HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Most drivers try to avoid paying a parking ticket, if possible. But nearly 60 years after being cited, an Army veteran shows city leaders that you can't put a price on responsibility. Fifty-eight years ago, downtown Houston was a different place and Dale Crawford was in a hurry. He had a date with the Army.
"I couldn't tell you what meter I was on and parked along here somewhere and the induction center was down that way," said Crawford.
He parked his Nash sedan on Milam Street and shipped off to Alaska where he was an anti-aircraft gunner during the Korean War.
Four years later, he returned home and resumed his life. But in 1995, he found something in a box of mementos kept by his mother -- a parking ticket issued the day he was inducted.
"My dad, he got off from work at seven o'clock and he was to come down here and get it," said Crawford.
His dad was late picking up the car. The ticket was for $1 and it still nagged his conscience at times, so he contacted the city. It's the only time parking management can recall such a thing.
"He didn't have to do this and no one would have ever known. It's purely his honor to pay his debts," said Don Cagle with the city's Parking Management Department.
Today, that one dollar debt was paid.
"I am gonna pay the mayor in cold hard cash," Crawford said.
One U.S. dollar -- the same price on the ticket from 1953, with penalties and interest waived.
"What we call the Greatest Generation; his service to his country started here in Houston and his service to the city of Houston continues," said Mayor Annise Parker.
It's a lesson in responsibility and making good on debts -- something Dale Crawford learned from his parents and is passing down.
"I can still get a parking ticket, Crawford said.
When we asked him if he would get another parking ticket, he replied, "No, I might get a speeding ticket sometime."
That same ticket today costs $35 plus penalties and interest if not paid on time.
"I couldn't tell you what meter I was on and parked along here somewhere and the induction center was down that way," said Crawford.
He parked his Nash sedan on Milam Street and shipped off to Alaska where he was an anti-aircraft gunner during the Korean War.
Four years later, he returned home and resumed his life. But in 1995, he found something in a box of mementos kept by his mother -- a parking ticket issued the day he was inducted.
"My dad, he got off from work at seven o'clock and he was to come down here and get it," said Crawford.
His dad was late picking up the car. The ticket was for $1 and it still nagged his conscience at times, so he contacted the city. It's the only time parking management can recall such a thing.
"He didn't have to do this and no one would have ever known. It's purely his honor to pay his debts," said Don Cagle with the city's Parking Management Department.
Today, that one dollar debt was paid.
"I am gonna pay the mayor in cold hard cash," Crawford said.
One U.S. dollar -- the same price on the ticket from 1953, with penalties and interest waived.
"What we call the Greatest Generation; his service to his country started here in Houston and his service to the city of Houston continues," said Mayor Annise Parker.
It's a lesson in responsibility and making good on debts -- something Dale Crawford learned from his parents and is passing down.
"I can still get a parking ticket, Crawford said.
When we asked him if he would get another parking ticket, he replied, "No, I might get a speeding ticket sometime."
That same ticket today costs $35 plus penalties and interest if not paid on time.