Yearly Archives: 2014

As cattle prices rise, the theft of livestock is a growing problem in Oklahoma…

Welcome back.  It was Valentine’s Day in 1866 when just after 2 p.m. the bank was robbed in Liberty, Missouri. An estimated sixty thousand dollars was stolen and a nineteen year old innocent bystander named George Wymore was murdered. In addition to being the first bank robbery during operating hours ever recorded in the United States, this was also the first bank robbery committed by Frank and Jesse James. According to Time/Life’s The Gunfigters the brothers went on to rob twelve more banks, seven trains and five stage coaches in eleven states and territories across the country.

On April 3, 1882 Jesse James’ career as an outlaw came to an end when he was killed by Bob Ford. James thought Ford was his friend but when he turned his back, Ford shot him in the head to collect reward money. That same year his brother Frank surrendered to the Governor of Missouri and the James gang was finished.

The younger of the Dalton brothers had ridden with the James gang but he managed to get away when most of the gang was killed or jailed. The Daltons formed their own gang then and successfully robbed several banks in 1892. Then they tried what no other bank robber had ever done, robbing two banks at the same time in the same town. Their plan to rob two banks in Coffeyville, Kansas ended up with everyone in the gang being killed except Emmett Dalton. Emmett was wounded and served fifteen years in prison.

Bill Doolin was a protégé of the Daltons and he became the next big outlaw in Indian Territory. Then in 1895 he met the same fate as his mentors when he was killed by a shotgun blast from legendary deputy Heck Thomas.

The last of the great train robbers were Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch. Their American crime story came to an end in 1890 when detectives from the Pinkerton Agency were so hot on the gang’s trail that Butch and his partner in crime Harry Longbaugh (aka the Sundance Kid) fled to South America where they continued to rob banks and trains for ten years. Contrary to the deadly end portrayed in the movie, the ultimate fate of the two outlaws is still unknown although reliable reports indicated that they both lived to be old men.

Now you might as well know where I’m going with all these old outlaw tales so here’s the real story:

Oklahoma is the fifth largest cattle producing state in the union and in 2013 cattle theft hit an all time high right here. One thousand head of cattle were reported stolen in the state last year and with cattle prices high and predicted to rise even further the economic impact is enormous.

All seventy-seven counties in Oklahoma have been impacted by thefts and according to Col. Jerry Flowers, Chief Detective of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture’s Food and Forestry division, there is one common denominator in all of these thefts which is the use of methamphetamines by the crooks. Flowers says it is easy to steal cows and easy to sell them for quick cash which these thieves use to buy drugs. The cops do catch some of the thieves as 290 felony charges were filed last year for cattle theft but many more get away. However, history tells us that this situation won’t last for long. Col Flowers and special agents like Bart Perrier of the Southwest Cattlemen’s Association are relentless in their pursuit but they need our help. Unfortunately crime is a part of life so if you spot any suspicious activity call a cop. Its our duty as citizens and residents of this great state and country.

Till next time I’ll see ya down the road………….

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A film about my travels in this area will be posted  this coming week.

                     Down The Road with the Original Buffalo Dale

 Welcome back.  After a few days spent at the Ghost Ranch in north central New Mexico, I’ve come back to Bartlesville a new man. The magic of place and the experience of walking in the footsteps of the famous people who have stayed there one sees life from a different perspective.  The early Indian people who lived in the area and the early Spanish explorers of 1598 called it “El Valle de la Pierra Lumbre” which translates as ‘The Valley of the Shining Stone.”

In the early 1920s Carol Stanley opened a dude ranch on the property where she hosted many wealthy families and celebrities such as Charles Lindbergh and the great conductor Leopold Stokowski. Editor and publisher Arthur Pack visited the ranch in 1933 and fell in love with it. He eventually purchased Ghost Ranch and over time he acquired additional acreage around it, enlarging the ranch to a total of twenty-one thousand acres. At the same time, artist Georgia O’Keefe began visiting and after a long negotiation she finally bought seven and a half acres from Arthur Pack, just a short distance from his home. O’Keefe built a house on her land which still stands today.

