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Volume 3, Issue No. 2                          March 5,  2005

Our March 5th shooting day was beautiful.  Oh yeah, it rained for about 3 minutes about 8:45 am, but the sun came back out and it was a beautiful day.  Most folks shot the match in shirtsleeves.  The Rev. Adam Jones was in charge of weather, and whatever he did, it worked.  Speaking of the sun, Sunshine Billy showed up dressed in his B-Western shooting attire.  And his guns and gun-rig were something to behold.  But he didn’t shoot right.  Nope.  Them B-Western cowboys sorta threw the bullets from their six-guns.  He shot normal.  And his guns held the same number of rounds as ours, not the 50 that seemed to be the norm when many of us were growing up with the B-Western heroes.  But what the heck.  At our next match, we’ll officially recognize the B-Western category. So if you want to dress the part and participate in that class, jump in.

T-Bone did an excellent job with the shooting stages.  There was a little of everything.  We threw knives, shot flying clay pigeons, staked out mining claims, shot small targets way down range for bonus points, and generally had a terrific shoot.  Pleasant’s gang, himself and his 2 off-spring (Pyro & Unpleasant), did very well.  They came in 1st, 2nd, & 3rd in the Gunfighter category, and Pleasant was the Top Gun of the day.  Roma Jane was the Top Cowgirl shooter.

Tabasco JOT was back, after being unable to shoot for a while for medical reasons. He placed 2nd in the Senior category. Tabasco said to tell everyone that he’ll resume hosting the 8:30 am Tabasco JOT Side Shoot before the match at the March 26th shoot.

The Western Look:  Long Gulch (49er), Roma Jane (Cowgirl), Bittercreek Jack (Classic) & Sunshine Billy

(B-Western)

5 shooters shot clean / no miss matches:  Polecat Carl, Hombre Sin Nombre, C Rider, Tarheel & Deadman.  The Top 10 Shooters were:  1.  Pleasant   2. Double Eagle   3. Ocoee Red   4.  Whiskey River Nelson   5.  Fiddleback   6.  Marshal Too Tall   7.  Festus D. Deputy   8.  Cherokee Maddog   9.  Slater   10. Sunshine Billy.

Shooting results are continued on page 3.

Out on the Range

Kneeling L – R:  Festus D. Deputy, Ben Shot, Hombre Sin Nombre, Whiskey River Nelson.  Standing L – R:  the Catoosa Kid, Rev. Adam Jones, Sunshine Billy, Long Gulch, Roma Jane, Bittercreek Jack, Sundance McNeyman & Horseshoe John.

NEXT OCOEE RANGER SHOOT – 26 MARCH

The Buffalo Shoot begins 8:00 am. Registration 8:30 am  –  Tabasco JOT’s Side Match 8:30 am –  Posse Leader walk-through 9:15 am  – Safety meeting 9:45 am  –  Shooting follows !  All times are Eastern Time.

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The Ocoee Ranger Page 2                          March 5, 2005

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

THE REEL WEST  –    TOM MIX   (1880 – 1940)

Of all the early Western movie “stars”, Tom Mix was the most prominent.  In his day, he was a rodeo & Wild West Show performer and a star in silent and later in talking Western movies.  Born in Pennsylvania, he was a westerner by heart and ambition, not by geographical origin. But so what.

It’s hard to know Tom Mix’s real life story, after he and Hollywood finished their artistic improvements. Shucks, according to their history, ol’ Tom was a Rough Rider with Teddy Roosevelt, a Texas Ranger and a lot of other stuff. But there’s no doubt that he was the most prominent cowboy star until Gene Autry arrived and eclipsed

Tom Mix – the 1st cowboy superstar

all those that came before him.  Before Tom Mix, William S. Hart was the biggest cowboy star.  Hart wore nondescript clothes, strived for gritty realism, complete with dust and other not very romantic stuff. Then Tom came along and began the practice of cowboy movie stars wearing large hats and big spurs and fancy outfits & gun rigs.  In short, he was a showman, and adults and kids loved his style and flocked to see his movies.  Tom was also the top paid cowboy star for many years.  Neither Gene Autry nor Roy Rogers were ever paid anywhere near as much as Tom, even in their most popular days of studio movies.

Tom was injured in a few horse falls doing movies in the ‘30’s and retired from the movies and began performing in circuses, then bought his own circus, which drained away a lot of his money. When he was 55 years old, Tom was lured back to Hollywood to make THE MIRACLE RIDER, an adventure series for which he was paid $40,000.  After that, it was back to the circuses. In 1938, his Wild West Show / Circus ended.  Tom was killed in a car crash in 1940.  After 5 wives, losses in the stock market and his circus, and his extravagant lifestyle, he didn’t leave much in his earthly estate.

Now you and Whiskey River Nelson may say, “I ain’t never seen Tom Mix.  That was way, way before my time.”  But that’s not exactly true.  As a matter of fact, you see Tom every month.  If you’ll look in the upper right corner on the front page of every edition of The Ocoee Ranger newsletter, Tom is the cowboy in the red bandana.

Dustin Clays

THE WEST OF OUR IMAGINATION  – 

DUSTIN CLAYS

In the old West, it wasn’t unusual for fellers to do all kinds of things before they did the things for which we know them.  Well, Dustin Clays is a modern version of such a feller. Back in the ‘80’s, he started shooting flintlock and caplock long rifles.  That’s where he met a feller who would later become the Kenesaw Kid.  Then he started shooting clay targets with shotguns. While doing that, he met a feller who would become Rawhide Rex. And then 1 day, he got into something really important:  he and Rawhide Rex both participated in their 1st Cowboy Shoot … on the same day. 

That was back in ’99. He used borrowed guns in that 1st match.  Then to learn to be a real pistolero, he attended a single action pistol shooting school conducted by none other than Owlhoot Hardin.  And the rest, as they say, is history.

How did he get his cowboy alias? Here’s how he explains it. “When I’d come back from the skeet range and my wife asked how I’d done, sometimes I’d say, “I dusted ’em”.  So later when I was trying to come up with an alias, she suggested “Dustin Clays”.”  (Ain’t it interesting how many cowboys have names suggested by their wives.)

