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President's Letter
Dear Members,
Spring is springing up slowly but surely and I have a garden planted but now it is drowning under two to three inches of water with all the rain we have received in northern Oklahoma.
I thought retirement was supposed to be quieter but I find that old father time slips away even more quickly than before. I still have some cows and they are popping little black calves out. They are sure cute little critters when they are little.
We encountered a problem at the ranch site a while back. Some idiot backed a big truck over the lawn area at the 101 grounds and left big ruts in the grass that will have to be filled in and smoothed out before we start mowing. I don’t know what goes through the minds of some people. There is plenty of concrete at the site to turn around on.
We have found a new man to do the mowing this year. His name is Bob Lachey who is retired and very conscientious. We are hoping the ranch site will be in tip-top shape this year.
We are still working on grants to obtain money for our projects but have not had any luck in getting any large amounts. Hopefully some day soon our time will come.
I hope you all are enjoying the sunshine, planting your gardens and looking forward to the summer time.
Sincerely,
Jean Evans
President
Letter from the Vice President
Dear Members,
Our organization has taken a major step forward in our efforts to gain recognition for our association while achieving our goal of helping preserve the memory of the 101 Ranch and the cowboys and cowgirls who were a part of it.
After almost a year planning, the 101 Ranch Old Timers Association has become a part of the World Wide Web through the construction and launching of our web site (www.101ranchOTA.com).
Friends of our organization in the form of Keith Barley and Darlene Platt of Ponca City have been kind enough to supply material on the 101 OTA with their Kay County Information site during the previous few years. But it was felt the time had arrived to develop our own site for the benefit of our membership while expanding our “Global footprint” as an organization.
Just as the Miller Brother’s 101 Ranch Wild West Show traveled over much of the world while touring Europe, South American and across the United States, more information on our club activities and the history of the ranch are now available around the world by way of the internet. We will be working with our design and website construction company, Computer iGeeks (www.ComputeriGeeks.com.com) of Stillwater, Oklahoma to do quarterly updates which will supplement the distribution of our newsletter.
In addition to our launching our own official 101 Ranch website, we have moved ahead on removing the old pipe and metal rod fencing found at both the north and south entrances to the Ranch driveway. After a lot of sweat equity by board members Jerry Jansma, Richard Whiting along with VP Al Ritter and member James Hopkins and his friend Kathy Pruett, a new attractive white polymer two and three rail fence now grace the frontage of the ranch and both gate areas.
Thanks to an important donation of material by Stan Combs of Rustics Western Southwest & Lodge Supply (www.Rustics.net) the OTA was able to build 326 feet of attractive new white rail fencing across the frontage of the ranch headquarters and picnic site. The new rail fencing complements the newly painted white masonry White House fence.
In addition to our completion of the White House fence preservation effort and the new rail fencing, we have completed our second property acquisition since taking title to the 101 Ranch headquarters site in 1996. An agreement with the Oklahoma Historical Society has been reached which will transfer 5.6 acres of property known as “Cowboy Hill” to ownership of 101 Ranch OTA. Located on the south bank of the Salt Fork River, Cowboy Hill was once the annual meeting place of the Cherokee Strip Cowpunchers Association (1920-1958). The graves of Colonel Zack Miller, Trick Shot Artist Jack Webb and 101 Ranch Foreman Sam Stigall are located there. Legal details of the transfer are pending but completion of the transaction is expected within 90 days.
Until our next report, best regards to our members.
Al Ritter
Vice President
Ready to stand the test of time for another year at the 101 Ranch HQ Picnic Site, commemorate plaza flags are lighted for night time display throughout the year. In August the flags are replaced with three new ones. The U.S., Oklahoma and 101 Ranch flag are then auctioned during the annual membership in August as an association fund raiser. They are dated and certified as having flown over the 101 Ranch.
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Highlights of our
2007 Annual Meeting
Every August the 101 Ranch Old Timers Association holds its annual membership meeting and reunion in northern Oklahoma never far from the remnants of the ranch. Clean up and general sprucing up of the 101 Ranch site generally begins in July since the number of visitors increases during Ponca City's Rodeo week.
The 101 Ranch OTA was honored to be selected to serve as the 2007 Parade Marshal for the annual 101 Ranch Wild West Rodeo parade held on Saturday during the rodeo performances in August. President Jean Evans (on horseback but not pictured), VP Al Ritter (seen standing with Director Jerry Jansma seated), Sec/Treasurer Joe Glaser and Directors Rochelle Kelley and Velma Falconer were provided the City of Ponca City’s new Oklahoma Centennial float to lead the parade from.
Secretary and Treasurer Joe Glaser is seen during his annual financial report to members during the business meeting. Prior to the session Ken Greenwood of Tulsa, director and producer of the new DVD, “Cowboys In Tall Grass-The 101 Ranch” was the featured speaker. His new film was shown and was well received as were his remarks. Information on ordering a copy of the 30 minute DVD is available on this web page.
Following the downtown parade, attending directors and officers returned to the Ponca City Elks Lodge meeting room where the annual western memorabilia show, members lunch, auction and business meeting was held. 50 to 60 members attended including from left to right, Bill Balcer of Stillwater, OK along with Delores Ritter of Ponca City, Ethan, Amber and David Ritter also from Stillwater, OK. |
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