Archive for the “Newsletter” Category

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Volume 4, Issue No. 10                       October,  2006

OCTOBER – SUNSHINE, LEAVES, FLYING TARGETS AND  GUNSMOKE

If you missed the October shoot, and a lot of folks did, then you missed a good one. It was a little chilly at registration, but the sun came out and the brilliant fall foliage (that’s leaves for guys like Festus and Too Tall) and the shooting scenarios that ol’ T-Bone wrote were great. 41 shooters shot stationary targets, a couple of flying birds and a real nifty flying witch that Horseshoe John provided. (The flying witch was a large, round target that slid on a suspended cable across the range.)  And then there were pumpkins: you can’t have Halloween without pumpkins.  The pumpkins were 2 small orange, round metal circles that were placed way out yonder for shooters to try for bonus points.

The Ocoee Ranger, October 2006

Dagnabit Deb & Keystone with the flying witch.

The Top Gun was Ocoee Red, back to his shooting form. The Top Cowgirl Shooter was Last Kiss.  The Top 10 Shooters were: (1) Ocoee Red (2) Unpleasant (3) Marshal Too Tall (4) Festus D. Deputy (5) Dustin Clays (6) T-Bone Angus (7) Pleasant (8) Widowmaker (9) Pyro (10) Dajango Slim. This is the first time that we’ve had 3 of the Top 10 Shooters from the same family: Pleasant (the old guy) and sons Unpleasant and Pyro.  2 shooters shot matches with no misses:  Ocoee Red and Deadman.  In the Buffalo Shoot, Outrider and Marshal Too Tall tied for 1st place in the .22 cal. class and Marshal Too Tall placed 1st in the Long Range Rifle shoot, after a shoot-off with Fast Harley.  Marshal Too Tall also placed 1st in the Long Range Pistol Shoot.

The Ocoee Ranger, October 2006

The ghost (Dustin Clays) and the flying witch.  When Dustin Clays, and his counterparts, dropped the rope, the witch flew across the range.

The Ocoee Ranger, October 2006

Above L- R: The Black Hat Gang – Tennessee Jake, Rev. Adam Jones, Mesquite Millie, Horseshoe John & Conejos Bob.

October’s Wranglers were Slater, Long Gulch, Dagnabit Deb, Keystone, Wildcat Wilkey and Tin Pot.   Wranglers are cowboys & cowgirls who put forth extra effort in helping conduct the shoot.

SHOOT RESULTS

TOP GUN – Ocoee Red … TOP COWGIRL – Last Kiss … BUFFALO SHOOT – Long Range Rifle – Marshal Too Tall … Long Range Pistol – Marshal Too Tall … .22 Cal – Outrider & Marshal Too Tall

49er

1. Ocoee Red

2. Marshal Too Tall

3. Tennessee Mongo

Gunfighter

1. Pleasant            

2. Widowmaker

3. Pyro

Senior

1. Outrider

2. Wildcat Wilkey

3. Tin Pot

Traditional

1. Unpleasant

2. Festus D. Deputy

3. Dustin Clays

Cowgirl

1. Last Kiss

Duelist

1. Tucson Tuco

2. Horseshoe John

Classic 1. Long Gulch       

The Ocoee Ranger, October 2006

Ruckus Roy defends the bank from bank robbers.

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The Ocoee Ranger, page 2                            October, 2006

THE REEL WEST – JOHNNY MACK BROWN  (1904 – 1974)

The Ocoee Ranger, October 2006

Johnny Mack Brown was a 1930’s -‘50’s movie cowboy.  But he wasn’t born in the West. Nope.  Old Johnny was born in Dothan, Alabama.  He did what most southern boys at the time did: he hunted, fished and played ball.  After high school, Johnny enrolled at the University of Alabama, where he played football.  And he was a really good football player. He was an All-American running back, and in the 1926 Rose Bowl, he scored 2 of the 3 touchdowns that Alabama scored in their winning performance.

In 1927, Johnny went to Hollywood and became a silent movie actor.  On screen, he appeared with Mary Pickford, Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford, among others. (Barn Scoop is saying, “Who were all those old ladies?”) Then in 1930, he became important, at least to SASS cowfolk.  He was chosen to star as Billy the Kid in the MGM movie, BILLY THE KID.

But sound era movies gave Johnny, like a lot of other movie folks, a lot of trouble. You see, he was a southerner, and like a lot of us southerners, he had what other folks considered an accent, a southern drawl.  Of course we know that where Johnny was concerned that’s rubbish. He talked normal: it was all them other folks who talked funny. So, Johnny left the ranks of front line actors and became a silver screen cowboy.  And it wasn’t that hard for him to do.  He was in good physical shape.  And he played polo on weekends.  So he was comfortable on a horse.  He teamed up with a palomino, buckled on a stag handled Colt and buscadero gun rig and became a movie cowboy hero.

During his career, Johnny appeared in over 140 Western movies.  In the early ‘50’s, he found a new audience. TV was moving into homes on little boxes that showed old movies that were available.  Little fellers like yours truly, and probably a lot of other Ocoee Rangers, sat in the dark in homes all across the US and watched him fight the bad guys, as we ate hamburgers and potato chips and drank Royal Crown Cola.  Johnny continued working in small parts in movies and on TV.  He joined the posse in the sky on November 14, 1974.

THE WEST of our imagination –

Yankee Dutchman

The Ocoee Ranger, October 2006

Yankee Dutchman started cowboy shooting last fall.  As he tells it, “I’ve been cowboy shooting about a year and a month.” Of course, he said that a month ago. He heard about Ocoee Rangers cowboy shooting from people at work, non-shooting people.  Who told him? Well, it was the wives of some of the cowboys who shoot as Ocoee Rangers.  They told him about their husbands’ experiences.  Then he met the husbands.  And here he is.

What does he shoot?  .45’s.  “No little guns for me.”  Now that’s spoken like a real cowboy. Ain’t that right, Horseshoe John?

How’d he get his alias?  Here’s how he tells it:  “I come from New Jersey. (We won’t hold that against him.) So, I’m a displaced Yankee.  The people on my father’s side are all Dutch. So, I became Yankee Dutchman.”  That sounds logical, doesn’t it?

Who’s his favorite silver screen cowboy? “ John Wayne, by a long shot.”  Here’s what he had to say about cowboy shooting. “I enjoy shootin’ with everybody, shootin’ with guys with mixed backgrounds.  It’s really cool.”

 Shucks, Yankee Dutchman’s a feller who shoots .45’s, is an Ocoee Ranger, and is a John Wayne fan, They just don’t come any better than that. 

THE REAL WEST – LUTHER S. “YELLOWSTONE” KELLY  (1849 – 1928)

The Ocoee Ranger, October 2006

Luther “Yellowstone” Kelly was born in Geneva, NY, on July 27, 1849.  If he’d stayed there, he’d probably be unknown now.  Shucks, he’s almost unknown anyway.  But he was a significant figure in the American West of the late 1800’s.