What does he shoot? “My main match guns have been Rugers, a ’66 Winchester rifle and a ’97 Winchester shotgun.  But lately I’ve enjoyed the Classic Cowboy class and shoot .44 Colts, a ’73 rifle and a mule-eared double barrel that Jerry Harper has worked his magic on and is almost too nice to shoot.”  And he shoots well, no matter what category he shoots in. (The Ocoee Rangers started fielding the Classic category some time ago as a result of Dustin Clays’ suggestion.)

Ol’ Dustin says that he likes Cowboy Shooting because of “the great people you meet and the friendships that develop.”  He likes shooting as an Ocoee Ranger because “sometimes a scenario includes the skeet range.”  I guess that’s why he’s Dustin Clays. … He still likes dustin’ them clays.

THE REAL WEST –  TOM O’FOLLIARD    (1858 – 1880)

Ever heard of Tom O’Folliard? If you haven’t, that’s not surprising.  Tom didn’t pioneer any cattle trails, and he wasn’t a well know gunman (that’s the Old West terminology – Hollywood invented the gunfighter), and he wasn’t a famous outlaw.  Tom was ….. well, he was … a pal.  It just happened that he chose to be a pal to Henry McCarty, Henry Antrim, William H. Bonney, and Billy the Kid. Sounds like a real crowd, but Western history buffs know that all these names, except Tom, were the same feller.

Tom O’Folliard

Tom was born in Texas, but soon after his birth, his family moved to Mexico.  His parents died of small pox there, and an uncle went down and brought young Tom back to Texas. He was passed around among various relatives, until in 1878 he and a friend lit out for New Mexico.  Tom ultimately ended up in Lincoln County and became a participant in the Lincoln County War, the event that made the names John Chisum and Billy the Kid known to this day.

Young, wild, reckless Tom gravitated toward Billy the Kid and became 1 of his very good pals.  They shared many of the same experiences and characteristics: their parents died when they were very young, left home as boys, and they both frolicked and fought when it suited them. Tom was with Billy in Alex McSween’s house during the 5-day battle in Lincoln, during which the house was set fire and McSween and others were killed.  Tom, Billy and some others escaped. After the death of McSween, Tom, Billy and their crowd made their living rustling cows from John Chisum.  But over time, most of Billy’s gun totin’ pals drifted away.  But not Tom. Tom was Billy’s pal, and he stayed.

Tom shared a few other things with Billy, other than early backgrounds and rowdy personalities.  Both were killed and buried in Ft. Sumner, NM, and a Pat Garrett posse killed both.  In Billy’s case, Garrett did the shooting personally.

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The Ocoee Ranger Page 3                          March 5, 2005

SHOOT RESULTS (Continued from page 1)

Duelist

1. Owlhoot Hardin

2. Sheriff Jack Cooley

Buffalo Shoot

.22 cal. 25 yards – Pyro        100 yards shoot – Pleasant

Ocoee Rangers Wranglers – March 5

SASS RANGE OFFICER I AND RANGE OFFICER II CLASSES OFFERED APRIL 30

CLUBHOUSE – CLEVELAND HUNTING RIFLE & PISTOL CLUB RANGE

If you want to take either the SASS ROI, or ROII, or both courses, they’ll both be conducted at the clubhouse at the Cleveland range on Saturday, April 30.  Times and charges are shown below.  Charges cover the cost of printing, materials and the SASS completion pens that successful participants will receive from SASS.

            Course             Time                                        Charge             Course fees will be collected at the range

            ROI                   8:00 am – 12:00 noon                 $10             ROII                  1:00 pm – 5:00 pm                     $25

Cherokee Maddog will be the instructor in the ROII class.  He’s SASS certified to conduct ROII training.

If you need additional information, contact Ocoee Red.

Here’s How Our Cowboys and Cowgirl Placed in Shoot-Out at Pigeon Forge

12 – Sunshine Billy (3^rd Senior)                                       48 – Polecat Carl (14^th Traditional)

14 – Pleasant (1^st Gunfighter)                                          51 – Pyro (8^th Gunfighter)

20 – Marshal Too Tall (3^rd 49er)                                       52 – Owlhoot Hardin (1^st Elder Statesman)

23 – Ocoee Red (5^th 49er)                                               56 – Tucson Tuco (11^th 49er)

25 – Unpleasant (8^th Traditional)                                       62 – Ranger Roger (3^rd Duelist)

29 – Double Eagle (6^th 49er)                                            65 – Fast Harley (4^th Classic)

31 – Festus D. Deputy (7^th 49er)                                      76 – Wildcat Wilkey (10^th Senior)

36 – Loose Cinch (4^th Gunfighter)                         90 – Last Kiss (2^nd Ladies)

42 – Cherokee Maddog (1^st Classic)

According to Ocoee Red, the Knoxville Cowboys & Cowgirls hosted a great shoot, and the weather cooperated to have an extremely enjoyable and exciting 2005 Shoot-Out At Pigeon Forge.  Congratulations to the Smoky Mountain Shootist Society, our Knoxville cowboy & cowgirl neighbors and fellow Cowboy Action Shooters, for a well-done 2005 Saddle Up Celebration Event.

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The Ocoee Ranger Page 4                         March 5, 2005

SHOOT RESULTS

Page 1

          Volume 3, Issue No. 1                                                                                           January 2005

The Weather forecast may have scared some folks away, but 54 shooters turned out and had a real good shoot.  Shucks, we even had several visitors drop by to watch the action. Was it cold?  Well, as the Rev. Adam Jones would say, “You bet your Derby and six-gun it was.”  And it was windy.  Sunflower found a partial solution to the wind.  She wrapped up in 1 of the blankets that usually cover a loading or unloading table.  It looked much better on her. And the warming barrel that Horseshoe John put out had folks hanging around it off and on all day.

