Fearless: The Story of Farris Lind, the Man Behind the Skunk

by Rick Just

Farris Lind was a fighter pilot, a crop duster, and in his later life, a victim of polio. He had a natural gift for promotion and an ability to turn a bad situation into something positive.

"Fearless Farris," as he was known, built a thriving chain of gasoline stations by poking fun at himself and Idaho's long, monotonous stretches of desert by creating humorous roadside advertising in the tradition of Burma Shave signs. "Tourists--Do Not Laugh at the Natives" admonished one of the signs. "Petrified Watermelons--Take One Home to Your Mother-In-Law" suggested another planted in a field of melon-sized boulders.

The reverse side of those signs advertised the next Stinker Station a few miles ahead. They were called Stinker Stations because a major brand gasoline dealer had once called Lind "a real stinker" because of his low prices. It took Fearless Farris about a second to latch onto that nickname and make a skunk his company mascot and logo.

Halfway through his career, Lind contracted polio. He spent much of his time in an iron long for the next 20 years. Paralyzed from the neck down he was always hooked up to a respirator. Even so, he continued to operate his Stinker Stations and grow his business, mostly from his bed. He was honored as the Handicapped American of the Year in 1973. But his favorite recognition was when the Idaho Statesman ran a headline stating that he was the largest petroleum dealer in Idaho.

Rick Just has written a new book about Lind called, Fearless. It tells how he went from being a dirt-poor teenager in the Depression to a multimillionaire, always keeping his sense of humor through tragedy and triumph.

123 pages, Paperback

Published April 6, 2019

About the author

I'm an Idaho author whose newest book, Coyote Moon, is a historical novel set against the little-known Morrisite War, following a shoemaker's daughter's journey through immigrant poverty, a breakaway Mormon sect, and the rough-edged world of Idaho, Utah, and Montana Territories. It draws on the same deep well of Idaho and Mountain West history that has run through my writing for years.

I am a native Idahoan who grew up on a ranch along the Blackfoot River. I am a former Marine, a whitewater kayaker, a sculptor, a sports car buff and the alpha male of my mutt pack.
As a student, I served as editor of Boise State University's nationally acclaimed literary magazine, cold-drill. My undergraduate degree from BSU is in English/Communication. I also have a Masters of Public Administration from Boise State.
During Idaho's Centennial, I wrote and produced the official Centennial radio series, "Idaho Snapshots," which aired daily on stations statewide. The program won the Governor's Take Pride in Idaho award and was honored in the national Take Pride in America program. My book of the same name contains about half the programs from the radio series.

My young adult books, Wizard Chase , Wizard Girl and Wizards' End are one, two and three of the Wizards Trilogy. My adult novel Keeping Private Idaho takes a wry look at the xenophobia that occasionally pops up in the Gem State. I was the editor of "100 Years, Idaho and its Parks," the centennial history of Idaho's state parks system.

I am the past president of the Presto Preservation Association and the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals. I have served on the boards of the Learning Lab and ANSER Charter School and am a member of the Idaho Writers Guild.

Reviews

[Bonnie Schroeder]

A humorous biography of “Fearless” Farris Lind, who established the line of cut-rate “Stinker” gas stations. Lind was a brave, hard-working soul and a shrewd businessman who parlayed one gas station into a broad network of stations in Idaho, Utah, and Oregon. His courage and inspiring refusal to let a grave misfortune keep him down are well portrayed. One thing I appreciated about Rick Just’s style is the linear progression of the narrative. Too many biographers insist on jumping all over the place in time, and inserting lengthy digressions about minor characters that divert the storyline and muddy the waters. Just’s clear, direct prose made this book an informative joy to read.

[Holly]

This was an excellent summary of the life of Ferris Lind. Rick Just also went into a little bit of Idaho history. He ended up with a list of all of the signs and creativity that he possessed in Lind's short 67 years of life. It was fascinating and informative.

[Stacey Smekofske]

Absolutely loved the humor and history from this author. It's a fun look back at someone who shaped highway humor and business not only in Idaho but in the post war U.S.A.
Seriously a great read!