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Volume 2, Issue No. 9                                                                                                                                September  2004

  ROY ROGERS, KING OF THE COWBOYS, SAVES THE DAY AT SEPTEMBER SHOOT

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2004

Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys  & Dale Evans, Queen of the West

In September, we turned the clock back and shot stages that celebrated the Reel and Real lives of Roy Rogers, Hollywood’s King of the Cowboys.  On screen, he led moral lives, was considerate of others, and was respected by other people.  That’s the same way he led his real life with his wife Dale Evans, Queen of the West.  So, we remembered Roy at our September gathering.  Folks like Whiskey River Nelson didn’t really remember him and certainly didn’t remember Gabby Hayes (Gabby appeared in 1 stage), but Owlhoot Hardin and RIP Overland and Linc and Deadeye Daisy do.  In the stages, Roy saved the day.  And Gabby blustered.  And Dale was taken captive. And … well, it was like the old movies.  Only we became the heroes. After all, we’re heroic.  Or at least most of us are.

Some of us were even philosophers.  During lunch, some cowfolk were discussing the merits, or lack of such, of eating liver.  Horseshoe John commented, “Eatin’ liver’s not really good for you.  Liver captures all the bad stuff in the body.”  Whiskey River Nelson responded. “Yeah.  It’s like eatin’ an oil filter.”  That comment followed his slander of Deadman.  Horseshoe told Whiskey that he should go to some other area shoots with him.  He said that he’d been to Wartrace, and that there were only about 10 shooters whose SASS badge number was less than 20,000.  So they couldn’t know much about shootin’. Whiskey pointed at Deadman’s badge (# 18832) and said, “That doesn’t help him.” 

Sometimes a cowperson comes along with a nifty alias that’s catchy, like Last Kiss. We had a 1st time Ocoee Ranger shooter, shooting his 2nd cowboy shootin’ match, with another nifty alias.  His cowboy name is ….. the Midnight Marauder.  When asked what he thought of the match, at the close of the day, he did what the rest of do.  He smiled real big and said, “I’m hooked. I love it.  I shot my 1st match in Knoxville, and I knew then that I was hooked.  I’ll be back.”  That sounds like a line from an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, doesn’t it? The Midnight Marauder is a Chattanooga cowboy.  His shootin’ pardner is Gracious Gringo.

How’d the shootin’ go?  Well, Cruel Hand Luke was the Top Gun, and placed 1st in the Traditional Class.  Unpleasant came in 2nd and shot a perfect match, without missing any targets.  In total, 5 cowboys shot perfect / no miss matches:  Unpleasant, Owlhoot

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2004

Midnight Marauder

Hardin, Tri, Deadman and Hombre Sin Nombre.  Owlhoot, while shooting a perfect match, placed 1st in the Duelist class.  Tabasco JOT placed 1st in the Tabasco JOT’s Side Match and also placed 1st in the Senior class. Last Kiss was the top Cowgirl shooter. Awful Close was the top Modern shooter, joined by Marshal Too Tall as 1st place 49er, Pleasant as 1st place Gunfighter, the Catoosa Kid as 1st place Black Powder shooter and Lightning McCoy as the top Classic cowboy shooter.  The Buffalo shoot winners were Yukon Hootch, 100 yard .22 cal. and Marshal Too Tall, 100 yard center fire class.

Out on the Range  –  Another Purty Posse

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2004

Front Sitting:  Cruel Hand Luke.  Kneeling L-R:  Pyro & Unpleasant. Sitting Table:  Deadeye Daisy.  Standing L-R: Squire Shooter, Marshal Too Tall, Catoosa Kid, Sheriff Donald, Deadfoot, Awful Close, Pleasant, Bittercreek Jack.

If you look, members of this posse are showing their shooting secrets.  Cruel Hand Luke is intent and focused. Unpleasant is cool and casual.  Too Tall has his eyes closed – that’s how he shoots. The Catoosa Kid – way in the back in the red bandana – is on his toes. Pleasant is smiling in confidence.  The rest ain’t sharing their secrets. They’re poker faced, except for Deadeye Daisy. She’s smiling, but she ain’t sayin’ nothin’.

