Letters
WE THINK OF 'EM AS MEMOES FROM
OUR BOSSES & NOTES FROM HOME...
DUKE FLUKE
Dear Ed: I was disappointed to notice that the
Jan/Feb '07 article featuring John Wayne didn't have
his birthplace correct. Winterset, IOWA is proud to
have that association. Your article credits Winterset,
Ohio. Right guy, wrong horse.
-Jim Malek, Iowa Rez, Sioux City, IA
I couldn't be more thrilled with the feature about "The
Duke." He was one of my heroes growing up and he still has a
prominent place in my home. I remember
visiting the Cowboy Hall of Fame [now the
National Cowboy Museum] some years ago and while trying to
decide which way to go, got the "feeling" that I was being
"watched." I turned around and almost bumped into a life-sized
cutout of Mr. Wayne. I was outside the entrance to the room that
was devoted to him. In the Wayne feature, the author alludes to the
fact that Duke was born in "Winterset, OHIO." I have at least one
text that lists his birthplace as "Winterset, IOWA." If only for us
nitpickers, I think you should set the record straight. I enjoy the
magazine immensely and although I am too old to even think about
a cowboy life, I can still dream, right?? Thanks for everything!
-John Sellers, Hiawassee, Ga.
Thanks for the feedback, and you are certainly right in saying we
were in error. We have never had so many letters as we received for this
one. Speaking as Editor-in-Chief, I want to exonerate the article's
author, Chris Enss, because the error was introduced when I took it on
myself to recast one of her sentences. I deleted the line and tried to write
it fresh, and in doing so, I erroneously put "Ohio" where "Iowa"
belonged. My apologies to all. -EDITOR
BEEN THERE
Mr. Mullins: I just finished reading your Adventures West article
on the Katy Railroad. It seems as if I made the trip with you
and your daughter. I was born a "Sandite" [Sand Springs, Okla.,
resident] and, while I've lived in other areas of the country, Sand
Springs was always home and where I raised my boys. My Dad was
a farmer and the Katy rail line ran through the land he leased.
After graduating from high school I went to NEO A&M in Miami,
Okla. The Katy ran through Miami and, after 35 years, I still have
memories of waiting impatiently for the train to pass hoping I
wouldn't be late for class. All these years later my sister lives in
Houston, on the North side out by Katy. We've had a couple of
family celebrations at the Taste Of Texas. There is no truly good
route from Sand Springs to Houston. However, the best is the
Indian Nation's turnpike to the Hwy 69 exit through Stringtown,
Atoka, Durant, and on to Dallas to hit I-45. I've been a subscriber
for about 3 years and look forward to reading each edition of
American Cowboy cover to cover. However, this particular article
simply followed all the roads of my life, all the way to that "shaded
hillside cemetery" where my Dad lays under a big elm tree.
Thanks so much for the memories! I look forward to many more
years of American Cowboy. It truly is my favorite reading material.
Diverse enough to keep the interest of any reader but always
maintaining the strong connection to our Western heritage. What
could be better than that? Keep up the good work...
-Donna Betzner, Sand Springs, Okla.
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