Duchess Corner

Our little "Better Boy" tomatoes are growing nicely here in Southwest Colorado, even with the cold front that went through last weekend.

We did manage to get them covered and protected when the evening temperatures dropped to below 31 degrees a few days ago. We counted at least six (6) little green tomatoes about the size of a small marble on this one plant. Notice all the little yellow blooms, also! Don't know if you can see them all in this photo, but maybe you can find at least four of them. We gave our plants a "Miracle Grow" bathing this week, also. Our temperatures here in the valley are warming up to the 70's and 80's the last few days, but it does cool down at night and in the shade. We shall keep you posted on their growth.

Calling all Alva High Goldbugs out there! Let us take a quiet moment to remember that one particular coach and history teacher, Coach Jack Davison. Northwest Oklahoma lost another great coach, teacher and friend this last week when the "Coach" passed on May 27, 2006 at the age of 84 years. Remember history class when we could easily get the "Coach" distracted from the history lesson and talking football? We suppose that was just another history lesson, though. That's probably why my history grades weren't so hot, though! For the life of this NW Okie, we can not remember what Coach Davison's nickname was. Does anyone, someone out there have any Coach Davison stories or remember what his nickname was?

Our best to the the Davison and Hodgden families of northwest Oklahoma for their losses this last memorial weekend!
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Obituary - Edward Theodore Hodgden, 03/13/1926 to 05/28/2006...

Services were held Friday, June 02, 2006 at 10:30 AM, Wharton Funeral Chapel, Alva, Oklahoma. Edward Hodgden, age 80, longtime resident of Alva, Oklahoma, died Sunday, May 28, Ascension Sunday. Funeral services for Mr. Hodgden were held at Wharton Funeral Chapel on Friday, June 2, at 10:30 a.m., with rites following at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. A vigil service was held Thursday, June 1, at 7 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Fr. Shane Tharp presiding at the services.

Edward Theodore Hodgden was born on March 13, 1926, in Enid, Oklahoma, to Theodore William (Ted) and Rose Dora (Hudnall) Hodgden. Ed's grandparents were Walter Perry and Ella (Nagle) Hodgden. Walter Perry Hodgden was twenty-one years old when he joined other Kansas men making the Run into the Cherokee Strip. Walter left his home in Ellsworth, Kansas riding his horse to Arkansas City and was ready to race into the Strip when the gun was fired, September 16, 1893. The line broke early, and though the soldiers were shouting and calling people back, they all just raced on, so the gun was fired so all could go.

Ed's grandpa, Walter Hodgden, rode that day with Billy Morton, a blacksmith from Ellsworth. Their horses "lasted too long" and when they stopped on Black Bear Creek, they found they were in Indian country. Not getting a claim they rode on into Enid and Walter took up school land southwest of Enid. Billy was to spend the rest of his life on the Hodgden ranch, dying in 1936 at 85 years.

Walter Hodgden operated land at his home in Garfield County and Walter began ranching in Woods County in 1897, starting in Section 36-Twp23-Rge13 and later acquiring Section1 and 2-Twp22-Rge13 and other acreages. This land is in the southeast corner of Woods County and on the south by the Cimarron River.

In may 1897 Walter returned to Ellsworth to marry Miss Ella Nagle, then returned to his home where they both continued to live until their deaths. That summer he harvested his first wheat crop, having been "hailed out" the three previous years. On a trip to Iowa he purchased seven Registered Hereford cows and a Registered Hereford bull. This was on of the first Registered herds in Oklahoma and surrounding states. Especially did northwest Oklahoma benefit from this improved blood and herds in Garfield and Woods Counties continue to show its influence.

Walter Perry Hodgden was born in 1872, died in 1921, but Mrs. Hodgden and her sons Theodore and Walter continued to operate the ranch. Mrs. Ella (Nagle) Hodgden died in 1960 and Theodore in 1973. Walter Perry and Ella (Nagle) Hodgden had three children: Theodore, Walter and Mary.