But how did the shooting go?  Well, it was fast and challenging.  No one shot a clean match.  Why?  Well, maybe it was the cold.  And maybe it was because some people shot in coats. And then, maybe it was because most shooters missed 1 or both of the running prairie chickens / rolling clay targets.  Them critters were really moving fast and almost straight away.  If ol’ Dustin Clays had been present, he’d have had a real challenge bustin’ them clays.

But how did the shooting go?  Well, it was fast and challenging.  No one shot a clean match.  Why?  Well, maybe it was the cold.  And maybe it was because some people shot in coats. And then,

The Catoosa Kid, shooting black powder, smokes the target as Festus D. Deputy times his effort.

maybe it was because most shooters missed 1 or both of the running prairie chickens / rolling clay targets.  Them critters were really moving fast and almost straight away.  If ol’ Dustin Clays had been present, he’d have had a real challenge bustin’ them clays.

The Top Gun for the day was a Gunfighter, that varmint Pleasant. And the 2nd place overall shooter was Festus D. Deputy. Ocoee Red and Marshal Too Tall usually have a hot competition between the 2 of them.  This time out, Ocoee Red smoked Too Tall, but Ol’ Too Tall won both categories in the Buffalo Shoot. Category winners were as follows:  Last Kiss – Cowgirl; Festus D. Deputy – 49er; T-Bone Angus – Traditional; Randy Atcher – Duelist (Randy was visiting us from Indiana); Cherokee Maddog – Classic; Limp Along Charlie – Modern; Pleasant – Gunfighter; Flash LaBrew – Senior; the Catoosa Kid – Black Powder.

Shooting results are continued on page 3.

OUT ON THE RANGE 

How Soon We Forget.  A month ago, someone prized this tree. Then, it was then decorated and surrounded by presents. But it still had decorations out on the range, hanging clay pigeons.  Cowboys and girls got bonus points for shooting pigeons off the tree. Here Hombre Sin Nombre, John Daniel, Limp Along Charlie, Horseshoe John & Bearcreek Baldy are replacing targets.  Blayde Hollister looks on, while in the background Sunflower, wrapped in her blanket, C. Rider, and Deadeye Daisy wait for the decorators to finish and shooting to resume.

NO FEBRUARY OCOEE RANGER SHOOT – 2 SHOOTS IN MARCH (5TH & 26TH)

We won’t have a February shoot.  The Knoxville cowboys & cowgirls are having their big Shoot Out at Pigeon Forge  Feb. 24 – 26.  To support them & to allow Ocoee Rangers to shoot in the Shoot Out at Pigeon Forge  , we will not have a February shoot.  BUT WE WILL HAVE 2 SHOOTS IN MARCH: 5TH AND 26TH.  The Buffalo Shoot begins 8:00 am. Registration at 8:30 am.  Posse Leader walk-through at 9:00 am. Safety meeting at 9:45 am.  Shooting follows !

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           The Ocoee Ranger Page 2                 January, 2005

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

THE REEL WEST  –    TIMOTHY MCCOY   1891 – 1978

Tim McCoy led a varied and eventful life. During his life, he was an officer in the U.S. Army in WWI & WWII, a western history advisor to Hollywood movie producers, a silent and sound cowboy leading man, a Wild West Show and Circus performer and owner, and a host of a TV Western anthology series. Born in Saginaw, Michigan, Tim went west and settled on a ranch in Wyoming.  Interested in the west, he became an expert on old west history and Indian lore. Then WWI occurred, and like many other Americans, he put on a uniform and went off to fight.   After retiring from the Army, Lieutenant Colonel McCoy went to Hollywood to provide technical details and help in making THE COVERED WAGON, which was released by Paramount in 1923. When that project was completed, MGM hired Tim as their silent film cowboy star.  He later made Western movies for Columbia, Puritan, and Monogram.

Tim McCoy

In 1935, Tim began touring and performing in Circuses, making movies in the off seasons. Then in 1937, he assembled his own Wild West Show, The ‘Tim McCoy Wild West Show’.  The show folded about a month later. He lost $300,000 from that experience.

Tim went back to Hollywood, but it was tough finding staring roles.  He was 40 years old, a little old for the movie public, and singing cowboys were becoming the craze.  Ultimately, he teamed with Buck Jones and Raymond Hatton and made a series of Rough Rider movies for Monogram studios.  By 1942, his days as a western star were over. But that was irrelevant: Uncle Sam recalled Reserve Officer Tim McCoy to serve in WWII.

After the War, Tim did guest appearances on TV, hosted a Western TV series and performed in circuses/Wild West Shows in the ‘50’s. In the 1960’s – 70’s, he was a part owner and performer in a circus/Wild West Show.  He died in 1978.  …. But Colonel Tim McCoy, who had portrayed “Lightning Bill Carson” in some of his movies, provided inspiration for a latter day cowboy.

Lightning McCoy

THE WEST OF OUR IMAGINATION  – 

LIGHTNING MCCOY

Lightning McCoy has been shooting since he was 11 years old, when his dad gave him a Remington Model 510 Target Master, single shot, 22 cal. “I still have it and it will still drive tacks.”  But for the important stuff, he’s been a Cowboy shooter for 3 years.

Here’s how he got his alias.  “1 of my boyhood hero’s was ‘’Col. Tim McCoy”, who was a real Army Col. and an Indian expert and who started in silent westerns and went on into talkies. He was one of the top western ‘B’ movie stars up until the early 1940’s. In his stories he sometimes played the character ‘’Lightning Bill Carson”. In Hollywood at the time, he

was one of if not the fastest draw-and-shoot star’s of the silver screen. They could tell by measuring the frames per second and see he was much faster then everybody else. I combined the names together into “Lightning McCoy”. It fits me, not because I’m a fast shooter but because my bullets hit everywhere – just like lightning.”

What does ol’ Lightning shoot?  Here’s his answer.  “I shoot 45 Cal. and love it. I shoot Vaqueros and a dream come true, a pair of real Colts to fill out my childhood dreams. I’ve been shooting Classic Cowboy for the past few months and really enjoy it. I’m not real good at it, but I hope to improve some. I turned 60 this past Dec. So I’m officially a senior. But, I don’t want to shoot in that category, because there’s too much competition from too many really good shooters. It would just make me look bad.”

