Published: May 11, 2009 10:26 am      

Chisholm descendant visits cemetery

Jesse Chisholm, III, the great, great grandson of Jesse Chisholm, for whom the famous cattle drive was named, recently visited the historic Muncrief Cemetery, located on E. Old Fred Road.

Chisholm joined a group led by J. L. Courtney of Oklahoma City that included Col. Cliff Parker, cowboy singer and composer who wrote the song ìUgly Girl,î and a group of youth from the Lawton and Weatherford areas, retracing part of the Chisholm Trail through this part of the state.

Ninnekah Historical Society President Liz Craig welcomed the group to the cemetery, sharing stories about the people who are buried there and about the 1992 restoration of the cemetery.

She also told the group about Bill and Bobbie Evans of Ninnekah, who dedicated countless hours working and keeping up the cemetery which recently suffered tree damage due to ice storms and merciless winds. Repairs have begun, but funds are now depleted.

An accomplished man, Chisholm is a champion war dancer, All Star shortstop and second baseman for the Wichita Bobcats and plays semi-pro for the Milwaukee Braves. He is a Champion IRCA professional bull rider and pro boxer and was a matador who rode wild bulls and buffalo. He is also a Louisiana Ship Longshoreman, race horse owner and trainer and is a retired concrete contractor in Wichita where he resides with his wife Jane. He has two sisters Beverly and Cheryl.

The group plans to visit the cemetery again in the near future.