Ed Hodgden, son of Theodore William "Ted" and Ella (Nagle) Hodgden, was raised and educated near Drummond, Oklahoma, and at Ft. Hays, Kansas. Ed attended St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Enid, Oklahoma. He served in the Navy during WWII in the Philippines.

Ed married Joan Wagner in 1949 in Blairstown, New Jersey, and they were married 37 years, until her death in 1986. Their surviving children are Susan Belinda and her husband Jim Nance; Maura Bethann and her husband Larry Leslie; Melissa Joan and her husband Eric Nuttall; and Amy Melanie Hodgden. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandgirls; a sister and brother-in-law, Mary Agnes and Thomas G. Romine; one brother, Francis Hodgden, two brother-in-laws and their wifes, Lou and Kay Wagner and David and Linda Wagner and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Ed began his career in the oilfields of northwest Oklahoma as a roughneck and worked on the first oil well to be drilled in Woods County. He continued several businesses in the oil and gas industry until the age of 79. Throughout his 53-year career in the oil and gas industry he and his family served this northwest community well and he will be greatly missed.

He leaves behind his present wife, Donna. He was preceded in death by his wife Joan, his parents, and his infant daughter, Nora. Contributions may be made in Ed’s memory to the Alva Senior Citizen Center. Click here to leave your condolences at Wharton Funeral Guestbook.
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Oklahoma Gas & Weather...

"The Perry, Oklahoma gasoline prices have increased again, but we're still much cheaper than your Colorado rates I think. Ours went back up to $2.659 at the majors and the independents. Our gasoline prices already went up AGAIN! This morning (Saturday, June 3) the posted prices for regular unleaded at the majors and the independents is up another 4 cents. Now it's $2.699. We have also had 1-1/2" of rain over the past 3 days. We still need more." -- Roy View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Sixth Armored Division WWII...

"I have sent you a couple e-mails about the , Sixth A.D., I served with them in France,Germany and Belgium, 1944 - 1945. I am the one who is owned by the two Pug's, Little Mac and Blackie!" -- H. Hawkins

[Editor's Note: Homer, have you sent a jpg file pic of your two Pugs? We would love to see them. -- Duchess & Sadie] View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

6th Armored Division Reunion Information...

6th Armored Division Reunion Information
Date: Oct 19, 2006 - Oct 23, 2006
Place: Imperial Palace & Casino
City: Las Vegas, State: NV
Person to Contact: Homer Hawkins
Phone: (580) 355- 1599
Comments: Room reservations should be made at: Imperial Palace, TOLLFREE: 1-800-800-2981, USECODE NAME: "SIXTH ARMORED DIVISION, For group rate: COST + TAX $65.00 Thursday & Sunday $109.00 + TAX Friday & Saturday (As early as possible. QUESTIONS? CALL: DONNA DOLOVY 1-602-249-2440; PAUL CAMPBELL 1-704-855-1050. BUS TOUR FRIDAY 8:00AM, BANQUET SATURDAY 6:00PM. SEE YOU IN LAS VEGAS!

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Super Sixth: The story of Patton's 6th Armored...

Super Sixth: The story of Patton's 6th Armored Division in WW II -- The 6th Armored Division was created February 15, 1942 at Fort Knox, Kentucky and was made up almost entirely of citizen draftee soldiers. Its training stations were Camp Chaffee, Ark., Louisiana Maneuvers, the Mojave Desert, and Camp Cooke, CA. It arrived in England in February 1944 and landed at Utah Beach on July 18, 1944. During the next 9 1/2 months, the 6th Armored fought in five major European campaigns of World War II: Normandy - Northern France - Ardennes-Alsace - Rhinelane - Central Europe. The majority of this time was spent in General George S. Patton's famous Third Army. The 6th Armored was deactivated September 18, 1945 at Camp Shanks, New York. In 1947 the Sixth Armored Division Association was organized to perpetuate the memory of 1,274 fallen comrades, to assist in promoting an everlasting peace, and to serve as a medium of contact among the men who served in the division. Its first reunion was held in 1948 in Louisville, KY. On September 12-17, 2000 its 53rd and final reunion occured in Louisville.
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IOOF Cemtery - Gideon A. Wilerson...

