Welcome back. The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Osage County represents mother nature at her finest and back in the 1980s several people had the vision to protect it, one of whom passed away last week. The Tallgrass Prairie is just one small piece of his legacy. Born on July 13, 1931 in Enid, Oklahoma, he graduated from high school in Hominy, Oklahoma before getting a B.S. in Animal Science from OSU. After college he served in the Army where he attained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and was stationed in Germany as an artillery officer. After his service to our country he earned an MBA from Stanford University in 1957 and went to work in a Kansas City bank for several years before moving back home to Hominy.
During the following years he built a ranch, got married, became the devoted father of four kids and was elected chairman of a local bank, all while learning the ins and outs of the oil business. Generous with his time and money, he served on the boards of many organizations, both statewide and national, and the list of his honors and awards could take up half my column. The Cattleman’s Hall of Fame, the OSU Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the Western Heritage Center’s Hall of Great Westerners are just a few of the organizations which recognized his accomplishments and friends the list goes on.
You may have guessed who I’m talking about by now and you may also wonder how I know so much about this “legend.” I don’t use that word very often but it is appropriate for Frederick Ford Drummond, a man I had the honor to have known personally. Yes, this humble man was who friends with most everyone he met, has died.
I had several lunches and dinners with Frederick at social events even going on a couple of trail rides with him. He was one of those guys who from the very first time you met him felt like he was your lifelong friend. We’ve lost several exceptional men and women in this area lately and Frederick is another. If you want to learn more about him check out his obituary which was published in the Tulsa World on October 20th and the original Drummond Family Home in Hominy is a museum and it’s a great little road trip that I think you’ll enjoy.
Moving on to another story that has its roots in Osage County, it’s Act III of Chasing A Ghost. Over the last few weeks, I’ve brought you the story of a missing girl that still keeps former District Attorney Bill Hall up at night. If you missed the earlier installments check out my website www.originalbuffalodale.com or stop by the Examiner where they have hard copies of past issues.
Pawhuska to Bartlesville is 29 miles, Tulsa is another 49 miles then on to Dallas, 257 miles and finally 431 miles to a small beach town outside of Corpus Christi. It’s a place I’ve never been before, full of history and also a town that now has a tie to Pawhuska. Next week I’ll be bringing you more.
Till then I’ll see ya down the road…………….
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