In order to protect Ghost Ranch from development Arthur Pack and his wife donated the entire property to the Presbyterian Church in 1955 to be used as an educational center. Today the ranch can accommodate over 300 guests who are able to enjoy not only the beauty of the multi-colored hills and sandstone cliffs but also the legends surrounding the site. Rumor has it that outlaws from years past buried sacks of gold somewhere in the canyons, amongst many dead bodies. There are also stories about monsters that roam at night but no one who sees them lives to talk about them. The locals call Ghost Ranch “Rancho de los Brujos” or “Ranch of the Witches” and tell you about six foot tall earth babies covered in red hair and ghost cows with wings. Others recall meeting the scientists who developed the atom bomb during World War II in Los Alamos, just a few miles west of the ranch.

Its kind of scary after the sun goes down here when you can hear cries that sound like people in pain. Everything is peaceful during the day when you can hike trails called Chimney Rock and Kitchen Mesa. For real hikers there’s the Box Canyon trail where dinosaur fossils are common This is a place where the spirit world and the present day human world come together and its about as beautiful as it gets. Just an hour and a half drive northeast of Santa Fe, Ghost Ranch is another American treasure that the Original Buffalo Dale highly recommends. If you want to know more about rates and reservations go to www.ghostranch.org or visit my website www.originalbuffalodale.com but beware, like me this trip might just rearrange the way you look at life.

Another inspiring place that I’ve written about before is Philmont Scout Ranch. Just a few miles outside of Cimarron, New Mexico along the old Santa Fe trail, Philmont is not only one of my favorite places but was also one of legendary oil man Waite Phillips’ as well.  Philmont sits at 6,430 feet above sea level and the first thing you see is the mountains. Majestic to say the least. Your visit there will be filled with history as well.

A tour of the Waite Phillips home is a must along with a visit  to the celebrated St. James Hotel where many an early day cowboy met his death. Buffalo Bill, Clay Allen, Jesse James and many others stayed at the St. James and you can too. But beware, ghost sitings are common here. The St. James is owned by Oklahoma businessman and philanthropist Bob Funk and it is as much a museum as a hotel. All the guest rooms in the original part of the building are decorated in old west style from the 1800s. The common areas are filled with western art and artifacts including original Will James drawings, a collection of spurs and paintings of the hotel’s famous guests. This is another of my favorite stops whenever I’m traveling in this part of the world and for sure it’s a must if you’re out  that way. As an added bonus, elk, deer, turkey and even bear can be seen in the area on a regular basis.

I’m out of space now but next week I’ll have more from my travels in New Mexico. Till then, I’ll see you down the road….

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                                    Down The Road with the Original Buffalo Dale

 Welcome back.  While traveling I often run across places of interest not always on my itinerary and the first night on the road this week that’s just what happened. The exit for Conchas Lake is five hours west of Oklahoma City on I-40 and then you drive thirty miles northwest of Tucumcari, New Mexico.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created the lake when it built a dam on the Canadian River in 1939. Conchas Lake State Park is immediately adjacent to the lake and it is divided into two recreational areas with camping, swimming beaches and fishing docks available in both parts.  The park sits at an altitude of 4,200 feet and for me it is the scenery I found that really sets it apart. From the campgrounds you can see the beautiful canyons and bluffs that are typical of this part of the country. Even though it was still very cold, the clear water was so inviting I couldn’t resist taking a swim. Although Conchas Lake is the third largest lake in the state it is also referred to as the hidden treasure of New Mexico because it is so far off the beaten track. If you visit don’t expect any shopping or fancy restaurants. There is a marina and a small general store for supplies, the rest of the entertainment is provided by nature. This is a cool spot and just what the doctor ordered if you’re looking for peace and quiet.

My next stop was Santa Fe and the historic La Fonda Hotel which is where I am now. Santa Fe is one of the oldest communities in the country and La Fonda has been a part of the local history since the very beginning. Fonda is the Spanish word for inn and since the early days there has been an inn on this site which was a preferred stopping place for a wide range of people including fur trappers, soldiers, gold miners, gamblers, politicians and outlaws. In 1833 Mary and William Donoho established the Exchange Hotel here which also became known as the “American Fonda.”