"I just now looked at the IOOF Cemetery site where Gideon A. Wilkerson is buried. Gid was my great grandpa's brother. Can you tell me the circumstances of how he came to be buried here? Would there be any information about his family that I could have? Gid was 80 years old when he died. Thank you." -- Julie Kohfeld - EMAIL: julmak1@earthlink.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Pug Party...

"Too bad I just found this. Too late to come -- BARK... More than 500 four-legged party animals are expected at the PUG PARTY, a semi-annual celebration of all things pug. Some will arrive at Joe's Bar in costume, ready for celebrity judging, all will be covered in dog hair. June 3, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. $7, $4 for kids, pugs free. Costume contest entry fee, $20, proceeds of which go to pug breed rescue charity. 940 W. Weed St., 312-337-3486 or 773-485-2100, www.pugparty.com. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

WWII POW Camp - Okemah, OK...

"I was born and raised in OKEMAH. The stone walls, etc. of the huge compound, house our high school football and baseball fields. The Germans were apparently good stone masons and literally help build their own camp. I have family in OKEMAH who can forward current photos, if anyone cares to see. Better yet, I would recommend a personal visit. As a child (born in '53) there was still barbed wire top the walls." -- STEPHEN RYKER View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (1 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The Rest of the Story...

Artesion Well - Alfalfa CountyThe well is located in Alfalfa County, 27 miles east of Alva on highway 11. It is an artesion well. Many people from all around carry water jugs full of this water back to their homes and use it. It is fixed up now with a pipe that lets a person get water much easier. Also has a fence around it to keep cattle from the exact area. My father was born over by Burlington in 1913 and that well was running ( or shooting ) up out of the ground when his family went to the Salt Plains for salt for the animals."

Garver Flying Circus... "Regarding Amelia: I was in Hawaii back in 1999 & met a distant cousin of the Navigator/Fred Noonan, that was on board with Amelia when they disappeared. Steve Noonan from Virgina area was on the Johnson Atoll when I met him in Hawaii & is now back home in Virgina. What was really wild about this story is that I also met an aircraft photographer from Virginia in OKC taking pics of a beautiful jet at Million Air back in 1998 & later found out that he (Charles Tack) skydives with Steve Noonan ... they know each other very well. The world of aviation/military/pilots is very very small. Bio on T

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Obituary: Marvin "Jack" Davison - 7/30/1921 to 5/27/2006...

Coach Marvin Jack son of Bessie Smith and Grant Davison was born on July 30, 1921 in Waynoka, Oklahoma. He passed away at the Wichita St. Francis Hospital on the 27th of May at the age of 84 years, 9 months and 28 days. Service were held Thursday, June 01, 2006 at 01:00 PM, First Christian Church, Alva, Oklahoma.

He attended the Waynoka High School and loved sports. As a Waynoka Railroader he earned 4 letters in football, 4 letters in Baseball and 7 letters in basketball. Jack attended two years at Northwestern State College on a basketball scholarship before enlisting in the U. S. Army. He served with the famous 10th Mountain Division and participated in the heroic battle of the Po Valley in Italy. He had received five medals including two bronze stars.

After returning from the service, he was eager to continue his education at Northwestern State College. Jack obtained a degree in history and physical education. He was able to continue his love of sports by coaching football, basketball and track for over 29 years and was selected for the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame and as coach of the Oklahoma Football All-State game. Jack is also credited with bringing girls' basketball to Alva High School and watched his girls go to the state tournament after his retirement. He always respected the game by teaching his student athletes the benefits of hard work and teamwork. During college he also met his wife, Bobby Copas, of Alva, and they moved five times during his coaching career finally settling in his beloved town of Alva. -- Obit - Jack "Coach" Davison
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