THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 10, 1995 TAG: 9508100159
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: In the Hot Seat
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
From sunup to sundown, Richard Gayle sells watermelons from his bright green and red school bus in Chuckatuck.
During watermelon season, he can be found at the intersection of Route 10 and King's Highway.
He's been the ``watermelon man'' for the past 12 years.
But it's the sunup part that Gayle doesn't like.
``It's hot,'' he said emphatically. ``You don't stay cool around here. You're always doing something.''
That's why he decided to sell the melons, which he grows on his land in Suffolk and Isle of Wight County, from the school bus that includes a shady wood canopy. Last year, he was selling the melons on an open air trailer - not too good in 90 and 100 degree temperatures.
A former charter bus driver, Gayle has some sentiment for buses. He worked for Trailways for 18 years before he retired.
Retirement was a good move, he said, because he had a heart attack. His physician ordered him to lead a stress-free life.
What better way than to sell melons at the side of the road?
``I love to raise watermelons and I love to be out in the public selling them,'' he said with a broad grin. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Richard Gayle offers a slice of watermelon to Eugene Burker at his
school bus stand.
by CNB