The Donohos weren’t the last innkeepers as up until statehood in 1912, La Fonda had several owners. Then in 1919 after World War I, the original hotel was demolished. When the current hotel opened in 1922 it was built on the same spot and with much hoopla, was advertised as the finest hotel in the west. La Fonda was sold again in 1925 to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad which operated La Fonda as one of their “Harvey House” hotels for forty years. The Harvey House chain was known for operating hotels and restaurants near busy railroad stops and they were also famous fortheir “Harvey Girls”, the professionally trained and neatly dressed young waitresses who became the hallmark of the chain.

In 1968 Santa Fe businessman Sam Ballen purchased the property and nowadays his heirs are running it. Over the years the hotel has been renovated several times and just before I arrived another big remodel which encompassed the 172 guest rooms and the distinctive bell tower had just been completed. All of the rooms have retained their southwest character but new creature comforts and creative upgrades have been added. The bell tower now includes a bar where, weather permitting, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the city. The hotel is also known for its extensive collection of original art, including many pieces by Pueblo artists, which hang in the guest rooms and public spaces.

If you haven’t been to La Fonda before or heard all the stories about the legendary people who have stayed there here’s a short list starting with Charles Lindbergh, Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland as well as Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, John Kennedy and Bill Clinton, and I could go on.  During World War II it was rumored that spies were staying at La Fonda in an attempt to meet scientists working on the Manhattan project who would occasionally stop by the hotel bar.

As this is my first day in town, I’m sure I will turn up more interesting stories about the oldest hotel in the oldest capital city in America. I’m also planning to give you a restaurant review as there are first rate restaurants on every corner and on the blocks in between. There are numerous museums and art shops and local craftspeople sell their handcrafted jewelry and artwork on the sidewalks around the central square, just steps from La Fonda. It doesn’t take long for the rich history here to take you back to a bygone day when legends walked these very streets and the United States was in its infancy. So for the next couple of weeks I’ll be taking you for a ride through north central New Mexico.

And till next week, Adios, I’ll see ya down the road…..

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    While I’m back home I’ve been catching up on local events and also reflecting on some of the experiences I had while I was traveling.

               Down The Road with the Original Buffalo Dale

 Welcome back.  History is made every second of every day. Waite Phillips once said,

“Nothing in this world is permanent but change.”

Waite was right, you can’t live in the past but he also loved history as much as I do. His many collections of art and artifacts, on display in several museums and in his former home at Philmont, reveal his deep interest in the past as well as in the world around him.

The Phillips name is of course a well recognized in the history of the oil and gas industry throughout the country. Another family from this part of the world was honoredat the Green Country Classic Ranch Rodeo on Saturday night for their contribution to ranching. The Adcock family has been in the ranching business for well over 100 years and to this day they still run thousands of head of cattle some right here in the Bartlesville area. Elwood and Helen Adcock had twelve kids and they raised them with the same values that they had been raised with: work hard, stay close to your family and be true to your word. Knowing several of their children who were all there Saturday night, I would give a lot just to shake Elwood’s and Helen’s hands. Yes, in the cattle industry the Adcocks are considered royalty and as they walked into the arena in Claremore, they were recognized with a standing ovation.

Another event of local interest that I sometimes refer to is ARVEST Bank’s Friday Forum which is held every week at the eastside branch in Bartlesville. The forum offers ARVEST’s clients a chance to get information on financial matters, local news and community events. Governors come by on occasion, along with corporate executives and sometimes even movie stars. It’s an hour of fun and information, along with some great refreshments.

Since I have been away, I wanted to get caught up and Earl Sears, John Ford and Steve Martin were all there last Friday to give brief updates on doings in the capitol. T.W. Shannon also stopped by and if you are not familiar with him, Mr. Shannon is a candidate for Tom Coburn’s U.S. senate seat. After I quick visit with him, I believe that if you like Earl, John and Steve you will like T.W. as well.

