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Volume 5, Issue No. 5                                                        May, 2007

Ocoee Rangers Celebrate John Wayne’s

100th Birthday

The Ocoee Rangers’ May Shoot was a celebration of John Wayne’s 100th birthday.  Sure he died years ago, technically.  But if a feller looked at all the folks wearing cowboy hats and shootin’ western six-guns, he’d have to conclude that there’s a little bit of John Wayne in all of us Cowboy Action Shooters. And why not?  We all need role models, even Linc.  And the characters that John Wayne portrayed were worthy of being role models. So what if he had quirks, just like Marshal Too Tall and the rest of us. Tennessee Hoss whipped up scenarios that gave us a chance to remember the Duke in memory of his movies and in gunsmoke as we battled the steel bad guys and won the day, just like John Wayne did.

While folks were still registering, Festus D. Deputy circulated amongst the crowd to select the cowboy to receive the Best John Wayne Look Award, a box set John Wayne knife and buckle.  Lightning McCoy was selected. He was wearing a leather vest, yellow bandana down in front, big buckle on his pants belt, white hat and he topped it off with a .45-.70 cartridge in his gun belt.  Big and Deadman gave him a run for the roses, but Lightning prevailed. 

Contrary to Colonel Allison’s accusation, these 3 cowboys are not wearing pink: it’s John Wayne Red.  L-R: Big, Deadman and Lightning McCoy.

But there were other Duke looks.  Moonshine Roberts was sporting a cavalry shirt complete with Captain’s shoulder boards.  And Tin Pot had another Duke look, and an unusual one:  he was dressed in a top hat like the Duke wore when he was pretending to be a gunrunner in THE COMANCHEROS.

Tin Pot as John Wayne masquerading as gun-runner Ed McBain in THE COMANCHEROS.

How’d the shootin’ go? Just fine. Marshal Too Tall was the Top Gun for the day, closely followed by Festus D. Deputy and Fiddleback. And Katydid, daughter of Cactus Red,took on the steel bad guys as a Junior Cowgirl Shooter, her 1st with us.  And she shot very well. 

Proud papa, Cactus Red, and  daughter, Katydid.

The Top 10 Shooters were: (1) Marshal Too Tall (2) Festus D. Deputy (3) Fiddleback (4) Slater (5) Curly Bill (6) Tennessee Mongo (7) Yankee Dutchman (8) Ocoee Red (9) Double Eagle and (10) Horseshoe John.  3 cowboys shot matches with no misses: Ruckus Roy, Deadman and Rebel.

We had several visiting shooters, including Rebel, Oracle’s brother, and Black Lung Bart, an active duty member of Uncle Sam’s Army, who recently returned from duty in Iraq. All seemed to have a good time on the range.  In all, we had 60 shooters.  It was an excellent day for shooting with our cowboy & cowgirl shootin’ friends.

Black Lung Bart, visiting soldier

SHOOT RESULTS

TOP GUN – Marshal Too Tall … BUFFALO SHOOT – Long Range Pistol – Sundance McNeyman… .22 Cal – Marshal Too Tall … Long Range Single Shot Rifle … Oracle … Long Range Lever Action Rifle – Marshal Too Tall

Senior 1. Outrider 2. TN Hoss 3. Tin Pot

Gunfighter 1. Loose Cinch 2. Keystone

Traditional 1. Fiddleback 2. Slater 3. Yankee Dutchman

Cowgirl 1. Roma Jane 2. 2 Dogs Runnin’

Black Powder Cartridge 1. Oracle 2. Owlhoot Hardin

Classic 1. Lightning McCoy

Silver Senior 1. Linc 2. Rev. Adam Jones

Modern 1. Limp Along Charlie 2. Sundance

49er 1. Marshal Too Tall 2. Festus D. Deputy 3. TN Mongo

Duelist 1. Horseshoe John 2. Ranger Roger 3. Long Gulch

Outlaw 1. Curly Bill 2. Kenesaw 3. Cactus Red

TO DATE, WE HAVE RECEIVED $307.10 IN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BUY PRIZES TO BE AWARDED AT OUR CHRISTMAS SHOOT AND FAMILY EVENT.