Near the end of the War of Northern Aggression, Luther joined the Yankee army.  He was ultimately sent west to Minnesota and to Dakota to complete his enlistment.  When he mustered out of the Army, he stayed in the Yellowstone and upper Missouri River valley area.  He became a trapper and hunter, and after he became thoroughly familiar with the country, he became an Army Scout and guided many expeditions.  In time, he became Chief of Scouts for General Nelson Miles and for Colonel George Forsyth, of Beecher’s Island fame.

Luther was an educated feller. He read a lot and it’s reported that he frequently quoted Shakespeare.  That probably had something to do with the skirmishes he had with the Indians.  They probably attacked him to make him stop with the Shakespeare. (I can’t say that I blame them.) Luther used a Henry rifle and later a Winchester ’66 Yellowboy against’em. But they evidently figured it was worth the risk to try to stop the Shakespeare.  Of course, Owlhoot Hardin would probably disagree, him being a former college English professor.

When the government established Yellowstone as the first National Park in 1876, “Yellowstone” Kelly became its first Park Ranger. But that wasn’t the end of Luther’s career.  He later guided 2 expeditions to Alaska, was an Army Captain of volunteers in the Philippines War, and was an Indian Agent at San Carlos Indian reservation in Arizona.  He finally retired to California, where he died on December 17, 1928.  Luther must have known that the future California was destined to become a society of nuts: he asked to be buried in Montana. He’s resting atop Kelly Mountain near Billings, Montana. 

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The Ocoee Ranger page 3                      October 2006

OCOEE RANGERS ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SHOOT & FAMILY EVENT DECEMBER 16

The Ocoee Ranger, October 2006

Do you realize that there is only 1 more shoot before the Ocoee Rangers Annual Christmas Shoot & Family Event, which will be held on the 3rd Saturday (Dec. 16) in December. So, make plans to come out and shoot.  We’ll shoot 3 stages.  Then we’ll adjourn and go over to the Golden Corral restaurant in Cleveland.  After we eat lunch, we’ll present Annual Ocoee Ranger Awards. Then we’ll draw for prizes, and anyone who has shot at least 1 match in 2006, even if it’s the Dec. match, will be eligible to win. Prizes are donated by our event sponsors.  Then we’ll have our cowboy & cowgirl gift swap, for those who want to participate – participation ain’t required.  If you want to participate in the gift swap, bring an unwrapped gift and put it on the gift table.  You’ll get a ticket.  When your ticket is drawn, you get to pick a gift from the table.  The next person can pick a gift from the table, or select your prize – then you have to pick again. Etc. No gift can change hands more than 2 times following the initial selection. It’s fun.  Prizes should be somewhat related to cowboy shooting or a western theme and should not cost more than $10 – $20.  It’s an active, fun part of the event – but you don’t have to participate, if you don’t want to.  And non-shooters can also participate in the gift swap.

The Good People shown below are vendors who Sponsored our 2005 Christmas event.  Please remember them when you do your shopping and when you give others your Santa’s list for Christmas and other occasions.  When you order from them, say “Thanks for Sponsoring the 2005 Ocoee Rangers Annual Christmas Shoot & Family Event”.

Brownells, Inc.

200 South Front Street, Montezuma, Iowa 50171-1000

800-741-0015

www.brownells.com

Gun parts, cleaning stuff, cowboy gun leather, etc.

Red River Station

Route 1 box 26M,

Devol, Oklahoma 73531

red_river_station@excite.com

580-512-0584

Wild Rags Cotton or Silk

Sharpco Distributors

434 Riverbriar Lane

Kodak, TN 37764

(865)933-9387

Knives, cowboy buckles, cowboy movies, etc.

Benton Shooters

Highway 411

Benton, TN  37307

(423) 338-2008

www.Bentonshooters.com

Guns, hunting, fishing – all sporting equipment

Steven H. Maddock

Apishapa Studio

9 Holiday Drive

Tijeras, NM  87059

(505)286-9763

email: sawe21@hotmail.com

apishapa.com

Western Art Sculptures

Ten-X Ammunition

5650 Arrow Hwy.

Montclair, CA 91763

Richard Pumerantz

(Owner SASS Life 20466)

www.TenXAmmo.com      

or Orders@TenXAmmo.com

Buckaroo Bobbins

P.O. Box 1168

Chino Valley, AZ  86323-1168

www.buckaroobobbins.com

Authentic Vintage Western Clothing Patterns

West Creation

7916 FM 1241

Hamilton, TX 76531-3129

www.westcreations.com

email: westcreation@htcomp.net

Cowboy kitchen silverware, dinnerware, glass ware  and other western related products

Early West P.O. Box 9292 College Station, TX 77842 800-245-5841 979-764-7758 FAX

earlywest@verizon.net

Books – Western History & other West Related

Hamilton Dry Goods

4075 Roberts Matthews Hwy.

Sparta, TN 38583

(931) 739-6061

www.hamiltondrygoods.com

email: hamiltondrygoods@miltipro.com

Cowboy & Civil War Period Clothing and Merchandise

Henry Repeating Arms Co.

110 8th Street

Brooklyn, New York 11215

www.henry-guns.com

American made firearms

Reflection of the Past

Judy & Melissa Jurgensen

2278 Harrods Pointe Trace

Lexington, KY  40514

www.ReflectionsOfThePast.org

Judy@ReflectionsOfThePast.org

Victorian ladies jewelry, hats & costumes

True West

P.O. Box 8008

Cave Creek, Arizona 85327

(408)575-1881

www.TRUEWESTMAGAZINE.COM

True West magazine

Shoot! Magazine

7154 W. State Street #384

Boise, ID 83714

www.ShootMagazine.com

FMG Publications

12345 World Trade Drive

San Diego, CA  92128

Publishers of these magazines:

    American Handgunner

    Guns

Wild West Wicks

11011 Desert Springs

Houston, TX 77095

281-851-0234 phone

info@wildwestwicks.com

email www.wildwestwicks.com

Candles with western scents

Saddlebag Bullets  (Cool Waters)

Bullets, reloading & gun cleaning supplies

Outrider  

Leather goods

Terry’s Toys   (T-Bone Angus)

Cowboy guns

River Bend Rough Riders Cowboy Action Shooting Club

Canton, GA area

Contact:  Sheriff Donald  (770) 607-0794

sheriffdonald@hotmail.com

What prizes have our 2006 Sponsors provided so far? Here are a few samples: .. Personal Cowboy Action Shooting cards with the cowboy’s / cowgirl’s photo and information (RG2, Covington, GA – advertised in the Chronicle and Shoot! Magazine)  …Clothing (Hamilton Dry Goods, Sparta, TN) … Gun Tools (Brownell’s, Montezuma, Iowa) … Table Ware (West Creation, Hamilton, TX) … Gift Certificates (Old Frontier Forts, Nebraska City, NB) … COWBOY ACTION SHOOTING book by Ron Harris (Mesquite Millie & Deadman – advertised in the Chronicle).

