Kansas Man, Gean Brown Jr., Receives Lost Wallet After 35 Years

When Gean Brown Jr. misplaced his wallet while installing pipes in the attic of a Kansas home around 1976-77, he thought it was gone forever.

But more than 35 years later, Brown's wallet has been returned to him, KCTV5.com reports.

Shawn Wyckoff, the current resident of the house, found it while working on an antenna. He called all the numbers in the wallet but they were either disconnected or dead. A quick Internet search helped him find Brown's correct phone number.

"This guy 36 years later he goes up there and looks down -- there it is. Bang. Out in the open," Brown told the news source. "And he was decent enough to look me up and find it. He could have pitched it. I don't know this guy. (But he) gives it back."

In the wallet were Brown's original draft card, a picture of his sweetheart (who is now his wife), and photographs of his service in the Navy. Brown told KCTV5.com that although he can't offer a monetary award to Wyckoff, he'd like to take him out to dinner.

"He's a decent human being," Brown said.

Comments

[freedomfighter30]

05:21 AM on 03/05/2012

I recall my late aunt grabbing a grocery cart outside a local supermarket and found a woman's purse containing cash upwards of $5,000. Found out later it was earmarked for her husband's funeral expenses.

[Cecilia Rivera]

04:07 AM on 03/05/2012

A Nice Story, we need a few more nice stories.

[westnova]

06:39 AM on 03/05/2012

I had a similar thing happen to me. In 1962 on my way to my permanent air base I took off my class ring in the Chicago Ohare airport rest poom to wash my hands and the towels were right by the door. I went back ot to the waiting area when I realizes that I had left my ring. Thought I had lost it for good. I got an e-mail in 2004 from my Kewaskum High School that someone in Phoenix wanted to know if someone with my initials had an e-mail address. He sent me my ring back and I also wanted to go to Phoenix and treat him and his other to dinner but all he said was"don't lose it again, you don't have enough time left to get it back again".

[Cecilia Rivera]

04:18 AM on 03/08/2012

Thanks for that . I need to keep hearing the good stuff we as humans and Americans do for each other. It's very uplifting.

[Wapitibowhunters]

03:52 AM on 03/05/2012

I found a woman's billfold at the bus station in B'Ham Alabama some years back. I belonged to a black lady and had $800 in it. My wife found this frantic lady and returned it to her. That was a good day for everyone.

[vinny5717]

03:41 AM on 03/05/2012

right on brother.... it is too bad that now a days we have to say thanks for being a decent human being and for doing the right thing. but I will say thanks anyhow... thanks for being a good person.

[Phillip Jp Perkins]

03:36 AM on 03/05/2012

Shawn Wyckoff ,you've made my day.This is how most people used to be in this country,thanks for reminding us!

[anitafeeney]

02:42 AM on 03/05/2012

its so nice to see hear and read a story about an honest man once in a while

[snoogans460]

02:27 AM on 03/05/2012

Back in the mid-to-late '90's I was working at an Amoco Gas Station, when a guy walked into the store and handed me a wallet - which, he apparently found lying on the ground outside.

Upon my amazement, there was over a thousand bucks CASH MONEY in this wallet, with the person's identification, credit cards, and you name it.

Needless to say (especially at a young age), "temptation" was a very difficult struggle. However, I knew deep down that it was important to return these items to its rightful owner.

After all, if I ever misplaced my belongings, I sure hope someone else would do the same. Besides, there's ABSOLUTELY no way I would've been able to enjoy anything purchased with that dough.

Anyhow, the guy who lost the wallet was ecstatic and everything worked-out for the best. Sadly, I'm guessing "most" people would've probably kept that money and merely tossed the wallet in the trash.

Even to this day, I'm convinced this was a TEST from God.

[barteldt]

02:22 AM on 03/05/2012

this is news why

[Barbara Ridgway Roth]

02:24 AM on 03/05/2012

To reassure us that there are still human beings out there in the world!

[Barbara Ridgway Roth]

02:22 AM on 03/05/2012

In my front yard, I saw a car driving by and something fell off of the roof. When I went out to the road, I realized it was a wallet. I checked inside and all of the ID was from out of state. There was approximately 400 dollars as well. I tried all the credit card companies and they were no help. Without personal information, they refused to contact the owner and tell him that his wallet was missing. Thumbing through the secret compartments (which I felt I was violating someone's personal trust lol) I found some phone numbers. After a few calls, I found out this person was visiting relatives in the area and was on his way back home several states away. I contacted the relatives so they could contact him right away. They tried to give me a reward but I didn't think it was right. I told them I would do that for anyone and in return, hope that someone would do that for me.

[My Comment]

02:03 AM on 03/05/2012

I still remember this...

I worked at a Christian Store

And I used to tell customers God bless sweetheart or thank you sweetheart.
Then the manager comes to me and says don't call them sweetheart some people may offended by it...

So, the next customer walks back in after I took care of her and she says:

Oh, I'm sorry you gave me an additional $1.

And I went... Awwww thank you, your such a... (My manager looks at me) Christian!
I was trying to cover the sweetheart and I have no idea what came over me and said Christian.

The customer said: I hope so...

We all look at eachother and couldn't stop laughin... I was soooo red!!!

My manager and co-workers said: We can't belive you said that!!

I still remember and makes me laugh and wanted to share it with you!
____________________________________________________________

Awww thank you, you're such a... Christian!!!! LOL

[cliffontheroad]

02:39 AM on 03/05/2012

Thank you for sharing your story. May I, on the other side of the coin, relay when my 85 yo Mom was helping a church sale in FL? $1 for a bag of clothes, but only clothers. A "holy roller" had hidden shoes and jewelry in the bag and said "That's not very Christian of you" when Mom removed the items.

[My Comment]

03:26 AM on 03/05/2012

Wow that was weird!

Hugs!

[wwhatever747]

01:42 AM on 03/05/2012

Amazing news. Best wishes. If I found a wallet that belonged a CEO, the wallet would have been shredded and shared upon the CEO's company's laid off employees.

[Jenny Lyn Young]

01:30 AM on 03/05/2012

When cashiers give us more change that is what is owed to us, we always give the money back. It is the right thing to do.

[pslcitizen]

12:50 AM on 03/05/2012

Crazy huh? Retrace your steps & your likely to find your lost stuff..lol.

[Carpenter Aunt]

01:27 AM on 03/05/2012

Stop trying to push this nonsense on here. It has nothing to do with the story, and nobody believes in this hogwash.

[hammfam1]

12:18 AM on 03/05/2012

When I was a kid about 1982 or 83 I found a wallet at Belle Isle in Detroit, we were there for the thunder boat races and there were a lot of people. I took the money, $35 dollars, and gave the wallet to a cop, and told him that was how I found it. To this day I wish I could change that, but I cant. I feel honesty is the best policy now and encourage my children the same.