genuinely accepted people for who they were, and gave support/comfort/friendship to many people. It can be truly said that the world is a better place for Mike having lived. He left his mark for good, and his presence will be sorely missed by the many people whose lives he so deeply touched.
-- Obituary text from the handout at Mike Muston's memorial service, forwarded by his nephew, Kevin Rodgers.
Educated in the public schools of Zionsville, Mike also attended the University of Cincinnati majoring in civil engineering. After leaving the university, Mike's experience includes 2 years' service in the Merchant Marines seeing the world, and 10 years of hotel work from 1925, at Mountain View House, Whitefield, New Hampshire, in the summer, and at the Soreno Grand Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida during winters. During this time, Mike filled in on every job from dishwasher to room clerk. He also was manager and owner for a time of a restaurant in Poughkeepsie, New York. After going broke, Mike worked for 3 years in a B&G sandwich shop for $7 a week in Los Angeles, California.
Mike's Merchant Marine service began in 1932 as a bartender (and bootlegger) on the S.S. President Hoover, the largest passenger liner at that time in the Pacific, which sailed from New York, through the Canal Zone to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Rokohama, Kobe, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila, Philippines, and then returned to New York. Mike left the service to attend to family matters upon the death of his mother, but his experience on the Hoover established Mike's great love for the sea, a love that he retained for the rest of his life.
It was in 1935 that he began an eleven-year broker operation for Ziffrin Truck Lines in Indianapolis. This was a leased-equipment shipping operation involving six large trucks, one of which he drove to Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, and other Midwestern points. While driving his truck one day, Mike stopped off at a restaurant for a bite to eat. He noticed an attractive young woman working at the restaurant, and began a romantic relationship (despite the fact that she said that his nose was "a little too big"). The woman was Laura Catherine "Katie" Allen, and on December 24, 1939, she became his beloved wife. Their romance continued for the next fifty years.
Mike's World War II service began in 1942 at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi, where he was a buck private for two months. While there he met Mr. F.J. McGinnis ("Mac"), Mr. L.R. Hobson Jr. ("Hob"), and Mr. A.A. Fowler, Sr. ("Al, Sr."). After the war, all of these men were to work together in the trucking business that Mike co-founded with Al, Sr. All four men were shipped to Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia for two weeks and then to Camp Anza in Richmond, California, just outside of Los Angeles. After three weeks there they boarded the U.S.S. Hermitage (Navy AP-54) and sailed for Endomesh, Hamadan, and Kermanshhah, Iran, in Spring of 1943. Mike spent his time in Iran as a corporal, hauling supplies over a 300-mile run through desert and mountains to Kazvin, Iran, at which point the Russians took over the shipments.
Al, Sr. served as dispatcher on the 24-hour operation, while Hob and Mac drove and worked in the motor pool. In the Spring of 1945, Al Sr. left for home. Mac and Hob stayed with one-third of one battalion for a while longer, and Mike, still a corporal, left for Marseilles to join the First Army under General Hodges hauling supplies up front to Leige, Belgium. In September 1945, Mike flew home in one of the Army's C-4 transports and began work in the trucking business again. Mike and Al, Sr. co-founded I.K.C. Motor Express (Indianapolis - Kansas City Motor Express) with Al Sr. running operations in Kansas City, Mo, and Mike running operations in Indianapolis, Indiana. I.K.C. began business in September of 1946 with two worn-out trucks and trailers, with the first run leaving Indianapolis for Kansas City on September 12. The operation began was one truck traveling each way, with the first Kansas City truckload headed east on September 15. Mike operated the Indianapolis terminal in rented space at the Central Union Transfer Company where he interlined (i.e. transferred shipments to other shipping firms) freight shipments. In Kansas City, Al, Sr. rented space at 11703 West 9th Street with Darling Transfer and Green Truck Lines and used leased operators until they could purchase additional equipment of their own.
Salesmen were hired in Kansas City, but in Indianapolis, Mike was the office/dock/loading force for months. By 1959, Mike and his wife Katie lived on four acres northwest of Zionsville (at 630 Bloor Lane with a lake out back), one block outside of then what was the city limits.
Katie grew roses while Mike supervised the entire Indianapolis operation, including a brand new terminal building capable of handling 12 million pounds of freight a week. With 80 employees, Mike ran the hub of I.K.C.'s system, daily scheduling 5 trucks inbound and outbound to Richmond, VA, 3 to Decatur, IL, 2 to Springfield, IL, and 8 to 10 to Kansas City as well as serving other points through the United States by way of interline connections and expediting through-trailer service between the east and west coasts in conjunction with Pacific Intermountain Express (P.I.E. - another shipping firm). Mike also supervised the truck maintenance and repair building adjacent to the Indianapolis shipping terminal, and preferred to have his office near his mechanics inside the maintenance building.
