On October 5, 6, and 7, seventy-five members and friends of the James-Younger gang met in San Angelo Texas for a week-end that included friendship and comaraderie.
On Thursday evening registration was pretty well completed and we had time to meet and renew old friendships.
Chuck James had a display table set up -- and book signings were in progress, conducted by Rex Macbeth, John Koblas, Jim Ross, Phillip Steele, Betty Duke and De Kelly.
This was an open meeting of the gang and it seemed to me that there were three contingents present: 1) The hard-core members of the James-Younger Gang, 2) The various family claimants, and 3) The James-Younger Gang from Minnesota who had come to do a re-enactment in the street of San Angelo.
It was perhaps not surprising that at first, these groups huddled in little clumps with a minimum amount of interaction -- but that division did not last long.
Things rolled along rather smoothly until it was time for those who had a claim to Jesse James to take their turn. It was supposed that there might be some controversy and we were not disappointed. Most of the partisipants in this discussion felt a strong need to PROVE their point, supporting their contentions with documents, certificates, affidavits, and a video documentary. Of course, DNA was not ignored.
Every effort was made to bring the gathering to their personal way of thinking. They wanted to change opinions. At one point the discussion degenerated into bickering, but happily, that didn't last long. The session was anything but boring.
There were 74 people in the room of the San Angelo Convention Center as this meeting was taking place. I think it is fair to say that all these spectators came to the meeting with their own inclination as to who was descended from Jesse James and who was not. And, it is my further belief, that as the meeting came to a close, everyone still held their original opinion. No one persent had been persuaded to change their mind -- no, not one!
Friday afternoon, a caravan of vehicles led by a chartered bus took a tour along the 40 mile stretch from San Angelo to Sterling City and Peace Ranch. Upon returning to Sterling City, we were entertained by a wonderful barbecue prepared by the McClure family.
The speakers on Saturday were Eric James, John Koblas, De Kelly and Marry Mims. Saturday afternoon, the James-Younger Gang from Minnesota (Chuck, Chip, Jerry DeMann, and Jeff Alan) amused us by rescuing Jesse James (aka hon. Judge James R. Ross) from a San Angelo bordello (a local historic site). Saturday night was the annual general meeting and following entertainment.
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