This Friday photographer Jerry Poppenhouse will speak about his work and his long career. He will also debut a short film he recently created along with a 3 ½ minute clip about my travels in New York City.  You never know who you will meet or what will be happening at Friday Forum so check it out.

On a quick personal note, last year I had the opportunity to write a book profiling people across the United States and the ways in which meaningful work has changed their lives. Many of these profiles are very touching and also inspirational. The book is called Portraits of Hope and it’s available for $9.00 a copy only through the company store at Express Employment Professionals in Oklahoma City (405) 840-5000.

Before I go one last view from the past. Commissioned in 1943, the USS Intrepid or the fighting “I” as she became known, is an aircraft carrier that was full of heroes for over forty years. Starting with World War II and the Pacific theater of operations, I couldn’t begin to list the battles the ship participated in during and after World War II. In one dramatic incident, the ship was hit by an aerial torpedo and lost partial maneuverability. The crew managed to build a sail from wood, cargo nets and canvas that allowed them to pilot the Intrepid back to Pearl Harbor. In another era, the Intrepid also picked up the space capsules from the Mercury and Gemini missions in outer space.

Today this mighty ship is known as the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. During my last trip.  I was only able to see her from the window of a tour bus but come July I’ll take you aboard.

Thanks for reading and till next week I’ll see ya down the road…..

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One highlight of my visit to New York City was the opportunity to meet famous people….

                            Down The Road with the Original Buffalo Dale

 Welcome back.  As I said goodbye to New York City this past week, my notebook was full of interesting adventures, from the people watching in Times Square where “normal” does not exist to my tour of the fabulous Metropolitan Museum of Art where the display of Egyptian art and artifacts takes you back to the time of pharaohs and pyramids. In between there’s Broadway, the financial district where by the way there’s more gold stored here than in Fort Knox and the bustle of Central Park. Then there’s Harlem, Little Italy, Chinatown, Soho and Tribeca. I could go on and on but you get the picture.

Then there are the famous people you see walking the streets, just going about their daily lives. In just three weeks I ran into Billy Crystal, who seemed like an average guy getting older like me. Kristie Alley was lots of fun both on and off camera. Of course there was Matt Lauer, who shook hands with as many people as possible every day and had a smile for everyone. Cathy Lee and Hoda both have bigger than life personalities and were always ready for a photo as were most of the Today Show hosts. The band Kiss was interesting to watch as was Sting who seemed as cool in person as you might imagine from his performances.

I also had the opportunity to visit with many other people behind the scenes, whose names are not so well known. One of these was Rikki Kleinman. A lawyer by training, Rikki’s resume could fill a book. She is a legal analyst for CBS and also contributes to NBC, ABC, CNN and CNBL and she has also anchored her own network TV program.

I’ll catch my breath here because I’m not done yet. Rikki was named one of the five most outstanding female trial lawyers by Time Magazine and she is often profiled in magazines and newspapers. In addition she is frequently interviewed regarding criminal and civil law on shows such as 60 Minutes and 20/20. As if that weren’t enough she is an adjunct professor at Boston University School of Law and the author of numerous articles about legal issues.

Rikki has appeared as a guest star on television in NYPD Blue, 90210, Boston Legal and recently Blue Bloods. These roles come naturally to her for a reason. In her private life this accomplished woman is married to the Police Commissioner of New York City and believe me, I feel honored when she introduces me as her friend.

In person Rikki is soft spoken and easy to talk to. While we visited over breakfast in a neighborhood diner, her friendliness and lack of pretension was obvious. Despite her many outstanding achievements she is down to earth and could be your next door neighbor. Although she has been on the scene of world disasters, drug arrests and murder investigations, the mention of the recent death of Officer Dennis Guerra, which I wrote about last week,  still brought a tear to her eye.

I’ll have more on Rikki and hopefully her husband Bill Bratton on my next trip. Till then remember that there’s nothing like a visit to New York City. Check it out.