In 1965, Mike sold his interest in I.K.C. to Transcon Lines Inc. (of Los Angeles, California) and went into semi-retirement. For the next ten years, until 1975, he spent time working on a farm he bought northeast of Zionsville (in Hamilton County), and managed his many other investments.
In 1975, Mike and Katie moved to Key Colony Beach, Florida where they enjoyed living on the water. Mike went fishing nearly every day and they entertained regularly. In July 1981, Katie suffered a mini-stroke that left her partially disabled, and afterward her health slowly continued to deteriorate. Mike personally cared for Katie, and in March, 1988, they moved to a life-care retirement community in Naples, Florida. There, they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in December 1989. Less that six months later, Katie passed away on June 1, 1990. On Tuesday, August 16, 1994, Mike died peacefully at his home in Naples.
During his lifetime, Mike was a bartender, dish washer, waiter, truck driver, soldier, farmer, businessman, and millionaire. He was also a devoted husband, a kind and generous boss, a loving and supportive brother, and a constant inspiration to his many nieces and nephews. He was a strong man, when strength was required, and he was a gentle man, when a gentle touch was needed. He was a man who genuinely accepted people for who they were, and gave support/comfort/friendship to many people. It can be truly said that the world is a better place for Mike having lived. He left his mark for good, and his presence will be sorely missed by the many people whose lives he so deeply touched.
-- Obituary text from the handout at Mike Muston's memorial service, forwarded by his nephew, Kevin Rodgers.
Mr. Richard A. "Mike" Muston was born on his parents' farm one mile east of Zionsville, Indiana, on the tract at the northeast corner of US 421 & SR 334.
Educated in the public schools of Zionsville, Mike also attended the University of Cincinnati majoring in civil engineering. After leaving the university, Mike's experience includes 2 years' service in the Merchant Marines seeing the world, and 10 years of hotel work from 1925, at Mountain View House, Whitefield, New Hampshire, in the summer, and at the Soreno Grand Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida during winters. During this time, Mike filled in on every job from dishwasher to room clerk. He also was manager and owner for a time of a restaurant in Poughkeepsie, New York. After going broke, Mike worked for 3 years in a B&G sandwich shop for $7 a week in Los Angeles, California.
Mike's Merchant Marine service began in 1932 as a bartender (and bootlegger) on the S.S. President Hoover, the largest passenger liner at that time in the Pacific, which sailed from New York, through the Canal Zone to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Rokohama, Kobe, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila, Philippines, and then returned to New York. Mike left the service to attend to family matters upon the death of his mother, but his experience on the Hoover established Mike's great love for the sea, a love that he retained for the rest of his life.
It was in 1935 that he began an eleven-year broker operation for Ziffrin Truck Lines in Indianapolis. This was a leased-equipment shipping operation involving six large trucks, one of which he drove to Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, and other Midwestern points. While driving his truck one day, Mike stopped off at a restaurant for a bite to eat. He noticed an attractive young woman working at the restaurant, and began a romantic relationship (despite the fact that she said that his nose was "a little too big"). The woman was Laura Catherine "Katie" Allen, and on December 24, 1939, she became his beloved wife. Their romance continued for the next fifty years.
Mike's World War II service began in 1942 at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi, where he was a buck private for two months. While there he met Mr. F.J. McGinnis ("Mac"), Mr. L.R. Hobson Jr. ("Hob"), and Mr. A.A. Fowler, Sr. ("Al, Sr."). After the war, all of these men were to work together in the trucking business that Mike co-founded with Al, Sr. All four men were shipped to Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia for two weeks and then to Camp Anza in Richmond, California, just outside of Los Angeles. After three weeks there they boarded the U.S.S. Hermitage (Navy AP-54) and sailed for Endomesh, Hamadan, and Kermanshhah, Iran, in Spring of 1943. Mike spent his time in Iran as a corporal, hauling supplies over a 300-mile run through desert and mountains to Kazvin, Iran, at which point the Russians took over the shipments.
