I saved my best for last ...
I'm 57 years old, and for as long as I can remember my father, who is currently 88 years old, has told my brothers and I about the time my grandfather went quail hunting with Frank James in Oklahoma around 1900. I've heard the story so many times, I generally just accepted it with a grain of salt, and never really challenged it's authenticity until now. So after seeing the History Channel special I started doing some research, which included having my father tell the story again. I also spoke with my aunt, who is 92 and living in a rest home. Even when I informed them that the James brothers were from, and mostly active in the Missouri, Kansas areas, they both stood their ground in support of their father's quail hunting story involving Oklahoma. It wasn't until I did some further research, (influenced by the program) that I discovered Frank James had in fact been in Oklahoma around the same time as my grandfather, who was born in 1880. But please don't ask me what a 20 year old kid who was born in Kentuck and on his way west on the train was doing quail hunting with a famous outlaw like Frank James. That part of the story has been lost to aged memory, and will never be known. And the only reason I even mention it here now, is to say that this particular History Channel program has allowed me to make the Oklahoma connection to my grandfather's story, and has made a true believer out of me regarding a part of my grandfather's life that I had previously grown to suspect was un-true, but now believe. Not that this makes me special, because I'm not. I imagine everyone has a Jesse and Frank James related story. I just thought I would share mine with you. Just as I'd like to share the following photo of my grandpa that was taken in 1897 when we was in the military during the Spanish American war. And, no ... I don't have a Teddy Roosevelt and San Juan Hill story! I wish I did!
Interestingly, Frank died on February 18, 1915 at the age of 72. In 1900, when my grandfather went quail hunting with him, Frank was 57 years old ... which is exactly the age I am now. The difference being, I'm a nobody, and Frank is ... well, you be the judge of that!
Thanks for tolerating my indulgence.
Bob