Gervase Hittle
Dan O'Brien talks about his old friend Gervase Hittle:It is sometimes funny the way things turn out.
In 1970 when I entered the graduate English Literature program at the University of South Dakota I fell under the mentorship of a third-year professor from Ohio University. He had the unlikely name of Gervase Hittle. Doctor Hittle, to me.
Before he decided to become a professor he had spent an enlistment in the Marine Corps and served in Korea, but was quite active in the anti-Vietnam War movement. Needless to say, he brought an interesting perspective to the study of literature. Over the next few years, though I was only a lowly graduate student, we became fast friends. I, of course, wanted to be a writer and Gervase was my first introduction to the world of letters. I studied Romantic Poets under his tutelage and discussed with him many a Shakespearean play and French prose poem in the glow of barroom beer signs.
Eventually I graduated and went on to write books and, of course, raise buffalo. Gervase became Chairman of the Modern Language Department from where he retired with the rank of full professor. We kept up a friendship, though years went by when we did not see each other.
When I took on the restoration of the Cheyenne River Ranch, Gervase, who had time on his retired hands, came out to help with fencing. I had hired a young cowboy to help run the ranch, but he was not working out. It didn't take long to realize that Gervase was my man.
He has been the one and only employee of the ranch for two years now and has had a leading role in fencing, buffalo and grass management, and even serves as host to Wild Idea Buffalo Company customers who come to the ranch for short or extended visits. Gervase works hard with buffalo, horses and machinery, but still finds time to write almost daily in his journal.
He's a pretty unique ranch hand and has been a tremendous asset to Wild Idea Buffalo Company. He is also the author of the River Ranch Diary (excerpts from his daily journal), which is included in our news letter. Those of you who are interested in the daily workings of Wild Idea and the Cheyenne River Ranch will want to sign up to receive the newsletter directly.
In addition to Gervase's River Ranch Diary, the newsletter will include our latest "website-only" Wild Idea Buffalo Specials. We hope it will eventually include cooking tips from Jill, excerpts from whatever book I am working on, and comments from Wild Idea customers like you.
click to go directly to the River Ranch Diary.
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