I first met Steve Bell in the fall of 1970. I was a junior medical student at Southwestern Medical School rotating on the internal medicine ward at Parkland Memorial Hospital. I was the student on the case of a Mr. Wilson, a man who drove one-quarter-mile dragsters (nitro fuel) for a living. Mr. Wilson's car had disintegrated during a race at the International Drag Strip in Lewisville, Texas, off of Interstate 35. With fractures in the spine, pelvis, femurs, ribs, and upper arms, he was in a cast from his upper body to the bottom of both legs and both arms were in casts. Mr. Wilson had been on the orthopedic ward until he developed deep vein thromboses and pulmonary emboli, which had necessitated transfer to the medical service for anticoagulation. Regrettably, Mr. Wilson developed a pneumothorax and required a chest tube. As the lowest man on the team, I was left during noon conference to meet the thoracic surgery fellow who was coming to place the chest tube for Mr. Wilson. I was sitting with Mr. Wilson when Steve Bell came into the room. We made acquaintance and then Dr. Bell asked me, “Do you know how to place a chest tube?” I said, “No, I am just ajunior medical student.” Dr. Bell's reply: “Well, you're going to become a doctor, so you need to know how to place a chest tube.” We made a list of the equipment we needed and we assembled the equipment. Then I was given a detailed lecture on how to place anterior and posterior chest tubes. Under Dr. Bell's watchful eye, I placed my first chest tube anteriorly on the left. A chest x-ray was performed to confirm proper placement. When the team returned from conference, all was well with Mr. Wilson. The resident in charge took a big gulp when Mr. Wilson told him that the student had placed the chest tube. Amazingly, Mr. Wilson left the hospital some weeks later. I never did see or hear of him driving dragsters after that. In the 37 years since, I have placed three chest tubes during emergencies. It is remarkable how I remember the equipment list and the techniques given me that fall day in 1970.