When I was about three years old, living in New York City, a tow truck
driver named Dietz lived under my bed. He was about a foot and a
half tall, wore blue overalls and a red baseball hat, and smoked
a cigar. We played together from morning until night, except when
he had to leave to help a stranded motorist.
When I was four, my family left New York, and at the time I thought we left America behind as well, to settle in New Jersey. One thing is for sure, we left Dietz behind and we went our separate ways. From New Jersey, we moved to Connecticut. I went to college, moved to New Hampshire, started work and got married. A few years later, I moved to California, got a Ph.D., settled down in a real job in suburbia and raised two beautiful daughters with a wonderful and loving wife. I completely lost track of Dietz, although every once in a while, I thought I detected the faint odor of his cigar.
A few years back, I planned to take a flight out of Orange County Airport when the flight was cancelled due to mechanical problems. They put me on a shuttle bus on an terrible stormy day to catch a flight from Ontario Airport. As we approached the airport, I saw a sign through the gloom that read "Dietz Towing." I was thrilled to see my old friend had also moved to California. I resisted the temptation to miss the flight and catch up on old times.
After I returned I always planned to stop in on Dietz, but never found the time. I was always too busy with my work as chairman of a large academic department. A few times I had to drive by Ontario and I always secretly hoped my car would break down so Dietz could come to my aid. Once I drove by with the gas tank precariously near empty.
After five years, I decided to step down as chairman so I could have more time to pursue my research interests and spend time with my family and friends. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to catch up with Dietz. One Sunday morning, Father's Day in fact, I talked my wife into going out to Ontario with me to see what had become of Dietz.
Dietz Towing becomes a designated police towing service in Ontario, Jan 21, 1997.
Dietz Towing listing in Ontario Chamber of Commerce
USGS Aerial Photograph, June 1994