On the local scene: have you ever wanted to attend a Dallas Cowboys football in a manner that few are ever able to? You and three guests will fly to Dallas by private jet where a driver will meet you and deliver you to a 5-Star hotel. You can check-in, get refreshed, and change for the game. When you are ready, the driver will take you all to the stadium where VIP club seats on the fifty yard line await you along with access to the private Founders’ Club with gourmet food and drink provided throughout the game. At the end of the day, a car will take you back to the hotel and in the morning, the jet will take you home.

Quite a deal and yes there’s only one party where you can bid for this trip. That’s Elder Care’s The Good, The Bad & The Barbeque on May 10^th. This is just one of many unique auction items they will be offering so if you only attend one, don’t miss this great event.

Till next time, I’ll see ya down the road…..

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                           Down The Road with the Original Buffalo Dale

 Welcome back.  This week a true story about the day I saw “New York City cry.”

Last Sunday must have been an average day for New York City Police Officer Dennis Guerra. A good cop with eight years of experience, he had a wife and four kids. By all accounts it was clear he loved his job and his community. Guerra’s partner on Sunday was Officer Rosa Rodriquez. A mother with four children, Rodriquez has three years on the job with the NYPD.

It was a chance call for the two officers who were working in a patrol car. The call brought them a report of a fire that had just started on the 12^th floor of a nearby apartment building. City cops typically don’t respond to fire alarm calls but these two cops had a history of going far beyond the call of duty and it didn’t surprise anyone when they went to the scene. When the officers arrived no smoke was visible from the outside of the building so they got into an elevator to investigate. Things appeared to be normal but when they reached the 12^th floor and as the doors opened thick black smoke poured into the elevator. The officers radioed for help but they were quickly overcome by the smoke. Officer Guerra died that day and as of this writing, Officer Rodriguez is still clinging to life in critical condition in a New York hospital. According to the New York Times, Marcell Dockery, a teenager living in the building, admitted that he had set a mattress on fire on the 12^th floor. Dockery is being held without bond pending formal charges.

Police Commissioner, Bill Bratton whom I wrote about a few months ago spoke to hundreds of officers later the same day. He reminded everyone present that “unforeseen dangers await even the most routine calls”.  Mayor Bill De Blasio praised the courage of the two officers who selflessly rushed to help others.

Members of the NYPD, who hadn’t lost an officer in the line of duty since 2011, were taking the incident very hard. Many of the officers in the crowd, all of whom were in uniform with their badges adorned with black mourning bands, were visibly moved to tears thinking of the two young officers.

An incident like this makes you realize that you should thank our police and our firemen for their service whenever there is an opportunity. I hope we will all find a chance to do it.

On a brighter side, I continue to be amazed by the friendliness of New Yorkers. OST Coffee House on 12^th & Avenue B is an artists’ hangout and a cool place to start one’s day. Winston’s on 53^rd & 1^st takes great care of you at any time of the day with great food and service. Of course there’s 28 Scots where I often stop before attending the Today Show. Underneath one floor of  Rockefeller Center there are several little restaurants with a large outdoor seating area which is a great place to watch the ice skaters while you rest your feet.

Here are a couple of scoops. If you are interested in riding the Gray Line double decker bus, with a little bargaining you can get three days for the price of two. The aircraft carrier Intrepid is permanently moored in New York harbor and some of our most sophisticated military aircraft is displayed on its decks where tours are held daily. The driver of my tour bus turned out to be Buffalo Bill’s grand nephew and he told me that tours of the Intrepid are not to be missed. Yes, I did say Buffalo Bill’s grand nephew and this guy had letters from Buffalo Bill to his grandmother (Bill’s sister) that prove it! Yes from the good old boys who work the Today Show to bus drivers to your everyday Joe walking the street, New Yorkers are a good bunch.

Also, it only happens once a year and its getting close. Elder Care’s The Good, The Bad and The Barbeque out at the Cross Bell Ranch will give you the chance to visit one of Oklahoma’s truly great ranches that is still in operation.

Till next week, I’ll see ya down the road…………………

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