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The Ocoee Ranger page 2                                       May 2007

THE REEL WEST – 

JOHN WAYNE  (May 1907 – June 1979)  Was Born 100 Years Ago This Month

John Wayne

100 years ago this month, Marion Robert Morrison was born in Winterset, Iowa. His mother was sorta nuts-o, so when his brother was born, she took the Robert away from Marion and gave it to her new kid.  That left Marion with only 1 name. So, his parents gave him a new middle name, Michael.  Marion’s pop was a druggist, and not a very successful one. So in 1911, the family left Iowa and moved to southern California.  That gave Marion’s pop a chance to go fail in a new place. And he did. But, it ultimately gave Marion an opportunity to attend college at the University of Southern California, where he played a couple of years on the football team. He learned to surf, and a surfing injury caused him to lose his football scholarship.  No scholarship = no college.  So, Marion left school and went to work.

While he was at USC playing football, Marion met Ward Bond, another player, and they became lifelong friends.  During summers, they’d worked for a movie company.  So Marion, then called Duke, named after a dog he’d had, went to work for the movie company full time for $35 a week. While lifting, tugging and carrying stuff around, he met John Ford, who became his mentor and life long friend.  Eventually, Duke began playing bit parts and 2 years after his employment with the movie company, he was selected to play the lead in THE BIG TRAIL.  But a cowboy hero couldn’t have a girl’s name like Marion.  So, the director gave him a new one: John Wayne.

THE BIG TRAIL was a flop at the box office. But it gave Duke a raise in pay to $75 a week, while it was filming.  And the studio taught him to ride and other western skills.  So, with his new cowboy skills and his nifty new name, he was launched.  Sorta.  He became a B-Western silver screen cowboy for about 9 years.  And believe it or not, he became the very 1st singing cowboy, Singin’ Sandy. It’s true.  Of course it wasn’t his voice.  Remember old time cowboy Bob Steel?  His brother dubbed the singing voice (even dubbed it was awful) for Duke.  (Somehow, the dog’s name was his favorite name, and he always used it.  Good thing the dog wasn’t named Rover.)

In 1939 John Ford cast Duke as the Ringo Kid in STAGECOACH.  Ford had decided to use Duke in the role, but he asked him who he though would be good in the role.  Duke suggested Lloyd Nolan. (Lloyd Nolan?) Ford responded, “You dumb SOB. (That ain’t what he said, but the Rev. Adam Jones wouldn’t want the real thing said here.) I’m putting you in the role.”  That was Duke’s 1st big successful role, even if he was billed down below the lead gal and the drunk doc.  Future roles developed, slowly at 1st.  But eventually, John Wayne became a superstar.  In fact, he became an American Icon.

John Wayne – Spirit of the American West and the Cowboy

John Wayne never served in the military.  But he became the most recognized actor of all time in military roles.  And he wasn’t a cowboy, but he came to epitomize the Western Spirit of the Cowboy. John Wayne died in 1979, but you wouldn’t know it.  His movies, and especially his Westerns, are seen daily.  Think of Western movies, and most folks think of John Wayne.  And it’s not just us senior cowboys who’re keeping him alive by watching and buying his movies.  Young folks who like Westerns, and unfortunately there are not enough of them, think of him also, along with Clint Eastwood. But as long as us older folks are alive, John Wayne will be alive.

John Wayne did 1 thing that us folks who fought in the Viet Nam conflict should always remember.  In 1967, he put up his own money and made the 1st Viet Nam War Movie, THE GREEN BERETS. At that time, movies about Viet Nam and those of us in country weren’t popular with the critics, or the media or the hippies or lots of other folks.  It would take many years for that to happen.  But he made his movie when it counted. THE GREEN BERETS wasn’t a good movie, but the fact that he made it, when he made it, made it a great movie for some of us. He supported us when Jane Fonda was having her picture taken at a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun emplacement. John Wayne rode tall in the saddle and still does.  Hopefully, he’ll ride forever.