OH YEAH. THE CHRISTMAS SHOOT & EVENT IS A GOOD EXCUSE TO DRESS ESPECIALLY SPIFFY TO IMPRESS YOUR PARDNERS.

DEADMAN WILL NOT SHOOT THE CHRISTMAS SHOOT. HE AND MESQUITE MILLIE WILL HAVE THEIR CAMERA, WITH PLENTY OF MEMORY, TO MAKE PICTURES OF ANYONE WHO WANTS HIS / HER PICTURE TAKEN.  THE COST FOR DOING SO – ONLY A SMILE.  AND YOU ONLY HAVE TO SMILE AT MILLIE.

The Ocoee Ranger, October 2006

An Ocoee Ranger Howdy and Get Well Soon to Vinegaroon and D. Q. Jones, who’ve both experienced accidental injuries (non-shooting).  We hope you cowboys get better real soon.  See you on the range.

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Volume 4, Issue No. 9                    September,  2006

60 SHOOTERS PARTICIPATE IN SEPTEMBER LUCKY SHOOT

Have you ever wondered how some folks shoot better than others? You probably think it has something to do with being able to hit targets fast & accurately.  Nope.  That ain’t all that’s involved.  Luck.  That’s the secret ingredient.  Example:  Last Kiss has really improved her shooting.  Is it her speed, or her new pistols, or her concentration? That’s what she’d probably say.  But look at the photo at the left and you’ll see her secret: she’s packing a green rabbits’ foot.  It’s lucky for her, but it did nothing for the rabbit.  And at the September shoot, Festus D. Deputy was selling rabbits’ feet in several colors: red, green & purple.  He was also selling other merchandise inspired by his hero , Marshal Too Tall.  See page 3 for more information.

September’s Wranglers were Sheriff Donald, Fast Harley, Ben Shot, Irish Jake,  Moonshine Roberts, Doc Duncan, Boondock Saint, Brenda Case & Richard Case. Brenda & Richard were observers who helped.  Wranglers are cowboys & cowgirls who put forth extra effort in helping conduct the shoot.

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2006

Yazoo City Gal inspects Last Kiss’s shootin’ irons at the unloading table. Notice the green rabbit’s foot.

60 Shooters participated in the shoot. Polecat Carl shot at no-miss match and was the Top Gun. Last Kiss was the Top Cowgirl shooter. 5 shooters shot no-miss matches: Polecat Carl, Fast Harley, Judge’m All Duncan, Owlhoot Hardin and Deadman.  The Top 10 Shooters were: (1) Polecat Carl (2) Marshal Too Tall (3) Fiddleback (4) Ocoee Red (5) Doc Duncan (6) Double Eagle (7) Fast Harley (8) T-Bone Angus (9) Festus D. Deputy and (10) Slater.

COWBOYS ON THE RANGE – POSSE 2

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2006

Sitting L – R : Colonel Allison, Ben Shot, Yankee Dutchman, Tellico, Ocoee Red

Standing L – R:  Bittercreek Jack, Ruckus Roy, Rev. Adam Jones, Moonshine Roberts, Sledge, Horseshoe John

SHOOT RESULTS

TOP GUN – Polecat Carl  … TOP COWGIRL – Last Kiss … BUFFALO SHOOT – Long Range Single Shot – Oracle … Long Range Lever … Long Range Pistol … .22 Cal – Marshal Too Tall

49er

1. Marshal Too Tall

2. Ocoee Red

3. Double Eagle

Black Powder Cartridge

1. Doc Duncan            

2. Judge’m All Duncan

3. Oracle

Cowgirl

1. Last Kiss

2. Yazoo City Gal

3. Dagnabit Deb

Gunfighter

1. Fast Harley

2. Widowmaker

3. Keystone

Modern 

1. Polecat Carl

2. Awful Close

3. Limp Along Charlie

Senior

1. Outrider

2. Purly

3. Wildcat Wilkey

Traditional

1. Fiddleback            

2. Festus D. Deputy

3. Slater

Duelist

1. Horseshoe John

2. Owlhoot Hardin

Outlaw

1. Badlands Beck

Classic

1. Lightning McCoy

 

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2006

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The Ocoee Ranger page 2                    September 2006

The Reel West – Glenn Ford    (1916 – 2006)

Glenn Ford was born Gwyllyn Ford in Quebec, Canada.  But when he was 8 years old, his family moved to California.  Half of his hurdle was over: he was no longer a Canadian.  His next hurdle to overcome was to get rid of the name Gwyllyn.  He did that when he became an actor.  His father was from a small town called Glenford. So … Glenn Ford he became. And in his long career, he made a lot of movies, and a lot of them were Westerns.  You may remember many of them: 3:10 TO YUMA, TEXAS, FASTEST GUN ALIVE, THE SACKETTS, and many more.  My favorite 2 Glenn Ford Westerns show the range of roles he could play:  THE VIOLENT MEN, in which he plays a tough former military Officer and THE SHEEPMAN, in which he plays a former gunslick (it was a serious Western with a bit of comedy).

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2006

Glenn Ford

In real life, Glenn was a bit like the roles he played.  He was a man of few words.  He usually suggested that his speaking roles be cut down, rather than expanded.  And he did his own riding, and some of his stunts. And he was a military Officer.  He served in the Marines from 1942 – 1945 in WWII.  Then he stayed in the Naval Reserve and served 2 tours in Vietnam as a Naval Commander.

During his long career, Glenn never won an Oscar.  Shucks, he was never even nominated for 1.  But he was a star and made big bucks, because he drew big audiences.  In 1978, Glenn was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.  That means he’s officially a top silver screen cowboy.

Since I’ve been playing cowboy action shooter, there’s 1 of us that makes me think of Glenn Ford and vice versa:  Horseshoe John.  They have the same stature, they look a little alike, both were former military officers, and both convincingly look and act their respective cowboy roles.  Of course there is a difference:  Glenn couldn’t talk nearly as loud as Horseshoe John.  Glenn joined the cowboy & cowgirl posse in the sky on August 31, 2006.

The West of Our Imagination – Horseshoe John

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2006

Horseshoe John

Have you ever noticed that Horseshoe John usually wears a bandana, a tie?  Have you ever wondered why?  Well, back when Horseshoe was growing up, bag boys and shoe salesmen all wore ties.  And in real life, Horseshoe John is a …… shoe salesman.  Yeah.  That’s what he is.  Of course he goes to his customers; they don’t come to him.  And sometimes they bite or kick him.  He doesn’t always deal with peaceful folks. Of course his customers are horses, and when he puts their shoes on, he drives nails in their feet.  You might bite too if your cowboy boot salesman tried to hammer nails in your feet.

