Postcard from the Past: An Empty Chair at the Coffee Club

By: Dick Perue

This week’s Postcard is a tribute to a lifelong friend and member of the Saratoga coffee group. Although a personal tribute, I’ll bet every Wyoming town has the same character who can be found having coffee at the best place in town.

There’s an empty chair at the “Old Geezers Coffee Klatch” that will never be filled again. 

For nearly 50 years, this chair has been occupied by Teense Willford who last week went on to his reward to pick and sing, tell tales, entertain, harass, drink “sissy” decaf coffee with hundreds of his friends and “dispense valuable bits of information” since folks at this coffee table didn’t spread “gossip” as other coffee groups have been known to do.

Teense’s death, following a year-long battle with cancer and other health problems, has drawn national attention and is being well documented through all types of media and online, as well as by his thousands of friends and admirers.

Everyone is urged to read the newspapers, listen to the radio and call it up online to fully appreciate the many contributions he has made to the Upper North Platte River Valley, the state of Wyoming and to the nation.

The statewide and national attention is well deserved.

However, Teense is best remembered in his hometown of Saratoga and the surrounding area through his antics during coffee at the Saratoga Inn every day – except weekends and Christmas – plus his devotion to the Saratoga Presbyterian Church and love of his community, state and country.

During the coming weeks, those of us who knew him best at the “Old Farts Coffee Club” plan to keep his image alive as we spread valuable bits of important information concerning our friend Teense. We plan to keep his legend alive and hope each of you will too.