THE WEST OF OUR IMAGINATION – CURLY BILL

Curly Bill

Curly Bill has been Cowboy Shootin’ for 7 or 8 years.  He can’t exactly remember.  But he remembers that he started in Knoxville, back when the Smoky Mountain Shootists had only about 15 – 25 members. Startin’ out, he shot Ruger Vaqueros, in .45 cal., “and I didn’t have enough sense to down load.  Double Eagle has the 1st good rifle I ever had.” But Curly Bill’s kept at it.  Now, he shoots .38’s and .38-40’s. “And since I started Outlaw shootin’, I shoot the larger stuff.”  That means he’s back to .45’s. “I used to shoot Traditional, and all I thought about was competing.  Now, I look at it for overall enjoyment.  I had a good run, but I was missing out on what this sport had to offer.”

“I’ve always had curly hair.  Some of my pool shootin’ buddies called me curly. So when I looked for an alias, I tried Curly Bill.  But SASS already had one.  So, I tacked on Kelly.  But  I don’t use the full name around here.”

Curly Bill is a cowboy of many talents.  He’s a good shooter, an accomplished gunsmith and an excellent leather craftsman. “I’ve done gunsmith work most of my adult life. I started in leather, because I couldn’t get what I wanted. I like the leatherwork better than gunsmithing.  It’s turned into a love.  Jerry Harper (Vinegaroon) helped me get started.  A lot of people don’t know that Jerry does leather.”

Who’s his favorite movie cowboy?  “John Wayne.  My 2nd is Ben Johnson.”  Curly Bill is a cowboy with talent and taste.