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Page 2

The Ocoee Ranger,  page 2                                                                                                                        September 2004

THE REEL WEST, REAL WEST & WEST OF OUR IMAGINATION

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2004

“Cutting Back” – by Olaf Weighorst

The Reel West –

Olaf Weighorst

1899 – 1988

Olaf Weighorst was born in Denmark. When he was 19, he came to America, landing in New York. He had $1.25 in his pocket, was unable to speak English, and wanted to see what remained of the American West.  And see it, he did. Olaf joined the U.S. Cavalry and served on the

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2004

Olaf Weighorst – Western Artist

Mexican border.  When his enlistment was up, he stayed in the west, drifting around and working as a cowboy, shoeing horses, as a Boarder Patrolman and a policeman.  From his experience with horses, in and out of uniform, he became 1 of the best contemporary Western artists, ranking with Charlie Russell and Frederick Remington. (This word-scratcher thinks Olaf is much better than Remington.) Olaf spent a lifetime painting horses, cowboys and Indians. Shucks, he even appeared in and contributed greatly to 1 of John Wayne’s movies:  El Dorado, produced in 1967.

If you’ve seen El Dorado, you’ll remember that the movie comes on with a great theme song and terrific paintings of cowboys and horses in Western landscapes.  Olaf painted those pictures.  He also appeared in the movie as “the Sweed”, the gunsmith who sold James Caan his sawed-of shotgun.  If you haven’t seen El Dorado, give it a look.  And look closely at Olaf’s artwork and listen to the music.  They are the best part of the movie, even if John Wayne does dominate the action.

The West Of Our Imagination –

Sundance McNeyman

Sundance McNeyman started Cowboy Shooting about 8 years ago, 1st at Whitwell, TN with the Marauders, then with the Leadmine Gang at the Cleveland Range and now as an Ocoee Ranger.  Shooting in the Modern class, he uses both Winchester and Marlin rifles, however he says that he’s shot his Winchester ’94 most of the time.  What pistols does he shoot? “I shoot .41 cal., and .44 cal. & .45. cal.  I haven’t shot .38’s yet. I might do that, when I get old and decrepit.”

How’d he choose his alias?  He said, “Sundance was my nickname. I just added Mc in front of Neyman.”  Whatever the name and where ever the location, ol’ Sundance is a fine feller to shoot with.

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2004

Sundance McNeyman

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2004

John Johnston

The Real West – “Liver-Eating” John Johnston

1824 – 1900

John Johnston was a bigger than life, rip snortin’ character from the Wild West.  In his day, he was a mountain man, fur trapper, riverboat wood supplier, Civil War Veteran, deputy sheriff, town marshal, and warrior against the Crow nation.  If you’ve seen the movie JEREMIAH JOHNSON, you’ve seen a version of John’s life, a tame version of it.  Remember the murder of the crazy woman’s family depicted in the film?  There really was such a massacre, and ol’ John tracked down and killed the killers.  And when Crow raiders killed and scalped John’s Indian wife, he began a 20-year revenge campaign against the Crows, killing many and eating their livers.  From his war, he earned 2 nicknames:  Crow Killer and Liver Eating Johnston.

In 1864, John joined the army.  Discharged a year latter, he returned to the west. 13 years later, 1of John’s friends was killed by Indians.  Ol’ John and another feller tracked down the killers and killed them all. But ol’ John wasn’t finished.  He served as a Deputy Sheriff in Leadville,

Colorado and later was Town Marshal of Red Lodge, Montana.  Shucks, he was in his 60’s by then.

John’s health failed him in his later years, and he died in a Veteran’s Administration Hospital in 1900.  But the old man didn’t stay dead. No sir.  Warner Brothers came along in 1972, and using 2 books based on ol’ John’s life (Crow Killer by Raymond Thorp and Robert Bunker and Mountain Man by Vardis Fisher), they recruited Robert Redford, called him Jeremiah Johnson, and made a movie about ol’ John.  Of course Redford was prettier than ol’ John, but that’s usually the case with movies. The movie was a hit.  But that wasn’t the end of ol’ John. A California teacher read the books, started a class project with his students, and ultimately had ol’ John’s bones dug up and reburied at the Old Trail Town site in Cody, WY in 1974. Over 2,000 people attended the burial service.

Liver-Eating John Johnston, the Crow Killer, was sure a rambler …. in life and in death. Maybe he’ll stay put in Old Trail Town.

