"Top Gun"
It was the spring of ’61, after the ice and snow had disappeared. I heard of a shoot out at a big ranch, called the Silver Spur. This shoot was for cash money, for the fastest draw and straight shootist cowpoke that showed up. I had thought of who would be there, to gain a little more weight of coins, in their pockets. Of course, I knew the Earps, would be there as they liked to show folks that their skill with a six gun was not just here say.
The day finally arrived, so early that morning, a couple of friends and myself, hit the trail for the ranch. It was not a great distance from where we were, so a few hours of hard riding got us to the gate of the Silver Spur. It was a good size spread, with a long lane to the main house. Off to the left was the bunkhouse, to the right was the corral, it was big enough to hold one hundred or more livestock, at branding tine. No one would be in each other’s way, while working.
As we stepped down, I looked around at a large gathering of folks who came to see, if they were as good at their shooting skills, as the next, or if they should leave their guns holstered and watch the rest try their hand at hitting the targets, that were set up.
As I looked around through the crowd, I could see the Earps, Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan. Pat Masterson, Doc Holliday, Ringo Harden, Calamity Jane, and Annie Oakley, just to name a few. There were others that I did not know by name, and some I had heard about, but had never seen in action.
At noon the first shooter stepped up to the line in front of the target, the signal was given, the gunman’s hand moved in a blur. The six-gun blew flames from its muzzle the target fell. I stood in amazement of the speed and sureness of the shooter’s aim. This continued for ten shots, for each shooter until they had all shot at the targets. There were some who missed, and some who did not.
One gunfighter in particular I watched very closely. He was of slender build, rusty colored hair, and dressed as a gambler. Wearing two guns. As I watched his targets fall to the blast of his .45, I knew that he could handle those .45’s with the skill and grace that they deserved.
Time had passed quickly and the sun was starting to set when all the shooters had finished their rounds of targets, the smoke was settling down, the judges were making their decisions, the scorekeepers were busy totaling the hits, and the misses, for each of the shooters, to find out who would be top gun. Finally one of the judges from the Silver Spur, stepped up to the platform, and began to name the shooters of honorable mention, both men and women, shared the honors, but there could only be one Top Gun. As I sat waiting to hear who would leave with the prize money, my thoughts were of that rusty haired, slender built gambler, who had impressed me with the ease and speed of his hand, and how the .45 found it’s target every time. Finally, the announcement we had all been waiting for, Top Gun.
As I reflect on the years since that day in ’61, it brings back fond memories of the thirty plus years I have known that gentleman. Our friendship has grown into a strong bond, and the enjoyment of seeing if we could out shoot each other year after year, at the hundred of contests we have attended. But the one thing I will always remember is that day in ’61, when I met Jerry Booher, and he was named Top Gun. And in my mind, he will always be.
- Rusty Hammer
The day finally arrived, so early that morning, a couple of friends and myself, hit the trail for the ranch. It was not a great distance from where we were, so a few hours of hard riding got us to the gate of the Silver Spur. It was a good size spread, with a long lane to the main house. Off to the left was the bunkhouse, to the right was the corral, it was big enough to hold one hundred or more livestock, at branding tine. No one would be in each other’s way, while working.
As we stepped down, I looked around at a large gathering of folks who came to see, if they were as good at their shooting skills, as the next, or if they should leave their guns holstered and watch the rest try their hand at hitting the targets, that were set up.
As I looked around through the crowd, I could see the Earps, Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan. Pat Masterson, Doc Holliday, Ringo Harden, Calamity Jane, and Annie Oakley, just to name a few. There were others that I did not know by name, and some I had heard about, but had never seen in action.
At noon the first shooter stepped up to the line in front of the target, the signal was given, the gunman’s hand moved in a blur. The six-gun blew flames from its muzzle the target fell. I stood in amazement of the speed and sureness of the shooter’s aim. This continued for ten shots, for each shooter until they had all shot at the targets. There were some who missed, and some who did not.
One gunfighter in particular I watched very closely. He was of slender build, rusty colored hair, and dressed as a gambler. Wearing two guns. As I watched his targets fall to the blast of his .45, I knew that he could handle those .45’s with the skill and grace that they deserved.
Time had passed quickly and the sun was starting to set when all the shooters had finished their rounds of targets, the smoke was settling down, the judges were making their decisions, the scorekeepers were busy totaling the hits, and the misses, for each of the shooters, to find out who would be top gun. Finally one of the judges from the Silver Spur, stepped up to the platform, and began to name the shooters of honorable mention, both men and women, shared the honors, but there could only be one Top Gun. As I sat waiting to hear who would leave with the prize money, my thoughts were of that rusty haired, slender built gambler, who had impressed me with the ease and speed of his hand, and how the .45 found it’s target every time. Finally, the announcement we had all been waiting for, Top Gun.
As I reflect on the years since that day in ’61, it brings back fond memories of the thirty plus years I have known that gentleman. Our friendship has grown into a strong bond, and the enjoyment of seeing if we could out shoot each other year after year, at the hundred of contests we have attended. But the one thing I will always remember is that day in ’61, when I met Jerry Booher, and he was named Top Gun. And in my mind, he will always be.
- Rusty Hammer
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