Horseshoe’s been cowboy shootin’ since 1998.  He started about 2 shoots after T-Bone and Deadman down at Guns & Stuff.  And he’s a real cowboy.  He started shootin’ .45’s, and he still shoots .45’s. And he doesn’t shoot butterfly loads either.  And he thinks it’s a crime to hold a pistol with more than 1 hand.  Like Owlhoot, he’s a Double Duelist through and through.

How’d he get his alias?  Well, like I said above, he shoes horses.  And his middle name is John.  So, he’s Horseshoe John.  What does he do when he ain’t cowboy shootin’ or shoein’ horses? Well, he feeds horses, and doctors horses, and puts up hay for horses, and feeds horses (they eat a lot), and he shovels $%^# out of the barn, and he takes care of his saddles.  Do you notice anything missing here?  With horses of his own, he doesn’t have time to ride the critters.  But so what? As he would say, he’s a horse person, and if you’re a horse person, you understand.  If you’re not, you wouldn’t. 

Horseshoe has made some changes since he put on his cowboy hat and starting shooting as a SASS cowboy.  He changed the grips of his Rugers from traditional plow-handles to birds’ head grips.  And he shoots several kinds of rifles:  ‘66 Winchester Yellowboy, Henry, Lightning, ’73 Winchester carbine, and lately 1 of Taylor’s new 18” Trapper ’73 Winchester rifles, and they all shoot .45’s.

Horseshoe John’s a fine feller and a good cowboy to posse up with. And he shoots good too:  Double Duelist with .45’s.

The Real West – Susanna Kinsey Salter  (1860 – 1961)

Susanna Kinsey was born in Ohio in 1860.  But when she was 12, her parents moved west to Kansas.  8 years later, she entered what is today Kansas State University.  But 6 weeks before she was to graduate, she had to drop out because of illness.  Later, she married Lewis Salter, whom she’d met when she was a student.  Lewis was a young attorney and the son of a former Kansas Governor.  After her marriage, Susanna and Lewis moved to Argonia, KS.  Lewis went about his business, and Susanna became a mother, housewife, and was active in the local Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and became acquainted with Carrie Nation, the notorious hatchet welder who attacked many western saloons.

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2006

Susanna Salter

When Susanna was 27 years old, Kansas approved women’s suffrage.  Not long afterward, some local turkeys, as a practical joke, nominated her to run for mayor on the Prohibition Party ticket. Susanna took the wind out of their sails.  Instead of being embarrassed and withdrawing, she stayed the course, and with the support of the Republican Party and the WCTU, she won and she was elected the 1st woman Mayor in the US , by 2/3 of the ballots cast.  Her 1-year term was uneventful, and when her term expired, she didn’t run for reelection.  But she showed 2 things: (1) She didn’t bluff worth a flip, and (2) Women could be elected to and serve in political offices. And in the years after her, other women did exactly that in many cities across the US.  But Susanna Salter was the first to do so.

Susanna and her family continued to live in Kansas until 1893, when they moved to Oklahoma, first to the Cherokee Strip and later in other towns.  She died shortly after her 101st birthday in 1961

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The Ocoee Ranger page 3                September 2006

Local Cowboys Mentioned In September/October

SHOOT! Magazine

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2006

Jack Rabbit Bob

   The Ocoee Ranger, September 2006

Vinegaroon

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2006

Curly Bill

Have you seen the Sept./Oct. edition of SHOOT! Magazine?  If you haven’t, give it a look.  John Taffin, “Sixgunner”, has an article about American Western Arms.  He covers several guns constructed by AWA.  Shown in the article, is a colt clone that was engraved and stock fitted by Jerry Harper.  To us Ocoee Rangers, Jerry Harper is “Vinegaroon”.  Ol’ Sixgunner has this to say about Vinegaroon’s gun work: “The model shown in the pictures was fully engraved and custom stocked by Jerry Harper. This is one of the most beautiful sixguns I have ever seen with both the engraving and fleur-de-lis carved grips carried out to perfection.”

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2006

Dustin Clays’ Yellowboy engraved by Vinegaroon / Jerry Henry

Then, Sixgunner talks about the AWA Lightning and their version of the Josh Randal handgun rifle. It’s called the Lightning Bolt.  He talks about the gun and the gun-belt, holster, knife and knife sheath to carry the special gun.  Here’s what he says: “The special rig pictured with the Lightning Bolt was styled after that used by Josh Randal and made by Bill Kelly and the matching knife was crafted by the AWA shop manager and gunsmith, Bob Huddleston.”  Bill Kelly is our own Curly Bill.  And Bob Huddleston shot with us until he moved to FL about 2 years ago to take the AWA job.  You know him as Jack Rabbit Bob.

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2006

1 of Deadman’s Curly Bill / Bill Kelly Holsters

Look around at the next Ocoee Rangers or Smoky Mountain Shootist Society shoot you attend and you’ll see several examples of Vinegaroon’s and Curly Bill’s work.  Owlhoot Hardin has pistols engraved by Vinegaroon and holsters crafted by Curly Bill. Dustin Clays has a Yellowboy rifle and a double barrel shotgun, and Moonshine Roberts has a Yellowboy rifle engraved by Vinegaroon. Lightning McCoy, Rawhide Rex, Horseshoe John, Owlhoot Hardin, Deadman and others wear gun leather crafted by Curly Bill.  Shucks, you shoot with some very talented cowboys.

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2006

SOMETIMES A PICTURE REALLY IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

The picture at the left appeared in the September 2006 edition of The Cowboy Chronicle, in an article about the Tennessee State Cowboy Action Shooting Championship match.  Do you see anyone that you recognize?

Just remember, please don’t squeeze the Charmin.

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND OCOEE RANGER ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SHOOT & FAMILY EVENT ON DECEMBER 16  –  the 3rd Saturday in December

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2006

Yeah, I know Christmas is out there a few months.  But go ahead and mark your calendar, so you won’t have a last minute conflict in attending.  Plan now. 

Here’s the agenda:  (1) We’ll shoot 3 stages at the range.  (2) Then, we’ll adjourn and meet at the Golden Corral restaurant (same place as last year) for lunch, award Ocoee Ranger Annual Awards, have drawings for prizes and conclude with the gift swap – for those who want to participate in the swap – it’s not required.

Anyone who has shot at least 1 match, even if it is the December match, is eligible to participate in the drawing for prizes. (Prizes are provided by event sponsors.) Any one who wants to do so can participate in the gift swap.  (More info about that later.)