Al, Sr. served as dispatcher on the 24-hour operation, while Hob and Mac drove and worked in the motor pool. In the Spring of 1945, Al Sr. left for home. Mac and Hob stayed with one-third of one battalion for a while longer, and Mike, still a corporal, left for Marseilles to join the First Army under General Hodges hauling supplies up front to Leige, Belgium. In September 1945, Mike flew home in one of the Army's C-4 transports and began work in the trucking business again. Mike and Al, Sr. co-founded I.K.C. Motor Express (Indianapolis - Kansas City Motor Express) with Al Sr. running operations in Kansas City, Mo, and Mike running operations in Indianapolis, Indiana. I.K.C. began business in September of 1946 with two worn-out trucks and trailers, with the first run leaving Indianapolis for Kansas City on September 12. The operation began was one truck traveling each way, with the first Kansas City truckload headed east on September 15. Mike operated the Indianapolis terminal in rented space at the Central Union Transfer Company where he interlined (i.e. transferred shipments to other shipping firms) freight shipments. In Kansas City, Al, Sr. rented space at 11703 West 9th Street with Darling Transfer and Green Truck Lines and used leased operators until they could purchase additional equipment of their own.
Salesmen were hired in Kansas City, but in Indianapolis, Mike was the office/dock/loading force for months. By 1959, Mike and his wife Katie lived on four acres northwest of Zionsville (at 630 Bloor Lane with a lake out back), one block outside of then what was the city limits.
Katie grew roses while Mike supervised the entire Indianapolis operation, including a brand new terminal building capable of handling 12 million pounds of freight a week. With 80 employees, Mike ran the hub of I.K.C.'s system, daily scheduling 5 trucks inbound and outbound to Richmond, VA, 3 to Decatur, IL, 2 to Springfield, IL, and 8 to 10 to Kansas City as well as serving other points through the United States by way of interline connections and expediting through-trailer service between the east and west coasts in conjunction with Pacific Intermountain Express (P.I.E. - another shipping firm). Mike also supervised the truck maintenance and repair building adjacent to the Indianapolis shipping terminal, and preferred to have his office near his mechanics inside the maintenance building.
In 1965, Mike sold his interest in I.K.C. to Transcon Lines Inc. (of Los Angeles, California) and went into semi-retirement. For the next ten years, until 1975, he spent time working on a farm he bought northeast of Zionsville (in Hamilton County), and managed his many other investments.
In 1975, Mike and Katie moved to Key Colony Beach, Florida where they enjoyed living on the water. Mike went fishing nearly every day and they entertained regularly. In July 1981, Katie suffered a mini-stroke that left her partially disabled, and afterward her health slowly continued to deteriorate. Mike personally cared for Katie, and in March, 1988, they moved to a life-care retirement community in Naples, Florida. There, they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in December 1989. Less that six months later, Katie passed away on June 1, 1990. On Tuesday, August 16, 1994, Mike died peacefully at his home in Naples.
During his lifetime, Mike was a bartender, dish washer, waiter, truck driver, soldier, farmer, businessman, and millionaire. He was also a devoted husband, a kind and generous boss, a loving and supportive brother, and a constant inspiration to his many nieces and nephews. He was a strong man, when strength was required, and he was a gentle man, when a gentle touch was needed. He was a man who genuinely accepted people for who they were, and gave support/comfort/friendship to many people. It can be truly said that the world is a better place for Mike having lived. He left his mark for good, and his presence will be sorely missed by the many people whose lives he so deeply touched.
-- Obituary text from the handout at Mike Muston's memorial service, forwarded by his nephew, Kevin Rodgers.
Educated in the public schools of Zionsville, Mike also attended the University of Cincinnati majoring in civil engineering. After leaving the university, Mike's experience includes 2 years' service in the Merchant Marines seeing the world, and 10 years of hotel work from 1925, at Mountain View House, Whitefield, New Hampshire, in the summer, and at the Soreno Grand Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida during winters. During this time, Mike filled in on every job from dishwasher to room clerk. He also was manager and owner for a time of a restaurant in Poughkeepsie, New York. After going broke, Mike worked for 3 years in a B&G sandwich shop for $7 a week in Los Angeles, California.
Mike's Merchant Marine service began in 1932 as a bartender (and bootlegger) on the S.S. President Hoover, the largest passenger liner at that time in the Pacific, which sailed from New York, through the Canal Zone to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Rokohama, Kobe, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila, Philippines, and then returned to New York. Mike left the service to attend to family matters upon the death of his mother, but his experience on the Hoover established Mike's great love for the sea, a love that he retained for the rest of his life.
It was in 1935 that he began an eleven-year broker operation for Ziffrin Truck Lines in Indianapolis. This was a leased-equipment shipping operation involving six large trucks, one of which he drove to Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, and other Midwestern points. While driving his truck one day, Mike stopped off at a restaurant for a bite to eat. He noticed an attractive young woman working at the restaurant, and began a romantic relationship (despite the fact that she said that his nose was "a little too big"). The woman was Laura Catherine "Katie" Allen, and on December 24, 1939, she became his beloved wife. Their romance continued for the next fifty years.
