In The Spirit Of The Game
Wild Bill Bagley & the Lincoln County Lawmen
Wild Bill & Preacher Ben Pray’n
As I sat and began talking with Bill Bagley, right on the wall in front of me was a wanted poster of Doc Holiday “for practicing Dentistry without a license”. Looking around the room I could not help but notice all the old west paraphernalia: pictures of Matt Dillon, John Wayne, cowboy hats, boots and blankets.
What brought me to visit Bill is that I am a Hospice Chaplin for Odyssey Hospice. Bill is one of my Hospice patients. Hospice Chaplains are ministers whose ministry is with patients that are terminally ill and who also bring comfort and counsel to their families.
Bill and I hit it off right away, for I too, am a cowboy aficionado. In fact I belong to an organization called SASS (Single Action Six Shooters), better know as Cowboy Action Shooters (CAS). We are a group of people who promote the lifestyle and ways of the old west, who dress up as cowboys and cowgirls and shoot real guns. One of the customs of being on the trail as a cowboy is to have a trail name. Mine is Preacher Ben Pray’n. I gave Bill the trail name of Wild Bill Bagley which fit him perfectly. Wild Bill and I would sit for hours, talking about the old west and cowboy action shooting.
One day as a posse of us was having lunch at a local CAS shoot out; I was telling folks about Wild Bill Bagley. Of course I could not mention his real name due to patient privacy rights. Birdie Cage, another trail name, simply suggested bringing Wild Bill to a shoot. This began the saga of Wild Bill Bagley.
After speaking with Aunt Clara (trail name), the Odyssey Hospice Executive Director and Office Manager, Miss Lolli (trail name), the idea was warmly embraced. Wild Bill’s family was completely enthralled about the idea. The first obstacle was to get Wild Bill there. One call to Med Care Ambulance and Wild Bill was on his way for less than it would cost for a plate of beans out on the trail. Making arrangements for Wild Bill to join us at a shoot was next. All shoots are open to the public, but this required special circumstances. I emailed our Territorial Governor One Ear Pete. One Ear immediately embraced the idea. We contacted the other Lincoln County Lawmen as well as the Pine Tree Gun Club, and within a few emails all the arrangements were made. Just in case, a Hospice nurse volunteered to be on standby. Not in the event of a firearms accident, Wild Bill is on Hospice.
The day of the shoot finally arrived. The Med care ambulance was right on time. Wild Bill was gently moved into his wheel chair and his trail ride began. Wild Bill was then wheeled to one of shooting stages and was warmly greeted by a posse of folks all dressed in their Cowboy, old west shooting outfits.
Some of the posse
gave Wild Bill souvenirs such as shell casings, spent lead and a blank 45
cartridge. Wild Bill was smiling ear to ear. Preacher Ben and One Ear
explained the shooting scenario to Wild Bill and his daughter. After
watching a line of cowboys and cowgirls parade in front of him and shoot the
stage, One Ear cleared the range.
Territorial Governor One Ear Pete presented Wild Bill with one of the original sheriff badges of the Lincoln County Lawmen.
Wild Bill was then allowed to hold and practice shooting real old west fire arms, first the
single action pistols, then a lever action rifle and a double barrel shotgun.
Wild Bill’s smile was more beautiful than any sunset seen in the old west.
Just as we moved Wild Bill off the range, the ambulance pulled up, and we all bid Wild Bill Happy Trails as he rode off into the sunset.
In Cowboy Action Shooting we commonly use a phrase called the “Spirit of the Game” simply put it means good sportsmanship. This is not only a cowboy way, it applies to life! We constantly are bombarded with bad news, negative stories, and the dark side of society. The saga of Wild Bill Bagley is a story of how people can come together in the spirit of the old West, in the spirit of life, to grant a person’s last wish.