You don’t have to shoot in the December Shoot to participate in the after shoot Family Event.  Just come over to the Golden Corral and join the party.

To be eligible for consideration for an Ocoee Ranger Annual Award, you must have shot in at least 5 matches in 2006, excluding the December match.

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2006

Posse Leader Horseshoe John & Spotter Jumpin’ Jeri

Linc Seeks Elder Statesmen Shooters

SASS has a shooting category called Elder Statesman for cowboys and cowgirls who had reached the age of 70 years young.  No, it’s not a new category.  We just haven’t had folks shoot in it in the past.  So, Linc signed up and shot in it at the September shoot.  And he’s looking for other shooters who qualify to shoot in the category to joint him.  Remember, in order for an award to be made and recognition be recognized, there has to be at least 2 shooters in a category. And we award certificates up to places 1 through 3. (To award 3, at least 4 shooters must participate.)

GET WELL SOON, D.Q. JONES.  WE MISS YOU ON THE RANGE!

We Hope to See You Soon … D.Q. has a broken leg. 

Comments

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Volume 4, Issue No. 8                                   August,  2006

AUGUST SHOOT – A FAMILY AFFAIR

The August Shoot was a real family affair.  How so? Well, amongst the shooters were Tucson Tuco & his sons, Gator & Hoot Owl, and Mrs. Tuco kept score for their posse.  And Bad Eye Tom & his son, Bad Arm Slim were there.  And there were Wildcat Wilkey & his little feller, Polecat Carl. And Pleasant & Unpleasant. And Boondock Saint & his son, Irish Jake.  And then there were the husband & wife shooters: 2 Dogs & Red Neckerson; and Last Kiss & Fast Harley; and Killin’ Time & Rusty Spur Slim, and Deadeye Daisy & Sheriff Donald; Josephine Marksman & Krazy Jim. And there were brothers who shot together: Doc Duncan & Judge ‘em All Duncan. You get the idea. (I’ve probably missed some.  Sorry.)  In all, 80 shooters participated, and we had a number of visitors who observed the action.

The Outlaw posse seems to keep growing.  One of these days, we may have to have 2 of ‘em, if they keep growing. And then there was the Buffalo Shoot.  Marshal Too Tall moseyed up to Mesquite Millie, while she was counting the money and doin’ administrative stuff and said, “Hey, Millie.  Do you want to know who won the Buffalo Shoot?” Of course the ol’ gal said yeah. Too Tall grinned and said, “I won it all.”  And he did.

Who else did well at the shoot?  Everybody who was there.  The objective is to have fun, and it sure seemed that everyone did.  Festus D. Deputy was the Top Gun and Last Kiss, shooting Gunfighter, was the Top Cowgirl shooter. 8 shooters shot no-miss matches: Festus D. Deputy, Dustin Clays, Mr. Pistol, Lightning McCoy, Horseshoe John, Wildcat Wilkey, Limp Along Charlie, and Deadman. Oddly enough, 6 of the 8 shot in the same posse.

The Top 10 Shooters were: (1) Festus D. Deputy (2) Marshal Too Tall (3) Slater (4) Fiddleback (5) Doc Duncan (6) D.Q. Jones (7) Double Eagle (8) Pleasant   (9) Dustin Clays and (10) Unpleasant

IN MEMORIUM –  Dirttown Desparado

The Ocoee Ranger, August 2006

Dirttown Desparado, a.k.a. Jim Carter, joined the cowboy & cowgirl posse in the sky on August 3rd.  Jim began cowboy shooting and shooting with us last year. He attended matches with his wife, Judi. In an email to Ocoee Red not long before Jim left us, Judi said, “He tells everyone about the western shoot organization with a passion and a knot in his throat because not only does he miss the shoot, he misses all the cowboys that have treated us like family. I wish with all my heart he could come to one more shoot. … He didn’t do it long but his compassion grew for it.”

Goodbye, Dirttown Desparado.

OUTLAW SHOOTERS

The Ocoee Ranger, August 2006

Fast Harley shooting Outlaw.  Yellowcreek Johnson times while Widowmaker counts misses.

The Ocoee Ranger, August 2006

L-R:  Tennessee Tombstone & Badlands Beck Demonstrating Outlaw Shooting Style

August Wranglers were Bad Arm Slim, Keystone, Lightning McCoy, Killin’ Time, Tennessee Ted, Boondock Saint, Gator and Hoot Owl.  Ocoee Ranger Wranglers are cowboys & cowgirls who put forth just a bit more effort in helping their posse conduct the shoot.

SHOOT RESULTS

Top Gun – Festus D. Deputy  … Top Cowgirl – Last Kiss … Buffalo Shoot (all classes) – Marshal Too Tall

Duelist

1. D.Q. Jones

2. Horseshoe John

3. Rusty Spur Slim

Gunfighter

1. Doc Duncan

2. Pleasant

3. Widowmaker

Traditional

1. Slater             

2. Fiddleback

3. Dustin Clays

Outlaw

1. TN Tombstone

2. Badlands Beck

3. Rawhide Rex

Modern 

1. Polecat Carl

2. Limp Along Charlie

3. Shepperd

49er

1. Festus D. Deputy

2. Marshal Too Tall

3. Double Eagle

Senior

1. Mr. Pistol

2. Wildcat Wilkey

3. Sheriff Donald

Lady Traditional

1. Josephine Marksman

Lady Duelist

1. Killin’ Time

Classic

1. Lightning McCoy

B – Western

1. T-Bone Angus

Black Powder

1. Judge’m All Duncan

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The Ocoee Ranger page 2                August, 2006

THE REEL WEST, THE REAL WEST & THE WEST OF OUR IMAGINATION

The Reel West – Rhonda Fleming

Rhonda Fleming is a Westerner, a Californian. Born to show biz parents in 1923, she got into the movie business largely because of her looks.  Her story is like several others. She was walking down the street.  A guy saw the tall, good-looking redhead with a terrific figure, and 1 thing led to another and she was in the movie business.  Oddly, she never became a major actress.  Critics admit she had the acting skill and the charm and the looks, but somehow she never rose to the heights of a lady superstar.  But so what?  She did well in her career in the movies, on stage and on TV.  Then she retired in 1960 and became a humanitarian of great note, involved at a major level in several charities.

