I did not know Ernie well, but knew of him for nearly 33 years. We crossed paths once around 1990, at the then new Columbia Bridge crossing point. We were each travelling south with a caving friend to go caving. I was headed to "Las Grutas del Precipicio," and he was heading deep into Mexico. We would have probably chatted for a while, but he already had his crossing papers, and we did not.
In my brief but frequent visits to caving gatherings, Ernie always greeted me with a smile. I closely followed his announcements of a tiny hole opening up just 100 meters in front of his front door on Billie Street. Once that became a cave-dig, I was sort-of invited to help dig. Ernie let me camp on his property, twice I think. He offered to let me stay in his tiny old trailer. I think he may have even possibly subtly mentioned renting it to me. And in my haste of leaving the cave-dig in my tiny Honda Fit, some of my stuff ended up in his rustic storage shed. For several years, he would greet me and say, "your stuff is still in my shed." He offered to bring it to me at caving gatherings, but I did not make it. One thing that I recall about Ernie was that not only did he only use a compost-toilet, but that this toilet was inside his house. He was a remarkable minimalist and conservationist, but I will let one of you elaborate on that. On my last futile effort to help dig in the cave entrance near his house, he walked over to the cave and he subtly indicated to me that it was time to stop digging. I had about an hour-window to dig some more, and I knew I would probably never get a chance to dig again in a cave, so I followed him back to his house and he let me use his shower before driving back to Houston. I assume Ernie played a major role in that cave-dig, but someone else will have to tell that story. Around 2011, GHG hosted an NSS B.O.G. Ernie was instrumental in helping that, driving all the way from Austin. He also slept in the back of his truck 2 nights in the Houston heat and humidity. I think I recall him coming to Houston for Mr. Tuttle's presentation and for Mr. Nicola's presention. Somewhere in Ernie's photos is a hopefully a group photo for 1993 TCR of about 15 Aggie Cavers who were posing to commemorate 20th Anniversary. I would be in the photo, along with several 1993 Aggies, and several from the 1970s, maybe Alan Montemayor and John Brooks and Alicia and John Gale ?? David Locklear NSS # 27639
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