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Shoot Results – May 2007

Alias	CL	S-1	MS1	R-1	S-2	MS2	R-2	S-3	MS3	R-3	S-4	MS4	R-4	S-5	MS5	R-5	OS	OR	OT	Tmis	CS	Stgs
Marshal Too Tall	49er	37.80	1	11	20.58	0	2	37.05	0	2	15.28	0	7	29.05	0	2	24	1	139.76	1	4	5
Festus D. Deputy	49er	46.49	2	23	19.75	0	1	40.80	1	7	11.83	0	2	31.15	0	3	36	2	150.02	3	3	5
Fiddleback	T	28.34	1	1	33.97	2	17	35.01	0	1	19.72	1	12	35.42	2	5	36	3	152.46	6	1	5
Slater	T	41.98	2	19	30.39	2	11	40.90	1	9	8.62	0	1	26.25	0	1	41	4	148.14	5	2	5
Curly Bill	O	36.25	0	8	25.94	0	5	48.88	1	20	13.57	0	5	32.23	0	4	42	5	156.87	1	4	5
TN Mongo	49er	34.27	0	4	31.67	0	14	40.90	1	9	20.05	0	13	35.90	0	6	46	6	162.79	1	4	5
Yankee Dutchman	T	35.07	0	5	28.04	0	8	37.72	0	3	24.28	1	23	43.00	0	11	50	7	168.11	1	4	5
Ocoee Red	49er	39.94	1	13	22.01	0	3	39.93	2	6	15.35	0	8	50.23	4	24	54	8	167.46	7	2	5
Double Eagle	49er	41.21	0	16	31.58	1	13	40.87	1	8	16.02	0	9	42.52	1	8	54	9	172.20	3	2	5
Horseshoe John	D	35.58	0	7	27.68	0	6	38.28	1	4	24.66	1	25	43.99	1	14	56	10	170.19	3	2	5
Limp Along Charlie	M	37.52	0	9	30.92	0	12	39.72	0	5	20.23	0	15	45.13	1	18	59	11	173.52	1	4	5
Loose Cinch	GF	41.74	2	18	23.43	0	4	44.26	2	12	13.51	0	4	50.32	1	25	63	12	173.26	5	2	5
Lightning McCoy	CL	32.16	0	3	34.07	0	18	45.27	0	14	24.45	0	24	43.42	1	12	71	13	179.37	1	4	5
Dajango Slim	T	31.62	1	2	32.19	2	15	46.71	1	16	11.85	0	3	58.51	1	38	74	14	180.88	5	1	5
Moonshine Roberts	T	48.61	1	25	29.23	0	9	47.10	0	17	21.75	0	17	42.67	1	9	77	15	189.36	2	3	5
Outrider	Sr	49.00	2	29	29.56	0	10	51.41	1	23	18.33	0	10	46.24	1	19	91	16	194.54	4	2	5
Keystone	GF	41.61	2	17	37.75	1	25	42.19	1	11	23.34	1	21	54.71	3	35	109	17	199.60	8	0	5
TN Hoss	Sr	53.89	1	36	37.43	0	24	44.41	0	13	22.58	0	20	45.00	0	16	109	18	203.31	1	4	5
Tin Pot	Sr	42.42	1	20	33.45	0	16	70.19	5	43	22.33	0	19	49.63	2	23	121	19	218.02	8	2	5
Ranger Roger	D	52.41	1	32	35.25	0	20	75.30	2	46	20.51	0	16	39.77	0	7	121	20	223.24	3	3	5
El Carrera	CL	35.23	0	6	68.34	0	55	45.97	0	15	32.45	1	37	42.89	1	10	123	21	224.88	2	3	5
Linc	SSr	37.64	0	10	38.08	1	27	49.76	0	21	19.18	0	11	78.19	2	57	126	22	222.85	3	3	5
Ruckus Roy	T	46.19	0	22	34.30	0	19	68.18	0	41	26.00	0	26	47.47	0	21	129	23	222.14	0	5	5
Lil Marshal W.D.	T	40.93	0	15	37.27	0	22	50.73	0	22	35.62	0	42	52.10	1	29	130	24	216.65	1	4	5
Tellico	49er	48.69	1	27	41.83	1	34	56.51	1	28	26.59	0	27	48.52	0	22	138	25	222.14	3	2	5
Oracle	BPC	48.62	0	26	27.94	0	7	63.91	2	37	33.93	1	39	56.92	1	36	145	26	231.32	4	2	5
Sundance McNeyman	M	55.08	1	38	37.35	0	23	59.80	1	35	24.17	0	22	51.85	0	28	146	27	228.25	2	3	5
Long Gulch	D	53.97	1	37	38.29	0	28	62.61	2	36	20.21	0	14	53.72	0	32	147	28	228.80	3	3	5
Deadman	Sr	61.62	0	45	38.06	0	26	57.77	0	30	31.20	0	32	47.24	0	20	153	29	235.89	0	5	5
Kenesaw	O	37.96	0	12	56.12	3	50	59.49	2	34	22.30	0	18	60.47	4	42	156	30	236.34	9	2	5
Awful Close	D	52.60	2	33	40.09	0	30	55.49	0	26	33.18	1	38	52.52	1	30	157	31	233.88	4	2	5