The Ocoee Ranger, August 2006

Rhonda Fleming

But lets talk about the important stuff: her career in Western Movies.  Rhonda made several shoot’um ups.  She was in PONY EXPRESS (with Charlton Heston), and THE REDHEAD AND THE COWBOY (Glen Ford), and BULLWHIP (Guy Madison), and GUNGLORY (Stewart Granger), and ABILINE TOWN (Randolph Scott) and others.  And in her roles, she played spirited gals who weren’t wallflowers to the heroes.  Unfortunately, she was never paired with John Wayne.  That would have been something. Rhonda’s most notable role was that of Laura Denbo, a lady gambler and Wyatt Earp’s love interest in GUNFIGHT AT OK CORRAL.  Burt Lancaster was Earp. GUNFIGHT AT OK CORRAL is a good movie.  It ain’t no TOMBSTONE, but it’s good.  The 3 best things in the movie are Rhonda’s portrayal of the lady gambler, Kirk Douglas’ portrayal of Doc Holiday, and Frankie Lane’s song – Gunfight at OK Corral.  Rhonda also appeared on TV Westerns:  shows like Wagon Train and The Virginian and others.

Oh yeah, Rhonda had a nickname when she was making movies. Her striking red hair, figure (frequently in skimpy costumes) and charm resulted in her being called “the Queen of Technicolor.” 

The Ocoee Ranger, August 2006

Dajango Slim

The West of our imagination –

Dajango Slim

Dajango Slim has been a cowboy shooter for about a year and a half. One day, Buckwitt invited him to an Ocoee Rangers shoot, and he’s been a cowboy shooter ever since.  “The first time I came, I thought I was going to be an observer.  But Buckwitt handed me a holster and a pair of guns and said, ‘You’re gonna shoot.’ I got hooked because of the camaraderie and the spirit of the game.  You couldn’t shoot with a better group of people.”

What does he shoot? “I shoot the old style Ruger Vaqueros in .38 caliber, but I’m gonna save up and get some .45’s.” (Doesn’t that sound like music to an old cowboy’s ears?)  How did he come by his alias?  “I’ve always had the nickname of Slim.  I saw a movie called Da-Jango.  So, I sorta put them together, without the hyphen.”

Who’s his favorite cowboy? “John Wayne.  When I was 7 years old, I saw the movie TRUE GRIT, and I fell in love with it.  I’ve been a John Wayne fan ever since.”  A feller could do worse than admire John Wayne and worse than shootin’ with Dajango Slim. 

The Real West – Lottie Deno  

(1844 – 1934)

Carlotta Thompkins, the eldest daughter of a rich plantation owner, was born in Kentucky in 1844.  When she was 17, her daddy was killed in the War of Northern Aggression, and her mama sent her to visit folks in Detroit to find a rich husband. But Lottie was strong willed and made other plans.  She’d traveled extensively with her daddy and had been exposed to his business dealings and his gambling on cards and horse races.  And her daddy had taught her to play cards and to apply the tricks to win. And that’s how she supported herself and was the source of money she sent home to her mother and sister.  Of course they didn’t know that.  They thought he’d married a man with money.  Lottie never went back to the plantation.

The Ocoee Ranger, August 2006

Lottie Deno

Queen of Hearts

Ol’ dad had taken Lottie with him on Mississippi riverboats, so she played her game on the boats and eventually landed in New Orleans.  Then she went west to San Antonio, TX, where Frank Thurmond hired her to be a dealer at his University Club.  Lottie always dressed stylishly and was a good-looking redhead, and the fellers couldn’t wait to lose their money at her table.  She became the belle of the gambling trade, and Frank’s gal. Later, Frank was accused of cheating at cards, killed a man, and left town on the dodge.     

Lottie stayed in San Antonio for a while, then drifted west to Ft. Griffin to find Frank. That was where she became Lottie “Deno”. Supposedly some drunk who’d lost a lot of money to her said that she should call herself Lotta Dinero, and for whatever reason, she liked it and became Lottie Deno.  She also met, played against and beat Doc Holiday at cards at Ft. Griffin.

Several years later, Lottie and Frank moved to Deming, New Mexico, married and became respectable.  They gave up being gamblers. Frank became a businessman and eventually became the Vice President of the Deming National Bank.  He died in 1908. Lottie died in 1934 and was buried beside Frank.  Some folks have written that Lottie was the inspiration for Miss Kitty, who ran the Long Branch Saloon in GUNSMOKE, and of Laura Denbo, the redheaded lady gambler in the Burt Lancaster and Rhonda Fleming movie, GUNFIGHT AT OK CORRAL.  Whether she inspired either character or not, she became a legendary character in the Old West.

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The Ocoee Ranger page 3                                       August 2006

The Ocoee Ranger, August 2006

TN Tombstone,

The Father of Outlaw Shooting

 

 

 

OUTLAW SHOOTING

What do Tennessee Tombstone and George Washington have in common? No, it ain’t wooden teeth or powdered wigs. Both are known as “the father of” something.  George is “the father of his country”.  Tombstone is “the father of Outlaw shooting”. It’s true. 

What caused Tombstone to start shooting that way?  Here’s how he explained it.  “I couldn’t hit nothing anyway, and all the cowboys on TV shot from the hip or pointed, so I thought I’d try it.”  And he did.  He started shootin’ what he called Outlaw style in Knoxville with the Smoky Mountain Shootists Society.  Then Badlands Beck joined him. Then Rawhide Rex started shooting that way, and then others and before long, the Knoxville cowboys recognized Outlaw as a shooting class. At an Ocoee Rangers shoot after the Knoxville cowboys recognized Outlaw as a shooting class, Rawhide Rex asked Deadman if the Ocoee Rangers would recognize the Outlaw class. Deadman said, “Sure.”  At that shoot, Tombstone, Rawhide Rex and Badlands Beck shot Outlaw.  And seeing them, others began doing so in short order.  But that wasn’t the end of it, before long Tennessee Tombstone and his compadres persuaded the Possum Trot and Hooten Old Town shooters to recognize Outlaw as a shooting class.  Then the Kentucky State Cowboy Action Champion Shoot recognized the Outlaw class.

By now, you may be saying, “Ok. Enough.  What is Outlaw shooting?”  And that’s a good          question. Here’s how Outlaw shooting is done:

1.      SASS basic rules govern.

2.      Pistols are shot from the hip or with the arm not higher than armpit level and with a bend at the elbow.  (No fast draw.)

3.      The shotgun is shot from the hip or waist area.  If there’s a flying target, the shooter can shoulder the gun, it he / she chooses.

4.      Rifles are shot from the shoulder.

5.      The shooter must have Fun.

The rules are still evolving, but the basics are as above.  How well do Outlaw shooters do?  Well, they don’t win matches. But they have a growing following, and they have gun. As one shooter said to Tombstone at the Kentucky State Shoot, “You fellers sure do take the tension out of a match.” 

At the Ocoee Rangers August shoot, Tennessee Tombstone missed only 3 shots, shooting Outlaw.  But it’s not for everyone.  At the July shoot, the Outlaws convinced Calibre. 45 to shoot Outlaw style.  Calibre .45 is an excellent pistol shot.  He missed 22 shots.  That equaled his total misses for the previous 3 ½ years. 

