When one thinks about the Old West and the characters that lived within the many states that encompass the region, they have to remember some of the great men that helped to tame the area.

You have to think of cities like Ellsworth, Kansas … a railhead for many huge cattle drives. Wyatt Earp had reportedly been on the city police department there and was directly involved in keeping the peace when these huge drives brought thousands of cattle in for shipment to the huge cities back east.

Wichita, Kansas was also a huge cattle town, and Wyatt was on its police force before moving southwest.

Then you have to think of Dodge City, Kansas and the horrific battles on Front Street between lawmen and the bad apples that came to run havoc on it. Wyatt was on the police force with his brother James in 1876. It is also claimed that he was a deputy sheriff of Ford County under Charlie Bassett. It was there that he befriended Bat Masterson, a future sheriff of Ford County.

Then you have to think of Tombstone, Arizona and the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral between the Earps and the Clanton gang. Morgan, Virgil and Wyatt were involved in the famous event on October 26, 1881.

It was out of that fight that a huge following came for the Earps and gave them the reputation that made them a household name even to this day. The Earps also gained fame in many other towns like Deadwood, South Dakota; Las Vegas, New Mexico and Nome, Alaska, where Wyatt made $80,000 operating a saloon during the gold rush days.

In 1906, Wyatt and Josie, his wife, settled in California and became prospectors in gold and copper mining. They vacationed and spent summers in Los Angeles. They also became good friends with many Hollywood actors and show people.

On January 13, 1929, Wyatt Earp passed away in his sleep in a rented cottage in Los Angeles. Looking at this frail 80-year-old man, one would have to wonder about the legend that he had created some 50 years before. Tom Mix and William S. Hart were among his pallbearers.

The name Wyatt Earp and its involvement with lawmen still lives on today. My Uncle Basil Friend, who lives in Silver Springs, Florida recently sent me a beautiful 8x10 picture. He had only told me that I would be very happy with the gift.

Upon opening it and seeing the picture of him and Wyatt Earp and the autograph of Wyatt Earp, I only thought of one thing ... Basil is up to his old tactics of pulling jokes on me again. Basil and I have had a thing for the past 30 years or so of every so often getting a good one over on each other. Nothing to hurt anyone … just good humor.

I had thought that Basil had the shirt made with the name Wyatt Earp on it and the badge of County Sheriff over the heart side. Then he got this guy to pose with him and then sent me the finished product.

With the computer age, I was able to bring up information that led me to phone Wyatt at his job and speak with him about the picture. He told me that he was a direct descendant of Wyatt Earp and was also born in the same town that Wyatt was ... Monmouth, Illinois. He went on to say that he was a namesake of the original Wyatt and that he went on to become a sheriff to fulfill his dream of being like the famous Earp Brothers.

Today, if you're pulled over by a sheriff deputy in Marion County, Florida, more than likely this Wyatt Earp had something to do with keeping the road vehicle safe and in working order. He is still active in the department but is in charge of the huge motor pool that has hundreds of cars and trucks in its inventory.

I look forward to meeting with this young man through my Uncle Basil when I get to Florida in September for my visit with family. It will truly be an honor to have my picture taken with him and share a meal as well.

Thank you, Uncle Basil, for another exciting time in my life.