Here’s what he thinks about Cowboy Action Shooting.  “ I love the sport and feel so lucky having settled here in Eastern TN., in the center of so much Cowboy Action Shooting.  After my retirement in a few years, I plan on traveling around and shooting wherever and whenever the opportunity arises.”  ….    We’re lucky to shoot with him.  He’s a good cowboy.

THE REAL WEST –  CHARLES GOODNIGHT    (1836 – 1929)

Charles Goodnight’s life was the stuff from which legends are made.  But if he were known for only 1 thing, it would probably be that he invented the Chuck Wagon. Yeah, he was a Texas Ranger, a Confederate soldier, a Comanche Indian fighter, a cattle rancher and the co-founder of the Goodnight Loving cattle trail, that ran from Belknap, Texas, to Fort Sumner, New Mexico.  There were a lot of Rangers and ranchers and Indian fighters and trail founders.  But there was only 1 inventor of the Chuck Wagon, and that was Charlie.

Charlie was born in 1836 in Illinois, but he moved to Texas with his family when he was 10.  In the years that followed, he grew as Texas and the great Wild West grew.  And then as the Wild West settled into maturity and slowed down, so did Charlie. But he remained in the cattle business for many years.  During

Charles Goodnight

that time, his inventive nature continued.  He bred Hereford with longhorn cattle and produced better cattle.  He wasn’t alone in that, but he pioneered another cattle breed:  the cattalo.  Cattalo was a cross breed between a cow and a buffalo.  It wasn’t a commercially successful cattle breed, but what the heck.  Charlie was the first to do it. … I mean the 1st person to have it done. He obviously didn’t do it himself.

Charlie died at his then small Texas ranch in 1929.  He was 93 years old. 

But like many legendary western characters, Charlie didn’t stay dead and buried.  Larry McMurtry used Charlie and his partner, Oliver Loving, as models for the main characters in his novel LONESOME DOVE. In that novel, Call and Gus assembled cattle and a crew and blazed a cattle trail to Montana.  And Gus was wounded fighting off Sioux Indians and died and had Call to take his body back to Texas.  Guess what?  Charlie and Oliver assembled cattle and a crew and blazed a cattle trail to New Mexico.  And on the way, Oliver was wounded fighting off Comanches and died.  And he asked Charlie to take his body back to Texas for burial.  And Charlie did.  Does this sound familiar?

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                The Ocoee Ranger page 3                                                                   January 2005

SHOOT RESULTS  (continued from page 1)

Classic

1. Cherokee Maddog

2.  Lightning McCoy

3.  Fast Harley

OCOEE RANGER WRANGLERS – THE 1ST OF 2005

Wranglers are people who put forth extra effort in helping their posse conduct monthly shoots.  We recognize the efforts of these cowboys & cowgirls by

awarding them “Wrangler” status and special certificates to salute their cowboy & cowgirl “Spirit of the Game.”  Here are January Wranglers.

Lightning McCoy

Tennessee Mongo

THE TOP GUN OF THE YEAR AND THE TOP 10 SHOOTERS – HOW THEY ARE DETERMINED

Have you ever wondered how the Top Gun of the Year and the Top 10 Shooters are determined? No, we don’t just eyeball it. No siree.  We use arithmetic to do it. And we borrowed a page from the Rodeo folks, modifying how they determine their world champion cowboy riders.  Here’s how our Top Shooters Of The Year are determined.

1.  A shooter must shoot in a minimum of 5 Ocoee Ranger Shoots during the calendar year from January through November, in order to qualify to earn an award.

2.  Points are awarded in each of 11 Ocoee Ranger matches in a calendar year (Jan. – Nov.), based on their standing in each shoot in which they place in the Top 10 Shooters.  (i.e. 1st place earns 10 points, 2nd place earns 9 points , 10th place earns 1 point.)

3.  Following the November shoot, we look at our numbers for the year, and rank the shooters by their scores. The shooter with the highest score is the Top Gun of the Year.  No, it doesn’t matter who wins the most matches.  It’s based on the total performance.  So, a shooter who does well throughout the year can still be a contender, even if he or she hasn’t won all the marbles in monthly shoots.

IS THIS HOW THE TOP COWGIRL SHOOTER IS DETERMINED?

No.  We do that a little differently.  Cowgirls have to shoot in 5 Ocoee Ranger shoots from January through November.  They are awarded points in monthly shoots of the basis of 3 points for placing 1st among cowgirls, 2 points for placing 2nd, and 1 point for placing 3rd.

Yes, it’s possible for a cowgirl to place in the Top 10 Shooters and to place in the cowgirl completion, using each appropriate calculation.

DO YOU USE NUMBERS TO CALCULATE WHO ARE THE MOST ACCURATE SHOOTERS FOR AWARDS?

Yes.

CAN DEADMAN COUNT WELL ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH ALL  OF THIS?

No.  He ain’t too smart, but Mesquite Millie looks over his shoulder and keeps him straight.

OCOEE RANGERS CONTACTS

Ocoee Red … (423) 476-5303  ocoeered@bellsouth.net  … Pleasant  .. (423) 476-6865  pleasant2@charter.net  ..

Deadman & Mesquite Millie  .. (770) 889-0934  jedalton@mindspring.com Horseshoe John .. (706) 866-5372  horseshoejohn@bellsouth.net  ..

Tri .. (423) 479-4450  adkissonjc@yahoo.com … Sundance .. (423) 479-8465  JSNEYMAN@aol.com

THE OCOEE RANGER  Newsletter Staff:   Deadman & Mesquite Millie          Website:  Obadiah King

3rd Annual Shoot-Out at Pigeon Forge Feb 24th – 26th, sponsored by the Knoxville Cowboys & Cowgirls.  For more information contact www.SMSSGazette.com

Page 1

Volume 2, Issue No. 12                                                                                December  2004

Our December Shoot & Family Social Event was a resounding success, and it appeared that everyone went away happy.  The day started a little chilly, but the sun came out, warmed up the range, and the 65 shooters had a terrific shoot.  In addition to the shooters, there were a number of visitors …. such as Ben Shot’s granddaughter.  She was so wrapped up that only her nose and eyes showed, but both she and her granddad seemed to have fun.  She even fired a fired a few shots, at the end of the match. And

Colonel Allison had grandchildren present.  And Moma Sue, Mrs. Colonel Mortimer shot her 1st match. 

