Chicago Show Celebrities... (1 Viewer)

[mikemiller1955]

I really appreciate this thread. Thanks for doing it!

my pleasure Bradley...

Great idea for a thread Michael :salute::

All the best

Martyn

thanks Martyn...

it might take me a while...

but I'm getting to Colonel Sammy Floca...

he mentioned your name at least 6 times and referred to you as his "Trophy mentor"...^&grin...

he holds you in high esteem...

Pat Wade told me to tease him with the moniker "Mighty Sammy"...

Sammy just smiled and laughed at that when I did...

 

[mikemiller1955]

I've been outed! {eek3}

Great seeing Mike again (we met years ago at Hackensack).

Brad...

you need some exposure...

it's not like I put your face on a milk carton...^&grin...

you help a lot of people on the forum...

your a good looking guy...we can show you off a little...^&grin

 

[zblang]

I had a great time! Met a ton of new friends, saw some old ones and finally put faces (and real names ) to others! If you haven't socialized with the master, mike Miller, you are really missing out! So glad we finally got to meet in person. Now to find a time to hit the links together!

 

[mikemiller1955]

I had a great time! Met a ton of new friends, saw some old ones and finally put faces (and real names ) to others! If you haven't socialized with the master, mike Miller, you are really missing out! So glad we finally got to meet in person. Now to find a time to hit the links together!

Zach...

if I ever have a personal injury lawsuit...

I'm calling you...

you gotta be good in court...

anybody with as many vices as you have seems pretty well versed to me...^&grin...

between golf...collecting wine...collecting toy soldiers...fantasy football...and smoking...

you're my guy...^&grin...

truly enjoyed meeting and chatting with you...

you are a kick in the butt for sure...

 

[mikemiller1955]

I hung out with this group a lot...

Tyler is Nick's new guy...sharp kid and an asset to Crown...

Pat...(wadepat on the forum)...can't describe what a nice guy he is...very engaging...

Nicholas Cameron...aka Nick...(Scarlet Pimpernel on the forum)...that's my boy...he lives and breathes toy soldiers 7 days a week...

Konrad...(Kogu on the forum)...Konrad is cool...old school cool...really enjoyed his company...

Paul Herman...is a blast...that man has a ton of energy and is a hoot to talk with...

Zach...(zblang on the forum)...was totally impressed with him...so down to earth...

John...(Leadman on the forum)...really nice guy...he has great stories...

 

[Andanna]

I am sorry - but I apparently missed you at the show. In the past, we at least had a Treefrog pin indicating it was "safe" to introduce yourself. A name tag with the FT sign might be a step-up.

I normally ask for fire if I meet someone that I want to be friendly with - but smoking was prohibited in the hotel. :rolleyes2:

 

[mikemiller1955]

Ted Deddens...

Ted is the owner of TedToy Miniatures...

I see him every year at the Texas Toy Soldier Show...

very engaging...very hard working...

usually he brings someone to help him...

but I think he was alone this year...

 

[mikemiller1955]

Tim Tyler...

Tim is owner of Troops of Time...

a gentleman's gentleman...

this is the first time I have met him...

he had graciously helped me try to buy a large scale K&C Alamo collection in the past...

it never came to fruition...

but he made a huge effort on my behalf...

 

[mikemiller1955]

Matt Murphy...

Matt is the owner of Hobby Bunker...

he's located in a huge room on the first floor level...

ton's of product...

Matts a staple of this show and has a great display...

 

[jazzeum]

it might take me a while...

but I'm getting to Colonel Sammy Floca...

he mentioned your name at least 6 times and referred to you as his "Trophy mentor"...^&grin...

he holds you in high esteem...

Pat Wade told me to tease him with the moniker "Mighty Sammy"...

Sammy just smiled and laughed at that when I did...

Tim Tyler...

Tim is owner of Troops of Time...

a gentleman's gentleman...

this is the first time I have met him...

he had graciously helped me try to buy a large scale K&C Alamo collection in the past...

it never came to fruition...

but he made a huge effort on my behalf...

Sam and Tim are two of the great guys in this hobby.

I've had the opportunity to talk to Sam a lot lately because I've been acting as intermediary for sets he's buying of the late Lawrence Lo collection.

Tim is one of the sweetest guys around. I only see him once a year at Chicago but he'd give you the shirt off his back.

Just great men.

 

[ucla1967]

Thanks Mike. What a great idea. Although there were many familiar faces, there were also some that I had not met before and only knew by name.