Mike's World War II service began in 1942 at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi, where he was a buck private for two months. While there he met Mr. F.J. McGinnis ("Mac"), Mr. L.R. Hobson Jr. ("Hob"), and Mr. A.A. Fowler, Sr. ("Al, Sr."). After the war, all of these men were to work together in the trucking business that Mike co-founded with Al, Sr. All four men were shipped to Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia for two weeks and then to Camp Anza in Richmond, California, just outside of Los Angeles. After three weeks there they boarded the U.S.S. Hermitage (Navy AP-54) and sailed for Endomesh, Hamadan, and Kermanshhah, Iran, in Spring of 1943. Mike spent his time in Iran as a corporal, hauling supplies over a 300-mile run through desert and mountains to Kazvin, Iran, at which point the Russians took over the shipments.
Al, Sr. served as dispatcher on the 24-hour operation, while Hob and Mac drove and worked in the motor pool. In the Spring of 1945, Al Sr. left for home. Mac and Hob stayed with one-third of one battalion for a while longer, and Mike, still a corporal, left for Marseilles to join the First Army under General Hodges hauling supplies up front to Leige, Belgium. In September 1945, Mike flew home in one of the Army's C-4 transports and began work in the trucking business again. Mike and Al, Sr. co-founded I.K.C. Motor Express (Indianapolis - Kansas City Motor Express) with Al Sr. running operations in Kansas City, Mo, and Mike running operations in Indianapolis, Indiana. I.K.C. began business in September of 1946 with two worn-out trucks and trailers, with the first run leaving Indianapolis for Kansas City on September 12. The operation began was one truck traveling each way, with the first Kansas City truckload headed east on September 15. Mike operated the Indianapolis terminal in rented space at the Central Union Transfer Company where he interlined (i.e. transferred shipments to other shipping firms) freight shipments. In Kansas City, Al, Sr. rented space at 11703 West 9th Street with Darling Transfer and Green Truck Lines and used leased operators until they could purchase additional equipment of their own.
Salesmen were hired in Kansas City, but in Indianapolis, Mike was the office/dock/loading force for months. By 1959, Mike and his wife Katie lived on four acres northwest of Zionsville (at 630 Bloor Lane with a lake out back), one block outside of then what was the city limits.
Katie grew roses while Mike supervised the entire Indianapolis operation, including a brand new terminal building capable of handling 12 million pounds of freight a week. With 80 employees, Mike ran the hub of I.K.C.'s system, daily scheduling 5 trucks inbound and outbound to Richmond, VA, 3 to Decatur, IL, 2 to Springfield, IL, and 8 to 10 to Kansas City as well as serving other points through the United States by way of interline connections and expediting through-trailer service between the east and west coasts in conjunction with Pacific Intermountain Express (P.I.E. - another shipping firm). Mike also supervised the truck maintenance and repair building adjacent to the Indianapolis shipping terminal, and preferred to have his office near his mechanics inside the maintenance building.
In 1965, Mike sold his interest in I.K.C. to Transcon Lines Inc. (of Los Angeles, California) and went into semi-retirement. For the next ten years, until 1975, he spent time working on a farm he bought northeast of Zionsville (in Hamilton County), and managed his many other investments.
In 1975, Mike and Katie moved to Key Colony Beach, Florida where they enjoyed living on the water. Mike went fishing nearly every day and they entertained regularly. In July 1981, Katie suffered a mini-stroke that left her partially disabled, and afterward her health slowly continued to deteriorate. Mike personally cared for Katie, and in March, 1988, they moved to a life-care retirement community in Naples, Florida. There, they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in December 1989. Less that six months later, Katie passed away on June 1, 1990. On Tuesday, August 16, 1994, Mike died peacefully at his home in Naples.
During his lifetime, Mike was a bartender, dish washer, waiter, truck driver, soldier, farmer, businessman, and millionaire. He was also a devoted husband, a kind and generous boss, a loving and supportive brother, and a constant inspiration to his many nieces and nephews. He was a strong man, when strength was required, and he was a gentle man, when a gentle touch was needed. He was a man who genuinely accepted people for who they were, and gave support/comfort/friendship to many people. It can be truly said that the world is a better place for Mike having lived. He left his mark for good, and his presence will be sorely missed by the many people whose lives he so deeply touched.
-- Obituary text from the handout at Mike Muston's memorial service, forwarded by his nephew, Kevin Rodgers.
Inscription
Married Dec. 24, 1939
Family Members
Siblings
Half Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