EDITORS: 

Ocoee Ranger Newsletter – Deadman & Mesquite Millie      Website – Obadiah King

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Page 3

The Ocoee Ranger Page 3                                                                                                                         September  2004

  WRANGLERS & SHOOT RESULTS  (continued from page 1)

Shooting Results – September

TOP GUN – Cruel Hand Luke

TOP 10 SHOOTERS:  1. Cruel Hand Luke   2.  Unpleasant    3.  Marshal Too Tall  4.  Tabasco JOT  5.  Festus D. Deputy

6.       Double Eagle  7.  Pleasant  8.  Owlhoot Hardin 

9.  Whiskey River Nelson  10.  Keystone

Traditional

1. Cruel Hand Luke

2. Unpleasant

3. Festus D. Deputy

Cowgirl

1. Last Kiss

2. Deadeye Daisy

3. Shootin’ Sue

Modern

1. Awful Close

2. Limp Along Charlie

3. Sundance McNeyman

Senior

1. Tabasco JOT

2. Sheriff Donald

3. Tennessee Hawk

49er

1. Marshal Too Tall

2. Double Eagle

3. Squire Shooter

Gunfighter

1. Pleasant

2. Keystone

3. Pyro

Black Powder

1. Catoosa Kid

Duelist

1. Owlhoot Hardin

2. Tri

3. Horseshoe John

Buffalo Shoot

Yukon Hootch – .22 cal

Marshal  Too Tall – Center fire

Tabasco JOT’s  Side Match

Tabasco JOT

Classic

1.  Lightning McCoy

2.  Gracious Gringo

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2004

Tennessee Ted

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2004

Santa Fe

WRANGLERS

September

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2004

Sunflower

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2004

Tucson Tuco

Ocoee Wranglers are special people.  They’re folks who have been recognized for showing extra initiative and spirit of the game in helping to successfully conduct our monthly shoots.  They’re people who jump in and whole-heartedly help conduct the shoot, without the Posse Leader having to ask or tell them everything to do.  In short, they’re invaluable to their posses and to the group as a whole.

Sometimes it’s hard to choose Wranglers, because there are several workers in the posse who demonstrate extra effort.  And everyone can’t be Wranglers at the same shoot.  The Wranglers are a touch above the rest of us at that particular shoot.

So, jump in and help.  Show initiative and cowboy / cowgirl spirit.  Maybe you’ll be nominated to be a Wrangler.  If you are, you’ll get a special Wrangler Recognition Certificate.  But in any event, the more you’re involved , the more you’ll enjoy the shoot.

U.S. POST OFFICE & TENNESSEE HAWK PRESENT – JOHN WAYNE STAMP

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2004

Hey, cowboy or cowgirl! Have you seen the new John Wayne stamp that Uncle Sam’s Post Office Department has issued in its Legends of Hollywood series.  It looks pretty nifty.  In it the Duke is dressed as he appeared in THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE. If you buy a page of stamps, the right side of the page has a picture of him as he appeared in THE SEARCHERS.  If you want a page, you’d better go to the post office and get 1 pretty fast.  They won’t last long.  Oh yeah.  If you say that you haven’t seen the new stamp, then look on the upper right corner of the envelope that brought you this newsletter. Tennessee Hawk provided you a John Wayne stamp.  When you see him, say “Thanks, cowboy”.

BELL STARR’S EAST TENNESSEE CONNECTION

By Big

Do you know about Belle Starr’s East Tennessee connection?  Sam Starr, her husband, was the great grandson of Caleb Starr, for whom Starr Mountain is named.  Starr Mountain is that hogback ridge that runs from the Hiwassee Gorge to Mecca Pike, between Etowah and Tellico Plains.  This link ,Lawman Jesse Cochran, tells the family’s story.  (Follow up to  Belle Starr – Real West Aug 04)

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2004

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2004

Big

3rd Annual

The Ocoee Ranger, September 2004

Shoot-Out at

Pigeon Forge

SMOKEY MOUNTAIN SHOOTISTS SOCIETY SPONSORS 3RD ANNUAL SHOOT-OUT AT PIGEON FORGE   FEB 24 – 25 & 26

The Smoky Mountain Shootists Society, our cowboy & cowgirl shootin’ friends in Knoxville, are once again sponsoring a big shoot in February 2005:  the 24th – 26th.

Several Ocoee Rangers shot in both previous shoots and really enjoyed themselves.  The February Ocoee Rangers shoot will not be held in 2005 so we won’t conflict with the Knoxville cowboys big shoot.  But the Rangers will shoot on 2 Saturdays in March.  If you’re looking for a fun shoot in February, support our pals in Knoxville and shoot in their Pigeon Forge event. 