We shot 3 stages, with more than 20 shooters per posse, and when all the smoke cleared, Marshal Too Tall was December’s Top Gun.  The shooting was not only fast, it was accurate:  16 cowboys shot matches with no misses.  Then, we adjourned to the Golden Corral in Cleveland, where we had lunch, presented 2004 Awards, drew for prizes and then exchanged gifts.

Ocoee Red greeted all the shooters and visitors: there were 70 or more at the after shoot event, even with a few shooters riding for home after the shoot.  Then he began the festivities by presenting, on behalf of a lot of contributing Ocoee Rangers, a SASS Life Membership and a Gold Badge to Deadman.  Ocoee Red said that the presentation was in appreciation for all he has done for the Ocoee Rangers. Ol’ Deadman turned red, according 

Colonel Allison Receives 2004 Spirit of the Game Award

to KD Hollister, and said thank you to Ocoee Red and the Ocoee Rangers. For once, he was almost at a loss for words, but not for long.  Then Ocoee Red paid tribute to Colonel Allison and presented him the 2004 Spirit of the Game Award, in recognition of his sense of humor and his whole-hearted enjoyment of and participation in Ocoee Rangers Cowboy & Cowgirl Shooting throughout the year. The Colonel’s young’uns:  Ruckus Roy and Big Jim looked on as he was presented his award.  They can be seen behind him in the photo above.

Ocoee Red presents SASS Gold Badge &

Life Membership to Deadman

Cruel Hand Luke Receives 2004 Top Gun Award

Ocoee Red then thanked the set-up gang, posse leaders and ol’ T-Bone Angus, who wrote most of the stages we shot in 2004. 

2004 Top Hand Certificates were presented to the following cowboys: Linc, Double Eagle, Horseshoe John, Marshal Too Tall, T-Bone Angus, Tucson Tuco.

2004 Posse Leader Certificates were presented to the following:  Catoosa Kid, Coffee Joe, Double Eagle, Dustin Clays, Hombre Sin Nombre, Horseshoe John, Lightning McCoy, Marshal Too Tall, Ocoee Red, Pleasant, Tarheel, T-Bone Angus, Tri, Tucson Tuco, R.I.P. Overland.  (Continued on page 2.)

Out on the Range

L-R: Sitting: Pyro, Pleasant, Deadman  –  Kneeling Row 2:  Ruckus Roy, Chickamauga Clint, Sundance McNeyman, Tri, Tellico, Coffee Joe  –  Standing:  Big Jim, Colonel Allison, Blayde Hollister, Tarheel, R.I.P. Overland, Ricochet Richard,  Festus D. Deputy, Tennessee Jake, Ben Shot, Dixie Land Delite, Summer Dove, Devil Dog, Horseshoe John.

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               The Ocoee Ranger Page 2                                                              December 2004

December Shoot & Family Social Event Continued

After the service awards had been presented, it was time to recognize shooter’s performance.  Festus D. Deputy was presented the 2004 Most Improved Shooter.  Deadman pointed out that Festus achieved his award in a rather strange manner:  he didn’t practice or do other traditional stuff.  He changed his alias from Festus Dirt Dobber to Festus D. Deputy and achieved instant improvement. However he did it, Festus shot  very well in 2004.

Then, the 2004 Top Cowgirl Shooter was recognized, although she couldn’t be present to accept her award:  Carolina Gem.  As her name was announced, someone in the crowd was overheard to say, “She shot gunfighter in her last match and really shot good.”  And she did, just like she always does.  And when she does, she does it with a smile and with class.

Festus D. Deputy – 2004’s Most Improved Shooter

Of course there are 2 ways to shoot:  fast and accurate.  Some cowboys and cowgirls can shoot both ways, and some can shoot 1 or the other.  In any event, the 2004 Top 5 Most Accurate Shooters were presented awards as follows:

1.  Deadman  2.  Hombre Sin Nombre  3. Carolina Gem and Owlhoot Hardin (they tied in the basic measurement and in the back-up tie breaker)  5.  Rev. Adam Jones

The 2004 Top 10 Shooters were presented awards as follows:  Top Gun – Cruel Hand Luke

No. 9 Double Eagle

No. 10 Cool Waters

Following the presentation of awards, drawings were held to determine the lucky winners of prizes provided by the many sponsors of our 2004 Christmas Shoot & Family Event.  Keystone won the grand prize, a muzzle-loading rifle provided by Legends Outdoor Legacy, located in Athens, TN.  With a smile on his face, Keystone said, “My son will love this.”  Many other cowboys and cowgirls won prizes provided by our sponsors.  Without the support of these very generous vendors and other sponsors, we couldn’t put on this type of event. 

As you buy shooting products and accessories, and dine out, and buy magazines, and other products, please remember our sponsors throughout 2005.  Here’s a list of these very special folks:

Ø      LEGENDS OUTDOOR ADVANTAGE – Athens, TN

Ø      EAGLE GRIPS

Ø       STARLINE BRASS CO.