Mike

 

[mikemiller1955]

Sam and Tim are two of the great guys in this hobby.

I've had the opportunity to talk to Sam a lot lately because I've been acting as intermediary for sets he's buying of the late Lawrence Lo collection.

Tim is one of the sweetest guys around. I only see him once a year at Chicago but he'd give you the shirt off his back.

Just great men.

perfectly said about Tim...

Colonel Sam looks like he could put on his uniform and step right up if he had to...

 

[mikemiller1955]

Colonel Sammy Floca...

"Mighty Sammy"...as Pat wade told me to call him...

Sammy puts me in the mind of someone that was born to lead...

perfect mixture of an authoritative figure with a genuinely friendly like able personality...

I could imagine a lot of loyalty and respect from the troops he commanded...

in the past...we had spoken a few times on the phone about insuring collections...

and I had very briefly met him in San Antonio...
but this is the first chance I have had to sit and chat with him...

fascinating guy...

Sammy lives in Texas...
sort of close to me...
and he drives to Chicago...
that's a long drive...
so I'm thinking he is still ready for active duty if needed...^&grin

you can view his gallery pictures on the Treefrog forum gellery section...

he doesn't post much...

but he is an active collector...
he's a Trophy man...

that is Mike Fink in the picture with him...
I believe he was under Sam's command in some capacity...
he offered some some genuine respect throughout the conversation to Sammy...

 

[kogu]

Hi Mike,

great idea for a thread.
It was a real pleasure meeting you.
Could have easily spent a few more hours chatting with you and sipping on a few more drinks ^&grin

Cheers!

Konrad

 

[mikemiller1955]

George Guerriero and Larry Allen...

two of my most favorite guys at the show...

George is the owner of Minutemen Toy Soldiers in Massachusetts...

Larry Allen is his indentured slave...^&grin

we ate steaks the first night there...shut the bar down Friday night...

when they closed the bar George was "jonesing" so bad for another drink...
that he smoked a cigarette to get a head buzz...^&grin

they make a great team...

George is a staple of a large circuit of toy soldier shows...

always great displays and great service...

he is a friggin riot...100% cynical of everything and everyone he meets...but "Boston charismatic" to the bone...

Larry was a pleasure to meet...he does meticulous diorama work...

if you missed his "wigwam thread" on here...you should really look it up...

great guys...a lot of fun!!!

 

[jazzeum]

Sammy has indicated that he's had trouble accessing the Forum, which is why he probably doesn't post much. I will call him this week to see if I can help.

He is a Vietnam Vet and an authority on Gettysburg.

He does command respect from the people he served with. Sammy introduced me to Mike Fink and his daughter yesterday at the Show and Sam told me that when he had cancer a few years ago, Mike sent out the alarm to those who had served with him.

Sammy is a guy you would do anything for.

I love the end of his phone message, "and may god protect us from the enemy and our government."

He's probably driving back as we speak.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Hi Mike,

great idea for a thread.
It was a real pleasure meeting you.
Could have easily spent a few more hours chatting with you and sipping on a few more drinks ^&grin

Cheers!

Konrad

Konrad...thanks...it was my pleasure....I wish we had more time to chat...loved all your stories...and the booze didn't hurt...I bet the bar will be re-ordering Dewars this week...

 

[mikemiller1955]

Sammy has indicated that he's had trouble accessing the Forum, which is why he probably doesn't post much. I will call him this week to see if I can help.

He is a Vietnam Vet and an authority on Gettysburg.

He does command respect from the people he served with. Sammy introduced me to Mike Fink and his daughter yesterday at the Show and Sam told me that when he had cancer a few years ago, Mike sent out the alarm to those who had served with him.

Sammy is a guy you would do anything for.

I love the end of his phone message, "and may god protect us from the enemy and our government."

He's probably driving back as we speak.

pretty fascinating guy Brad...

he just oozes leadership...

you don't get to the rank of Colonel doing nothing...

do you know his "handle" on the forum?

 

[jazzeum]

Mike,

I don't what his handle is. I know that he was able to see Lawrence Lo's photo albums so he could tell me what sets he wanted but then he said he had trouble after that.

Brad

 

[mikemiller1955]

another pic of George and Larry...

Gary...(gk5717 on the forum)...is in the center...

Gary is a retired cop...

he posts frequently on here...

we seem to be like minded in thinking on some political and media events...

so I like him...^&grin...

Larry may be asleep with his eyes open...^&grin...

George has his money on his mind and his mind on his money...

I think Gary dropped some good cash in his room...

so George has a big smile on his face...