What do Beatles singer Ringo Starr and a red, rusty van sitting in the auto-tech building have in common? They both have a connection through automotive teacher Jeff Milam.

     Before the school year began, Milam delivered the worn down van to the Rouse auto shop. Once the year started, he asked his sixth and seventh period students if they would help fix it up. They excitedly agreed. 

     The owner of the van was a man named Ty. He was the neighbor of Milam for eight years, and he bought the ‘65 Ford Econoline when he was in California. 

     “Ty was in pretty poor health,” Milam said. “He always tinkered on the van a little bit at his house. I helped him out sometimes.”

     Milam’s neighbor passed away in July, and when his brothers came to organize the funeral and gather a few things, they stopped by to see him. 

     “They said they knew I worked on the van, and they asked me if I would be interested in taking it to school and getting it running again,” Milam said. “It needed a few things to be dependable again. Ty was from California, and he was a drummer for a small band, and his brothers wanted us to get the van running so they can take his ashes and drive the van from here to California, and spread his ashes in the ocean.” 

     So far, the auto-tech classes have put a new radiator and fuel tank in the van. They have  also replaced the tires and worked on the brakes, spending $1,000 on all of the parts. 

     “We haven’t heard it running yet,” Milam said. “I’m assuming the engine is in pretty good shape, but I don’t know that for sure. In the next couple of weeks, we’ll probably start it to see how well it runs.” 

     Although it’s going to be a slow process, Milam hopes the van will be completed by winter break. 

     “Crazy but true story, One night in California, I’m assuming it was the late 60’s, Ty was driving the van, and he saw a man on the side of the road. He decided to pull over and ask him if he needed some help, and the guy said his vehicle ran out of gas and needed a ride to a gas station. As they were driving down the road, Ty looked at him and said, ‘you look really familiar.’ And the man responded with, ‘Well, I’m Ringo Starr.’ Ty had him sign a pair of drumsticks to prove that it was a true event.”

     Ringo Starr was the drummer and sometimes sang lead vocals for the Beatles. Because he  rode in the van with Ty one night, that made the van even more interesting for Milam’s students who are working on it.

     My favorite thing about the van is the patina on it, and how perfect the paint has faded,” senior Devon Torres said. “I was basically born into the car scene, and grew up with all the old gearheads. I’m a sucker for those old Ford Econolines and Chevy vans.”