If you want to give Outlaw shooting a try, see Tennessee Tombstone, Badlands Beck or Rawhide Rex or any of the other Outlaw shooters, and they’ll show you how it’s done.

WHAT DO THESE PICTURES HAVE IN COMMON?

The Ocoee Ranger, August 2006

James Arness

The Ocoee Ranger, August 2006

William Conrad

Take a look at these 2 pictures.  Look really close.  What do they have in common? Now if you’re a cowboy about Horseshoe John’s age or more, you probably know.  But if you’re Barnscoop’s age, you probably don’t have a clue.  And if you’re Deadeye Drew’s age, you don’t know and couldn’t care less. What’s the answer?  Both are pictures of GUNSMOKE’S  Matt Dillon.  The feller on the left is James Arness.  He was Matt Dillon on TV for about 20 years. The feller on the right is the original Matt Dillon.  He’s William Conrad.  He played Matt on the radio, before GUNSMOKE moved to TV.  This is a publicity photo from the radio show.  If you haven’t heard the radio show in real time or on tapes of the show, you’ve missed a treat. This word scratcher used to listen to the radio GUNSMOKE with his grandmother. The radio story was told by the sounds of boot steps, jingling spurs, gunshots and the sound of narrator Conrad’s deep voice as Matt Dillon, US Marshal.

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Volume 4, Issue No. 7                                 July,  2006

IN MEMORIUM – SANTA FAYE

The Ocoee Ranger, July 2006

Santa Faye, a.k.a. Faye Mauney, joined the cowgirl & cowboy posse in the sky on Sunday, July 9th.  Although she never fired a shot in an Ocoee Rangers CAS match, she was and had been for several years an important member of our group.  Accompanying shooting husband, Loose Cinch, Santa Faye was an excellent scorekeeper, and she always had a smile and a cheery comment, even when health-wise she didn’t feel like smiling. She will be missed.  Goodbye, Santa Faye.  You’re a lady we’ve been proud to know.

73 Shooters Participate in July Shoot

Friday, it rained. Well, to put it bluntly, it stormed.  But that cooled Saturday off a bit.  Then, shooters and their pardners drifted out to the range, and the sun wasn’t to be seen…. Until Sunshine Billy arrived.  He was wearing the sun.  He had on bright yellow britches.  Shucks, you could close your eyes and see ‘em through your eyelids.  But they sure supported his shootin’:  he was the Top Gun of the day.  Last Kiss, shootin’ gunfighter style, held that honor in the field of lady shooters. Speaking of lady shooters, there were 10 cowgirl shooters, a record for the Ocoee Rangers. And the cowgirls shot in the following ladies’ categories: Gunfighter, Duelist, Traditional, 49er and Outlaw. We also had 2 junior shooters:  Deadeye Drew and Irish Jake. Both shot very well.

How’d the shootin’ go?  Well, 1 cowboy pretty much summed it up.  He said, “The worst cowboy shoot I ever went to was good, and the rest have been even better.” This 1 was very good. Just ask Fast Harley.  He walked away from the Buffalo shoot with a smile on his face and said, “I took the 100 yard pistol shoot from ol’ Too Tall.”  Of course Marshal Too Tall won all the rest: .22 cal.. Long Range Lever Action Rifle and Long Range Single Shot Rifle and he placed 8th in overall shooting. That ain’t bad for a feller with an injured arm, who couldn’t shoot 2 weeks ago.

All our shooting posses were special.  But 1 was a bit more special than the others.  A group of Loose Cinch’s shootin’ buddies rode out to shoot with him. And that entire posse, led by Last Kiss, shot very well. Of course Calibre .45 might smile at that remark.  He seldom misses with his pistols. But some silver- tongued devil slickered him into shootin’ Outlaw, and he missed 22 shots. That’s probably more than he’s missed in the previous 2 or 3 years. Maybe that’s why he’s trying to hide behind Abagail Rose in the picture below.  He’s deadly with a pistol.

POSSE NO. 1

The Ocoee Ranger, July 2006

Front Row L-R: Doc Duncan, Killin’ Time, Rusty Spur Slim, Cactus Red, DQ Jones Middle Row L-R: Yellowcreek Johnson, Last Kiss, Yazoo City Gal, Abagail Rose Back Row L-R: Judge’m All Duncan, Loose Cinch, Badlands Beck, Tennessee Tombstone, Fast Harley, Calibre. 45

The Top 10 Shooters for the day were: (1) Sunshine Billy, (2) Festus D. Deputy, (3) DQ Jones, (4) Doc Duncan, (5) Fiddleback, (6) Rusty Spur Slim, (7) Unpleasant, (8) Marshal Too Tall, (9) Dustin Clays, and  (10) Cherokee Maddog.  5 shooters had no miss matches: DQ Jones, Mr. Pistol, Bad Eye Tom, Deadman and Moonshine Roberts.  July Wranglers were Boondock Saint, Awful Close, Yellowcreek Johnson, DQ Jones, Red Neckerson, Lightning McCoy and Keystone.  Ocoee Ranger Wranglers are cowboys & cowgirls who put forth just a bit more effort in helping their posse conduct the shoot.

Here’s a summary of the July shoot results.

SHOOTING RESULTS

Top Gun – Sunshine Billy

Top Cowgirl – Last Kiss

Modern 

1. Awful Close

2. Sundance McNeyman

Buffalo Shoot:

o       Long Range Lever Action – Marshal Too Tall

o       Long Range Single Shot – Marshal Too Tall

o       .22 Cal. – Marshal Too Tall

o        100 Yard Pistol – Fast Harley

Traditional

1. Fiddleback             

2. Unpleasant

3. Dustin Clays

Gunfighter

1. DQ Jones

2. Doc Duncan

3. Pleasant

49er

1. Festus D. Deputy

2. Marshal Too Tall

3. Double Eagle

Duelist

1. Rusty Spur Slim

2. Cherokee Maddog

3. Horseshoe John

Senior

1. Sunshine Billy

2. Mr. Pistol

3. Rev. Adam Jones

Outlaw

1. Badlands Beck

2. Loose Cinch

3. TN Tombstone

Classic

1. Lightning McCoy

Lady Duelist

1. Killin’ Time

Lady Traditional

1. Yazoo City Gal

2. Emerald Isle

3. Deadeye Daisy

Junior

1. Irish Jake

The Ocoee Ranger, July 2006

Remember, we only award category recognition and certificates when more than 1 person shoots in the category.  For example, Last Kiss was the Top Cowgirl Shooter, but she was the only cowgirl who shot in the Ladies Gunfighter category. So, Lady Gunfighter is not reported.