Ø       CALICO LASSIE – LADIES VICTORIAN AND OLD WEST ACCOUTREMENTS AND ACCESSORIES

Ø       SHOOT! MAGAZINE

Ø       TRUE WEST MAGAZINE

Ø       SADDLEBAG BULLETS –  (Cool Waters)

Ø       JACKXONBILT HAT COMPANY, Salmon, Idaho

Ø       BOOTH WESTERN ART MUSEUM – Cartersville , GA

Ø       BENTON SHOOTERS SUPPLY – Benton, TN

Ø       TEXAS JACK’S WILD WEST OUTFITTERS

Ø       LOGAN’S ROADHOUSE – Cleveland, TN

Ø       GOLDEN CORRAL restaurant – Cleveland, TN

Ø       TERRY’S TOYS  (old west guns) – T-Bone Angus

Ø       HAMILTON DRY GOODS – Cookville, TN

In addition, the following Ocoee Rangers provided prizes for the drawing:

Horseshoe John …..  Sundance McNeyman …..  Pleasant ….. Sheriff Donald & Deadeye Daisy …..  Tri ….. Ocoee Red …..  Mesquite Millie & Deadman

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                   The Ocoee Ranger Page 3                                                          December  2004                                                                                                                      

  DECEMBER SHOOT RESULTS 

(continued from page 1)

Top Gun  –  Marshal Too Tall

TOP 10 SHOOTERS DECEMBER

1. Marshal Too Tall   2. Unpleasant   3.  Pleasant     4.  Ocoee Red  5.  Festus D. Deputy   6. T-Bone Angus   7.  Double Eagle   8.  Dustin Clays    9.  Pyro   10.  Tri

Classic

1.  Dustin Clays

2.  Lightning McCoy

3.  Fast Harley

No Miss Matches

Marshal Too Tall … Festus D. Deputy … Deadman … Dustin Clays … Lightning McCoy … Tri …  Ranger Roger … Tellico … Blayde Hollister … Polecat Carl … Pleasant … Ruckus Roy … Sundance McNeyman … Sheriff Donald …

Wildcat  Wilkey … Chickamauga Clint

Wranglers   …..  Bulldog Jim ….  Double Eagle  ….  Blayde Hollister

CLOSING 2004   –   In closing 2004, Special Thanks are appropriate to the following people:

Special Score Keepers … Mrs. Loose Cinch, Deadeye Daisy, Mrs. Tucson Tuco

Website Editor …. Getting our website current and keeping it going ….  Obadiah King

OCOEE RANGERS CONTACTS

Ocoee Red … (423) 476-5303  ocoeered@bellsouth.net  … Pleasant  .. (423) 476-6865  pleasant2@charter.net  ..

Deadman & Mesquite Millie  .. (770) 889-0934  jedalton@mindspring.com Horseshoe John .. (706) 866-5372  djlott@bellsouth.net  ..

Tri .. (423) 479-4450  adkissonjc@yahoo.com … Sundance .. (423) 479-8465  JSNEYMAN@aol.com

THE OCOEE RANGER  Newsletter Staff:   Deadman & Mesquite Millie  Website Editor:  Obadiah King

Thank You & Happy Holidays

2004 has been a very special year. We’ve had 155 different cowboys & cowgirls shoot with us, and we’ve had more cowgirls shoot with us than ever before.  Some of us have shot together and enjoyed fellowship since 1998, and some have joined the gang over time … with some new this year.

It‘s been our pleasure to edit The Ocoee Ranger newsletter this year and do our part to help make Cowboy & Cowgirl Shooting Fun In Cleveland, Tennessee. We hope that you’ve had as much fun as we have.

Friendship is a precious thing, and we’re both honored by your friendship.

Deadman & Mesquite Millie

Have a safe and very Happy Holiday Season and a Terrific New Year throughout 2005.

Mesquite Millie  &  Deadman

 Thank you all very much for honoring me with the Gold Badge of a SASS Life Member.  I’ll wear it with pride, and will always be honored to have received this very special gift from you.   ….. Deadman

NEXT SHOOT – January 22, 2005  

Buffalo Shoot begins at 8:00  ….  Registration begins 8:15 am  …..    –   Posse Leader’s walk through 9:30 am …..  Safety Meeting & pervious month’s awards presented 10:00 a.m.  ….  Then we Shoot!

…………………………………………………

3rd Annual Shoot-Out at Pigeon Forge Feb 24th – 26th, sponsored by the Knoxville Cowboys & Cowgirls.  For more information contact www.SMSSGazette.com or ask Tennessee Tombstone about it at our next Ocoee Rangers shoot.

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Volume 2, Issue No. 11                                                                                                  November, 2004

November is …… Well, it’s a month for turkeys.  That’s right.  First, we had turkeys for lunch or dinner on Thanksgiving.  Then on the Saturday after Turkey Day, a lot of turkeys dressed as cowgirls & cowboys and hustled out to the range to play:  64 cowboys (57) & cowgirls (7) shot the match. The November match closed competition for 2004 shooting awards.  No, it’s not the last shoot of the year.  Remember, we award annual awards in the event immediately following the December shoot.  So in order to calculate the standings and prepare the awards, we need a little time. 

The day started a bit chilly, moderated a little, and then ended in the rain. But it was a fun day.  How’d it go?  Well, Dead Beat showed up in new winter duds.  We couldn’t decide to register him to shoot, or put a leash on him and feed him a few prairie dogs.  Coyotes love prairie dogs, or that’s what’s been told. 

C. Rider and General Breckinridge were there in confederate uniforms, making former Yankees in the crowd a mite apprehensive … but only for a little while.  Then the shooting started.  Ol’ T-Bone

Posse Leaders, L-R:  T-Bone, Double Eagle, Horseshoe John, Tucson Tuco, Marshal Too Tall

did a good job with the stage scenarios.  They had movement in them, went fast, weren’t confusing, and were fun to shoot.  11 shooters shot all 5 stages without a miss: 10 cowboys and a cowgirl. Perfect match shooters were: Marshal Too Tall, Double Eagle, R.I.P. Overland, Horseshoe John, Catoosa Kid, Rev. Adam Jones, Tennessee Ted, Deadman, Yankee Shiner, Ranger Roger and Yogo Blue.

Dead Beat – the coyote

Unfortunately, a few of our shooters were under the weather or recuperating from medical situations and couldn’t come out and play: Owlhoot Hardin, Shadrack Jones, and Rawhide Rex. A couple of others were stuck baby-sitting:  Dustin Clays and Pleasant.

The Top 10 Shooters were:  1. Cool Waters  2.  Ocoee Red  3. Tabasco JOT  4. Double Eagle  5. Festus D. Deputy  6. Marshal Too Tall  7. Whiskey River Nelson  8. Unpleasant       9. R.I.P. Overland  10. S.A. Pondwater         

The Top Gun was Cool Waters, the gentleman from North Alabama, and the Top Cowgirl Shooter was Last Kiss.    (See shoot results continued on page 3.)

