We went in to see Blondie.  He was in the Kitchen cooking.  Blondie owned Memo's Mexcian Restaurant in Del Rio, Texas.  He also made the Salsa that was sold under the Ray Price name.   
Ray was sitting there and invited us to set down.  We joined him at the table and were "shooting the bull"   Ray asked, "Where are you from Pete?"  I told him that I was from Windom, MN.  He asked, "What's become of Dave Dudley?  He was  from up that way.  I used to be on a lot of shows with Dave but I haven't seen him in years."  I told him I heard that Dave lived near Danbury, WI.  We left and went on our way. 

About a month or two I was in Arizona.  I stopped by the East Mesa Moose near Baseline and Ellsworth Rd in Mesa,  there on the other side of the bar sat Dave Dudley.  I nodded to him and he said "Hello".  I said,  "Ray Price  just asked me about you."  Dave asked where I had seen him.  I told him in Branson.  He invited me to sit with him.  We talked about entertaining, Branson, and people that we both knew.    

We used to see Dave and Mari from time to time at Europe At Night, Joe-Jo's,  and the Moose.  One day Dave invited me to go with him to Black Canyon City for a show with his band from Europe.  I went a long and opened the show for him.  Dave stopped by Joe Jos one night while I was entertaining.  I took my wireless microphone to him.  I said, "Dave, I'm going to play Six Day On The Road, when I start, will you come in singing.  He said, "You bet."  Will I started the song, "I pulled out of Pittsburg headed down that eastern seaboard."  Dave walked in singing the second line.  We went back and forth taking turns.  I was lucky enough to have it on tape.  I later gave Dave a copy.   

One day Dave saw me and I had the Jacket on that is in the picture.  He asked where I got it.  I told him that I put the studs on it.  He asked if I would make one for him. I told him I'd be happy to do that.  He had some coins from different countries that he had toured in while in Europe over the years.   I put them on, along with brass studs and turquoise stone.  Dave wore the jacket when he accepted his selection to the European Country Music Hall of Fame, for his promotional pictures and on his CD Covers.  I guess he was proud of it.   

On December 22, 2003 Dave died while trying to get his truck out of a snowbank in Danbury.  It was a great loss for me and for country music fans everywhere.  About two weeks later Marie, Dave's wife called Nadia to talk to her.  She said, "Tell Pete I buried Dave in his jacket."   I was honored that they thought that much of me.   Dave is a true American Legend who belongs in the Country Music Hall Of Fame.