In addition to the shoot, Pigeon Forge’s Saddle Up! Celebration also has some top quality Western performers slated to appear in concerts:  the Sons of the San Joaquin (they’re excellent), R. W. Hampton, Jim Bowman, Brenn Hill, and Joni Harms.  There will also be an indoors Vendors’ Row of Western stuff at the Music Road Convention Center.  For more information contact www.SMSSGazette.com or ask Tennessee Tombstone about it at our next Ocoee Rangers shoot.

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The Ocoee Ranger page 4                                                                                                                          September 2004

SHOOT RESULTS – SEPTEMBER 2004

Alias

CL

S-1

R-1

S-2

R-2

S-3

R-3

S-4

R-4

S-5

R-5

OS

OR

OT

Miss

CS

Stgs

Cruel Hand Luke

T

17.21

2

22.08

4

13.09

1

39.76

4

40.76

2

13

1

132.90

1

4

5

Unpleasant

T

14.63

1

17.99

1

14.58

2

41.07

5

64.48

24

33

2

152.75

0

5

5

Marshal Too Tall

49er

22.66

3

19.17

3

28.04

25

37.11

2

46.80

6

39

3

153.78

3

3

5

Tabasco JOT

Sr

29.75

6

25.57

12

16.99

4

35.05

1

57.60

18

41

4

164.96

3

2

5

Festus D. Deputy

T

30.38

8

26.82

15

22.90

15

41.16

6

39.18

1

45

5

160.44

1

4

5

Double Eagle

49er

34.81

13

27.00

17

19.13

7

42.61

7

48.78

11

55

6

172.33

3

4

5

Pleasant

GF

35.80

16

24.10

8

28.82

27

38.97

3

42.42

3

57

7

170.11

6

2

1

Owlhoot Hardin

D

31.64

9

32.18

27

21.42

12

52.83

17

44.94

5

70

8

183.01

0

5

5

Whiskey River Nelson

T

62.25

50

19.11

2

15.40

3

43.09

9

46.88

8

72

9

186.73

5

3

5

Keystone

GF

47.82

36

23.64

6

20.27

8

47.82

13

47.51

9

72

10

187.06

6

2

5

Tri

D

27.94

5

31.03

26

20.61

9

50.49

16

57.17

16

72

11

187.24

0

5

5

Horseshoe John

D

44.11

30

27.93

20

21.37

11

42.76

8

46.80

6

75

12

182.97

3

4

5

Linc

ES

39.15

23

27.49

19

21.53

13

48.88

14

47.90

10

79

13

184.95

2

3

5

Awful Close

M

33.73

10

25.63

13

18.04

5

66.69

41

57.06

15

84

14

201.15

3

3

5

Lightning McCoy

CL

24.67

4

29.21

22

20.97

10

58.59

25

72.44

33

94

15

205.88

2

3

5

RIP Overland

D

41.83

29

35.06

34

22.86

14

46.05

10

57.52

17

104

16

203.32

4

3

5

Pyro

GF

53.36

45

24.26

9

25.00

20

58.81

26

42.77

4

104

17

204.20

3

3

5

El Carrera

GF

51.47

42

22.85

5

28.25

26

54.13

19

51.69

12

104

18

208.39

8

2

5

Catoosa Kid

BPC

35.82

17

25.50

11

31.48

33

53.56

18

64.97

25

104

19

211.33

3

2

5

Slater

T

36.15

18

32.84

29

25.98

22

57.62

23

61.29

21

113

20

213.88

5

1

5

Limpalong Charlie

M

36.84

19

28.89

21

24.69

19

59.24

28

66.85

27

114

21

216.51

4

2

5

Blayde Hollister

T

30.32

7

26.65

14

77.06

56

59.01

27

54.95

14

118

22

247.99

5

4

5

Tarheel

T

41.24

27

29.77

23

25.20

21

59.29

29

60.33

19

119

23

215.83

3

3

5

Loose Cinch

GF

37.59

22

24.62

10

33.11

35

47.43

12

85.59

44

123

24

228.34

7

1

5

Sheriff Donald

Sr

39.92

25

23.99

7

39.69

43

55.68

22

71.38

31

128

25

230.66

7

2

5

Anvil

T

34.59

12

32.99

30

38.11

39

59.87

31

63.42

23

135

26

228.98

3

3

5

Tucson Tuco

D

44.26

31

33.38

31

39.33

42

55.50

20

54.03

13

137

27

226.50

8

1

5

Widowmaker

GF

45.25

32

37.65

35

38.45

40

46.37

11

60.60

20

138

28

228.32

11

2

5

Deadman

T

34.86

14

32.56

28

29.59

29

60.13

32

74.05

35

138

29

231.19

0

5

5

Sheriff Jack Cooley