Out on the Range  –  Marshal Too Tall’s Posse

Sorry, cowfolk, but the Word Scratcher didn’t recognize several of these cowboys.

L-R Kneeling: Slater, Tennessee Ted, Tri,  ?

Middle Row:  Awful Close, ?, ?, Fast Harley.

Back Row:  ?, Marshal Too Tall, Last Kiss, Cherokee Mad Dog, ?

Ain’t it interesting how Too Tall and Last Kiss temporarily grew fast and tall to be able to stand and tower over all the other folks.

NEXT SHOOT – December 18  

Buffalo Shoot begins at 8:00 am  ….  Registration begins 8:15 am  Posse Leader’s walk through 9:30 am …..  Safety Meeting & pervious month’s awards presented 10:00 am  ….  Shooting!  …  Go to Golden Corral for lunch & presentation of 2004 awards, drawing for prizes (anyone who has shot with us in 2004 is eligible), gift swap –for those who want to swap (it ain’t required – you can attend & be eligible for the drawing without participating in the swap).  See page 3.

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The Ocoee Ranger page 2                                                                                              November 2004                                                                                                                

THE REEL WEST  –  BOB NOLAN  (1908 – 1980)

Bob Nolan was a cowboy music songwriter, singer and Western movie actor.  Born in Canada, he came to the US as a youngster and lived in Massachusetts, southern Arizona, California and a lot of other places.  It’s obvious that Bob was a man of sound judgment:  he left both Canada and Massachusetts. During his rambling, Bob spent a lot of time in the southwestern desert country, and that experience greatly influenced the music that he wrote.

In 1929, Bob answered an ad in a Los Angles newspaper, placed by a young feller named Len Slye who was looking for a singer to join his cowboy musical group.  That group would go on to become The Sons of the Pioneers, the most significant Western musical group that ever performed.  Bob wrote 2 of the Pioneers’ signature songs and biggest hits ever;  Cool Water and

Bob Nolan

Tumbling Tumbleweeds. And he wrote lots of other songs: like Way Out There, and Rainbow In The Sky, and he co-wrote Blue Prairie and others.

When Len Slye became Roy Rogers, Bob Nolan and the Pioneers appeared in a lot of his movies.  But they were in a lot of other movies as well.  They appeared in many of Charles Starrett’s (the Durango Kid) movies. And they appeared in some of Gene Autry’s movies.  Believe it or not, they even appeared in a Western movie, Rhythm on the Range, with that rootin’ tootin’ cowboy Bing Crosby. And the Pioneers provided music in several John Ford Westerns.  Because of Bob’s prominence in the group, he had speaking roles in a number of Westerns.  In all, he appeared in 79 films.  But while he was an actor, Bob’s real prominence was as a songwriter.  Shucks, cowboy singers performing today still sing Bob’s songs.

Bob was inducted into the Western Music Hall of Fame 2 times: once as a member of The Sons of the Pioneers, and in 1994 as an individual songwriter. He died in 1980, and his ashes were scattered as his song said, Way Out There across the Nevada desert.

Cool Waters

THE WEST OF OUR IMAGINATION  – COOL WATERS

How long has Cool Waters been a cowboy shooter?  Well, just look at his SASS badge, Life # 7306.  That means he’s been shootin’ for a long time. Some of us old time Ocoee Rangers shooters 1st shot with him back in 1998, when we shot at Whitwell, TN.  He shot pretty well back then.  He still does. 

While Cool Waters is a regular Ocoee Ranger, he also shoots with the North Alabama Regulators, and serves as their Territorial Governor.  He’s also a cowboy businessman. In case you haven’t noticed, and if you haven’t your vision ain’t too good and that’s probably why you miss targets, he normally shows up at cowboy shoots with more bullets than all the rest

of us put together.  No, he doesn’t shoot’em all.  He’s Mr. Saddle Bag Bullets Company.  Look in his trailer, or on his table, and you’ll find bullets,and powder, and primers, and other stuff.  His prices are good and so is his merchandise.

But that ain’t all.  1st and foremost, ol’ Cool Waters is a nice feller and a Cowboy shooter.  He shoots fast, accurate, and he shares his knowledge about the game with others. If you know him, this ain’t news.  If you’re new to the group and haven’t met him, introduce yourself at the next shoot.

THE REAL WEST   –   LUKE SHORT   (1854 – 1893)

Luke Short was a frontier gambler, whiskey peddler to the Indians, saloonkeeper, gunman, army scout, and friend of Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. He also shared a common interest with Miss Kitty Russell of TV’s GUNSMOKE: at one time he owned an interest in the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City, Kansas.

Luke was born in Mississippi in 1854, but like lots of frontier characters, he went west and then moved around a lot. In his wandering, he ran a trading post in Nebraska, gambled in Leadville, Co and Tombstone, AZ and Dodge City, KS, owned and operated saloons in Dodge City and Fort Worth, TX and was involved in several gunfights along the way.

Luke Short

In 1871, Luke was living in Forth Worth, where he had part ownership in the White Elephant Saloon.  “Long Haired” Jim Courtwright, a former lawman and pistolero, was extorting protection money from saloon owners as a way to supplement his income.  Luke, however, was not a feller to willingly part with his money in such fashion.  He might lose it with the turn of a card, but he didn’t just hand it over to someone who had a threat and a pistol.  So, Luke sent “Long Haired” Jim to the pearly gates, where he could try to extort entrance from ol’ Saint Pete.

Luke’s last gunfight occurred in 1890.  Both he and his opponent were wounded and later recovered.  But shortly thereafter, Luke became ill.  He went to Geuda Springs, KS for treatment, but he never recovered. He died in 1893.

It’s interesting to note the ages at which many notable persons of western history died:  Luke Short was 39.  So were “Wild Bill” Hickok & General George Armstrong Custer.  Doc Holiday was 35. John Wesley Harding & Ben Thompson were 42, old men in relative terms.  Jesse James was 35. King Fisher was 30. Bill Longley was 27.