Catcus Red	O	77.12	5	55	53.22	3	48	55.86	3	27	14.50	0	6	50.83	3	27	163	32	251.53	14	1	5
Owlhoot Hardin	BPC	44.14	0	21	42.53	1	36	95.10	2	52	28.50	0	30	50.38	1	26	165	33	260.65	4	2	5
Buckskin Rigsby	M	40.49	0	14	41.38	0	33	72.33	1	45	31.00	1	31	60.71	0	43	166	34	245.91	2	3	5
Sledge	Sr	53.21	0	35	47.95	0	43	54.24	0	24	31.45	1	33	54.26	1	34	169	35	241.11	2	3	5
Red Neckerson	O	52.76	3	34	37.26	0	21	83.53	3	49	41.61	2	52	44.10	2	15	171	36	259.26	10	1	5
Undertaker John	Sr	61.78	1	46	39.82	0	29	47.27	0	18	27.49	0	28	72.17	3	53	174	37	248.53	4	3	5
Sunrise C. Oconnall	T	61.96	1	47	47.80	0	42	48.27	0	19	32.06	0	36	57.23	1	37	181	38	247.32	2	3	5
Purly	D	57.21	1	41	45.60	2	37	59.43	0	33	52.89	2	56	45.01	0	17	184	39	260.14	5	2	5
Top Dollar Bill	T	57.09	3	40	50.90	0	45	57.90	1	31	31.89	0	34	58.74	2	40	190	40	256.52	6	2	5
Roma Jane	F49er	48.94	0	28	42.24	0	35	89.69	0	51	36.41	1	43	54.19	1	33	190	41	271.47	2	3	5
Outlaw Tracker	T	48.53	0	24	49.92	1	44	54.24	0	24	38.25	1	47	71.63	2	52	191	42	262.57	4	2	5
Squire Shooter	Sr	59.66	1	42	47.65	1	41	100.31	2	55	35.50	1	41	43.56	0	13	192	43	286.68	5	1	5
Cherokee Slim	T	60.01	1	43	46.37	0	40	68.48	1	42	34.86	0	40	53.50	0	31	196	44	263.22	2	3	5
Rev Adam Jones	SSr	55.69	2	39	40.24	0	31	56.76	1	29	39.10	2	49	72.58	2	54	202	45	264.37	7	1	5
Coffee Joe	BPC	50.42	0	31	54.27	1	49	70.57	0	44	37.24	1	46	58.67	1	39	209	46	271.17	3	2	5
Bad Hand Calahan	D	60.45	1	44	46.07	0	39	66.97	3	38	36.50	0	44	65.59	1	44	209	47	275.58	5	2	5
Boondock Saint	D	67.79	3	49	60.31	1	52	58.53	1	32	32.05	0	35	67.05	1	46	214	48	285.73	6	1	5
Big	SSr	73.76	4	53	41.26	0	32	121.34	4	57	27.81	0	29	67.37	4	47	218	49	331.54	12	2	5
Rebel	T	50.04	0	30	51.61	0	47	80.56	0	48	39.48	0	50	69.06	0	49	224	50	290.75	0	5	5
Heyduke	GF	72.33	4	52	45.82	1	38	67.29	1	39	36.56	1	45	70.57	5	50	224	51	292.57	12	0	5
Dead Beat	Sr	71.66	1	51	50.98	0	46	95.66	0	54	40.35	0	51	71.04	3	51	253	52	329.69	4	3	5
Calibre .45	O	62.32	1	48	60.43	0	53	133.51	6	58	47.25	3	53	60.07	2	41	253	53	363.58	12	1	5
Buckshot John	Sr	999.99	1	59	61.84	1	54	67.92	0	40	39.05	0	48	73.71	1	56	257	54	1242.51	3	2	5
Black Lung Bart	T	68.40	1	50	70.47	4	57	95.60	1	53	52.22	2	55	66.16	2	45	260	55	352.85	10	0	5
Tio Don	BW	73.85	3	54	59.41	0	51	79.78	1	47	51.14	1	54	72.68	1	55	261	56	336.86	6	1	5
Ben Shot	Sr	88.48	2	56	69.31	0	56	87.28	0	50	65.02	2	58	115.81	5	59	279	57	425.90	9	2	5
2 Dogs Runnin’	FO	101.2	3	58	105.41	8	59	149.56	8	59	56.96	2	57	69.02	1	48	281	58	482.14	22	0	5
Little Moe	T	95.57	2	57	71.60	1	58	117.69	3	56	75.43	2	59	88.63	2	58	288	59	448.92	10	0	5
Katydid *	FJr	55.97	1	40	65.45	4	76.27	7	67.47	5	56.80	4	321.96	21	0	5

* Katydid is shown separately. As a Jr. Cowgirl hasn’t moved up to shotgun shootin’ yet, and her paw didn’t elect to be her designated shotgun shooter.  So, she competed with herself and played the game.  And she’s a credit to the Ocoee Rangers – as a young shooter and as a shootin’ pardner of us all.

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