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The Ocoee Ranger page 2                                                       July, 2006

                                                                                                                                               

THE REEL WEST, THE REAL WEST AND THE WEST OF OUR IMAGINATION

THE REEL WEST  –  WALTER BRENNAN  1894 – 1997

The Ocoee Ranger, July 2006

Walter Brennan as he appears at the Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum

Walter Brennan was born in Massachusetts in 1894. But we can forgive him for that.  He probably knew that Ted Kennedy would 1day flim-flam most folks in the state, so he left.  During his working career, he did lots of things.  He was a lumberjack, a construction worker, a soldier in WWI, worked in banking and real estate, and then he got into the movies, starting as a stuntman and then becoming an actor. Walter was 1 of those “forever-old” fellers.  He was the sidekick or old codger in most of his movies.  But just as Walter could very convincingly play lovable folks, he could also convincingly play nasty villains. For example, he was good old Stumpy in John Wayne’s RIO BRAVO and nasty old man Clinton in Henry Fonda’s MY DARLING CLEMENTINE. Shucks, he won 3 Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for another. By the way, he won his last Oscar portraying Judge Roy Bean in Gary Cooper’s THE WESTENER.  In that movie, he was a crusty villain and got shot by the hero. 

In his time, old Walter appeared in lots of movies, and a lot of them were Westerns. Ever heard of HOW THE WEST WAS WON? He was a villain in that one.  How about THE FAR COUNTRY? He was Jimmy Stewart’s sidekick in that one.  Or RED RIVER?  John Wayne’s sidekick.  SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHERRIF.  He was a comic villain to hero James Garner.  Walter also got into the series TV business.  He was the lead in:  THE REAL MCCOYS and THE GUNS OF WILL SONNETT, a Western. He appeared as a grandfather in both series, but as Will Sonnett, he was a gun-slinging grandfather.

Walter left quite a legacy.  Granted he wasn’t a legend like John Wayne, but he helped John Wayne and many others in their on screen performances.  Shucks, he made lots of movies better because of his appearance.  He’d put his teeth in his pocket, put on his scrunched up high-crowned hat, make a few old codger noises, and steal scenes from the best of ‘em.  Visit the Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum in Oklahoma City and go the film West section and you’ll see terrific portraits of Western Movie folks. Walter’s there as he appears above. He joined the cowboy posse in the sky in 1997.

THE WEST OF OUR IMAGINATION – DEADMAN

The Ocoee Ranger, July 2006

Deadman

In 1998, Deadman visited a cowboy shoot and couldn’t imagine going out in public dressed like what he saw.  But he did. And he began shooting with TN. Jake, the Catoosa Kid, Deadfoot, Tellico, and T-Bone. And then Horseshoe John drifted in and …. But, he didn’t begin shooting as Deadman. He was the Yellowstone Kid at his 1st shoot. But he didn’t much like that name, and Mesquite Millie told him he was too old to be a kid.  So, he became Deadman.  Most times he lies about how he selected that alias.  He usually says it’s because of all his property: there’s a Deadman’s Point in Apple Valley, CA., and a Deadman’s Bar Road in the Grand Teton’s National Park, etc.  But regardless of how he became Deadman, he’s always shot .45’s, and with lots of powder in them.  No butterfly loads for him.  That’s partly why he shoots low in the competition.  Mesquite Millie would tell you the other reason he’s down in the pack: “You just shoot slow.”

Who’s old Deadman’s favorite Western movie cowboy? “That’s not as easy to answer as it used to be.  Randolph Scott was my 1st movie hero.  And John Wayne’s special.  And I agree with Marshal Too Tall that Tom Selleck is excellent.  But all in all, Roy Rogers has to be no. 1.  He lived the life he showed on the screen.  He was no. 1 on the screen, and from all I’ve read, he was no. 1 in real life.”

THE REAL WEST – WARREN EARP     1855 – 1900

The Ocoee Ranger, July 2006

Warren Earp

Warren Earp was 1 of Wyatt Earp’s little brothers. Unlike Wyatt’s younger brother Morgan and older brother Virgil, Warren wasn’t in the gunfight near Tombstone’s OK Corral.  Oh, he was in Tombstone during the months leading up to the shootout, but he wasn’t a shootist until after Virgil was crippled and Morgan was killed, both occurrences after the historical gunfight.

Warren was born in Iowa in 1855, and like most of the Earp men, he moved around a bit before and after the doings in Tombstone.  During the Tombstone era, he rode shotgun guard on stagecoaches and gambled and did other stuff.  But when Morgan was killed, he joined brother Wyatt, Doc Holiday and their compadres and went varmint huntin’.  After “Wyatt’s vendetta ride” was over, Warren drifted to Colorado and then other places as years went by.

At about 1 o’clock in the morning on Friday, July 7, 1900, Warren was hanging around a saloon in Wilcox, AZ.  He managed to get into a heated argument with another saloon bird named Johnny Boyett.  One thing led to another, and Warren challenged Boyett to go get his gun.  Boyett did.  Warren was either mighty stupid or mighty drunk, because he didn’t have a gun.  All he had was a pocketknife.  Boyett returned, fired 4 shots at Warren, and missed.  Warren kept mouthing off and advancing toward Boyett, who told him to stop or he would shoot.  Warren probably thought, “So what.  You done missed 4 times.”  But, Boyett’s 5th shot didn’t miss.

Sometimes things move fast.  Warren was killed Friday morning about 1 o’clock. Later that morning, a corner’s jury was impaneled and they determined the obvious: Warren was dead, he had been shot with a gun, and Johnny Boyett had the gun in his hand. Wow. Think how hard that was to determine. Continuing with events, Warren was buried that afternoon. On Saturday afternoon about 1 o’clock, Boyett was marched into court.  He appeared before a judge in a preliminary hearing.  The judge heard the evidence: Warren initiated the conflict, challenged Boyett to go get his gun, advanced on Boyett when told to stop, and had a half opened pocket knife in his hand when Boyett shot him.  The judge dismissed Boyett.  He didn’t rule dismissal was because of self-defense.  He said that he didn’t think a grand jury would indict Boyett, and if they did, a jury wouldn’t convict. How ‘bout that?

Of all the Earp brothers, only Wyatt and Newton were never shot. James was shot in the War of Northern Aggression, Virgil was shot in the war and while he was in Tombstone, and Morgan and Warren were shot and killed. Newton minded his own business and never got into the adventures that his other brothers did.  Wyatt … he was charmed. 

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Ocoee Ranger page 3 July 2006

 

July’s Ocoee Wranglers

The Ocoee Ranger, July 2006

Awful Close

The Ocoee Ranger, July 2006

Yellowcreek Johnson

The Ocoee Ranger, July 2006

DQ Jones

The Ocoee Ranger, July 2006

Red Neckerson

The Ocoee Ranger, July 2006

Lightning McCoy

The Ocoee Ranger, July 2006

No Photo Available

Boondock Saint

The Ocoee Ranger, July 2006

The Ocoee Ranger, July 2006

Keystone

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