Evidently, the smell of gun smoke wasn’t anymore healthy than the smell of cigarette smoke.  And the ammo manufacturers didn’t put warning labels on their products.

OCOEE RANGERS CONTACTS

Ocoee Red … (423) 476-5303  ocoeered@bellsouth.net  … Pleasant  .. (423) 476-6865  pleasant2@charter.net  ..

Deadman & Mesquite Millie  .. (770) 889-0934  jedalton@mindspring.com Horseshoe John .. (706) 866-5372  djlott@bellsouth.net  ..

Tri .. (423) 479-4450  adkissonjc@yahoo.com … Sundance .. (423) 479-8465  JSNEYMAN@aol.com THE OCOEE RANGER  Newsletter Staff:   Deadman & Mesquite Millie          Website:  Obadiah King

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The Ocoee Ranger Page 3                                                                                              November 2004

SHOOT RESULTS  (continued from page 1)

Classic

1.  T-Bone Angus

Wranglers

Sheriff Donald, Summer Dove, Sunflower, Tabasco JOT, S.A. Pondwater,

Cherokee Mad Dog

OCOEE RANGERS CHRISTMAS SHOOT & FAMILY EVENT  –  DEC 18

o        4 stage shoot at the Cleveland range – regular time

o        Followed by Lunch and festivities at the Golden Corral in Cleveland …  lunch is Dutch treat

o        After lunch … presentation of 2004 Annual Awards

o        Drawing for prizes provided by sponsors (vendors & others)

o         Gift swap  … Those who choose to do so can bring an unwrapped gift, not to exceed an approximate value of $10 to $15, to put in for a drawing among participants who want to trade gifts.  It’s a fun event, but if you don’t want to participate in this part of the whing-ding, it ain’t required and won’t be noticed.

SPONSORS – 2004 CHRISTMAS SHOOT & FAMILY EVENT

o        SHOOT MAGAZINE

o        TRUE WEST MAGAZINE 

o        SADDLEBAG BULLETS CO.  (COOL WATERS) STARLINE, INC.  www.starlinebrass.com 

o        CALLICO LASSIE –Ladies Victorian and Old West Accoutrements & Accessories 

o        EAGLE GRIPS   www.eaglegrips.com

o        THE BOOTH WESTERN ART MUSEUM in Cartersville, GA  

o        HAMILTON DRY GOODS in Cookeville, TN  

o        JAXONBILT HAT COMPANY  in Salmon, Idaho 

o        TEXAS JACK’S OLD WEST OURFITTERS in Fredericksburg, TX

o        HORSESHOE JOHN

o        MESQUITE MILLIE & DEADMAN 

o       And maybe others.  It’s still early

Friendly vendors & contributors in our 2003 event were: Accurate Arms  …  www.accruatepowder.com ; Ajax Custom Grips  … www.AJAXGRIPS.com  ; Benton Shooters Supply, Benton, TN  ;  Big Nose Kate’s Saloon – Tombstone, AZ   www.bignosekate.com  ;  Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville, GA ; Desperado Cowboy Bullets … www.cowboybullets.com ;  Eagle Grips – www.eaglegrips.com ; Hodgdon Powder  …  www.hodgdon.com  ;  Outlaw Enterprises, Inc. … 7461 E RD 260, Scott City, KS 67871  www.ridetheoutlawtrail.com ; River Junction Trade Co.  www.riverjunction.com  ;  Ruger Arms Co.   www.ruger.com  ; Saddlebag Bullets (Cool Waters) … 256-776-4909  (Cool Waters) ;  Shoot Magazine www.ShootMagazine.com  ; Starline Brass   www.starlinebrass.com  ;  True West Magazine … www.TrueWestMagazine.com

Don’t forget.  Support these great vendors who are supporting us in 2004 and those who supported us last year when you buy cowboy or cowgirl products, or when you have other people put things on your Christmas list.  They help us, so please help them.

DOES SANTA CLAUS REALLY EXIST?

“Is there really a Santa Claus?” Usually folks ask this when they’re young and just entering the age of skepticism that, unfortunately, marks them as budding adults.  Some adult folks, without pausing to think, would answer, “No.  There ain’t no Santa Claus”. But there’s more to that question, and its answer, than meets the eye.

What does it take to see Santa Claus?  Well, it takes a spirit of human kindness…. And a touch of family concern … And a sprinkle of being young-at-heart …. And the ability to see the sparkle in little kids’ eyes during the Christmas holiday season …. And the ability to enjoy holiday music and Christmas trees …. And sharing smiles, or courtesies, or gifts, or cards, or other stuff with others …. Well, you’ve got the idea.  And it takes imagination, and Cowboy & Cowgirl Shooters certainly have imagination. 

Where will you see Santa?  Well, you’ll see his helpers, dressed in their red suits all over town. You may not notice, but if you look close enough, you’ll see Santa in street clothes helping people and being good parents to children and enjoying families and friends.  After all, Santa is the spirit of Christmas kindness and giving that is within us. 

Santa Claus

Is there really a Santa Claus?  You bet your boots & spurs there is. And as long as we keep the Christmas spirit, there always will be.  We just have to look for him.  And if we really look, not just superficially with our eyes but with our hearts, we’ll see him.  Shucks, he probably wears a buckskin shirt, a 10-gallon hat, SASS and Ocoee Ranger badges and six-guns. And when he laughs, he’ll probably say, “Ho, ho, ho, pardner.”  And he might look like just about anyone … maybe even like Pleasant,  or Carolina Gem, or Shadrack Jones or Colonel Mortimer   or …………

3rd Annual Shoot-Out at Pigeon Forge Feb 24th – 26th, sponsored by the Knoxville Cowboys & Cowgirls.  For more information contact www.SMSSGazette.com or ask Tennessee Tombstone about it at our next Ocoee Rangers shoot.

Next Shoot: Shooters with 1miss in Nov. eligible for Silver Boot Drawing for prize sponsored by Terry’s Toys (T-Bone)

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