Elmer was a character. He and Dad were friends for decades. Dad heard him tell that story many times over the years and it never changed. Dad believed it absolutely. When I was about 17, I took a couple of little guys from church out to shoot .22s and teach them about gun safety. They were around 7 and 10. After we'd plinked with the .22s for a bit, I broke out the Model 29 and a grapefruit to instill some respect for a gun's power. I shot the grapefruit and it exploded impressively, then the older boy asked if he could shoot it. I loaded one round and backed him up. He hit his target, grinned real big, and handed it back to me. His little brother, who had been sitting up on the bed rail of the pickup behind and to the side of us, was actually blown off the rail into the back of the truck. After we had checked on Danny, Johnny looked up at me and asked if he could shoot it again. I was mighty proud of that little guy. BTW: My uncle landed his Skywagon on my neighbor's dirt strip this morning for a short visit on his way to a fly-in at Sierra Vista. Y'all'd get along well.
I've heard numerous stories regarding how Nice Elmer Keith and his wife were, People showing up and knocking on his door just to meet him, they were invited them in, and sat down and talked with them for an hour or more. I have heard from people who lived in Lewiston Idaho who told me that Jack O'Connor was a the exact opposite.
Elmer was a character. He and Dad were friends for decades. Dad heard him tell that story many times over the years and it never changed. Dad believed it absolutely.
When I was about 17, I took a couple of little guys from church out to shoot .22s and teach them about gun safety. They were around 7 and 10. After we'd plinked with the .22s for a bit, I broke out the Model 29 and a grapefruit to instill some respect for a gun's power. I shot the grapefruit and it exploded impressively, then the older boy asked if he could shoot it. I loaded one round and backed him up. He hit his target, grinned real big, and handed it back to me. His little brother, who had been sitting up on the bed rail of the pickup behind and to the side of us, was actually blown off the rail into the back of the truck. After we had checked on Danny, Johnny looked up at me and asked if he could shoot it again. I was mighty proud of that little guy.
BTW: My uncle landed his Skywagon on my neighbor's dirt strip this morning for a short visit on his way to a fly-in at Sierra Vista. Y'all'd get along well.
I've heard numerous stories regarding how Nice Elmer Keith and his wife were, People showing up and knocking on his door just to meet him, they were invited them in, and sat down and talked with them for an hour or more. I have heard from people who lived in Lewiston Idaho who told me that Jack O'Connor was a the exact opposite.
Thanks for the comment. That means a lot to me.