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Star file photo
The entrance to the Rocking K Ranch in the 1970’s.
Some fundraising efforts today seem rather tame when compared with one they held at the Rocking K Ranch in 1961.
In 1960, the owner of the Rocking K Ranch, which was also known as the Rincon Ranch, was Chicago doctor William H. Kenner. Included in the thousands of acres of his ranch property was an old, forgotten cemetery dating back over 100 years. The doctor donated several acres of land to the Rincon Memorial Cemetery Assn. with the hope that the plot could be restored.
But the little organization needed some financial assistance to complete the task and once again the doctor came to their aid. A fundraiser was held at the ranch on March 5, 1961, but it was not exactly a typical picnic or dance.
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This event was a ‘bandit hunt’ and Dr. Kenner was the bandit. For a $5 fee, attendees could join a posse to track down Kenner somewhere on the ranch. The outlaw would get a half-hour start on the trackers. Blank ammunition was provided for the entry fee, but you needed to bring your own horse.
The hunt was successful with seventeen possemen participating. However, it took them over three hours to locate the bandit, who by then had managed to capture two posse members. The outlaw was captured by Richard Koester. He received a .38 pearl-handled revolver for his efforts.
About 700 people attended the event, which included a barbecue dinner, raising over $500.
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Star file photo
The Rincon Valley provided lots of good hiding places for a ‘bandit’ on the run.
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