D

39.82

24

26.95

16

30.37

30

60.17

33

74.30

36

139

30

231.61

5

2

5

TN Hawk

Sr

48.03

37

30.95

25

18.37

6

60.82

34

84.16

41

143

31

242.33

3

3

5

Sundance McNeyman

M

34.27

11

30.34

24

30.48

31

68.11

42

77.72

37

145

32

240.92

2

4

5

Ranger Roger

T

35.45

15

43.44

44

45.32

50

49.68

15

66.03

26

150

33

239.92

6

2

5

Bittercreek Jack

Sr

40.48

26

40.52

39

24.12

16

64.72

39

72.43

32

152

34

242.27

8

1

5

TN Ted

T

52.23

43

44.55

46

24.27

17

59.57

30

62.90

22

158

35

243.52

2

3

5

GeneralBreckinridge

M

49.27

38

34.38

33

28.89

28

61.57

35

70.58

30

164

36

244.69

4

3

5

Yukon Hootch

Sr

46.73

34

43.26

43

27.52

23

57.75

24

82.96

40

164

37

258.22

3

3

5

Rev Adam Jones

Sr

41.43

28

43.93

45

24.34

18

63.04

37

78.68

38

166

38

251.42

5

2

5

C Rider

M

37.51

21

40.82

40

43.00

48

63.53

38

67.78

28

175

39

252.64

4

2

5

Hombre Sin Nombre

Sr

37.29

20

33.49

32

43.73

49

66.44

40

85.54

43

184

40

266.49

0

5

5

Squire Shooter

49er

47.00

35

61.35

55

31.30

32

62.08

36

84.46

42

200

41

286.19

13

1

5

Fast Harley

D

62.93

51

39.02

36

42.03

47

55.51

21

97.17

50

205

42

296.66

12

1

5

John Daniel

T

58.75

47

46.56

47

27.88

24

69.36

43

85.94

45

206

43

288.49

9

2

5

Purly

49er

55.37

46

27.08

18

41.59

45

74.58

47

97.72

52

208

44

296.34

11

2

5

Last Kiss

F

73.65

54

40.35

38

33.46

36

82.10

48

80.94

39

215

45

310.50

9

1

5

Polecat Carl

D

52.70

44

39.56

37

40.31

44

70.20

44

95.45

49

218

46

298.22

7

1

5

TN Jake

Sr

49.72

40

49.19

50

39.01

41

71.59

45

93.06

47

223

47

302.57

7

2

5

Deadeye Daisy

F

67.18

53

40.85

41

80.35

57

71.82

46

73.36

34

231

48

333.56

11

1

5

Wildcat Wilkey

Sr

46.13

33

42.33

42

41.76

46

999.99

57

110.11

53

231

49

1240.3

8

1

5

Gracious Gringo

CL

59.20

48

59.02

54

34.53

37

96.77

54

87.56

46

239

50

337.08

17

1

5

Colonel Mortimer

49er

77.06

56

58.88

53

33.06

34

83.55

49

93.06

47

239

51

345.61

14

1

5

Shootin’ Sue

F

59.50

49

46.89

48

36.35

38

93.87

53

113.23

56

244

52

349.84

4

2

5

Deadfoot

CL

49.36

39

47.64

49

53.22

52

87.43

51

111.89

55

246

53

349.54

5

2

5

Dead Beat

BPC

50.59

41

58.43

52

71.02

55

83.98

50

111.88

54

252

54

375.90

9

1

5

Midnight Marauder

T

96.87

57

80.73

57

63.33

54

125.00

56

70.16

29

253

55

436.09

25

1

5

Tin Pot

T

74.82

55

56.12

51

45.75

51

91.83

52

97.46

51

260

56

365.98

14

1

5

Sunflower

F

63.55

52

62.09

56

56.21

53

99.22

55

115.96

57

273

57

397.03

7

2

5

T –  Traditional                                                                                          D – Duelist                                             49er – 49er M –  Modern  (adjustable pistol sights)                                                     F – Cowgirl Sr – Senior   (age 60 and above)                                                             BPC – Black Powder Cartridge             GF – Gunfighter ES – Elder Statesman  (age 70 and above)                                           

CL – Classic  (shoot duelist, costume requirements, traditional pistols caliber .44 & above, double shotgun external hammers, rifle no          Later model  than 1873)                                                                                        

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