Honoring Gervase Hittle
In the spring of 1971, Gervase Hittle, an English & French Literature Professor at the University of South Dakota met and became good friends with one of his graduate students, Dan OβBrien. 51 years later, their friendship remains. After his professorial retirement in 2002, Gervase, a fellow falconer, horseman and a lover of all things outdoors moved to the ranch to help out DanΒ and also became Wild Idea Buffalo Companyβs first sharpshooter. Eight years later he retired for the second time, and moved on to other adventures, before coming back to his ranch home in 2019.
Gervase is an integral part of the ranch and of Wild Idea. Heβs our "go-to guyβ. He lends his time, hard work and experience at the ranch, assisting with fencing, the ongoing work of prairie restoration, caring for the dogs and falcons, and at 86 continues to help out on the harvest crew (which is a young man/woman's job) when needed. Heβs also Jillβs βKnight in Shining Armorβ when it comes to snake handling (catch and release of course).
Gervase is a man of many talents and life experiences. Heβs a former Marine, who served a four-year hitch as an infantryman at the end of the Korean War. He speaks of that time with pride, living by βonce a marine, always a marineβ, who will βnever quit marchingβ. He is also an award winning quilter, a skill he learned from his mother, an excellent Pecan Pie maker and if you ask the ladies (and thereβs a lot who could testify) a real good dancer!
Like Dan, Gervase enjoys writing, sticking to short stories and poems, and has been a valuable asset to Dan as a proofreader of his books. Fluent in French, he has also translated many booksβ¦ c'est magnifique! Dan states, βGervase can walk the line between blue collar and ivory tower, and heβs been doing it for 70 years.βΒ
Gervase is currently working on a larger quilt creation using old Leviβs that when completed can be rolled up and buttoned like a sleeping bag. βI would love nothing more than to throw that on the back of my horse and hit the trail, but Iβll probably just keep it safe on my horseless carriage.β
Gervase stays fit by eating a healthy diet, which includes a lot of Wild Idea Buffalo meat! And is a true example of βif you use it - you donβt lose itβ! Happy 86th Birthday Gervase, and thank you for your love, friendship and service - all of it!
Hey Gervase,
Boy, am I late to the party! Believe it or not, itβs been some 50 years since we last met up in Colorado! Delighted to hear youβre still going strong and living such an extraordinary life. Iβll never forget your brilliant teaching, nor the comment you wrote on one of my papers: βYou write good.β All the best!
My good friend always. Love you much. Happy Birthday!
I re-read the βquartetβ of Danβs non-fiction books periodically (Rites of Autumn, Equinox, Buffalo for the Broken Heart and Wild Idea). I was just wondering today, after finishing them, as to what happened to Erny after his horrible stroke. So I just googled Erny Hersman and up popped his obit from the funeral homeβs site. He was the βgo-to-guyβ before you came along and I guess, like Krisβ Jake, Erny stayed with Dan until his soul reckoned he could now leave Dan in good hands. Then I wandered over to this site and saw your βhonoriumβ. You and Jill and Jillian are those βgood handsβ I think. It was great to see what you look like. Iβm hoping somewhere I can find a photo of Erny. Peace and good will to all. βBBβ.
Gervase, you are one of a kind and we are so grateful to have you a part of this family!
All our love, The Jonesβ
Glad you had a Happy Birthday! I love you Dad!