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 O’Brien. 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 Dan and also became Wild Idea Buffalo Company’s 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. He’s our "go-to guy”. 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. He’s also Jill’s “Knight in Shining Armor” when it comes to snake handling (catch and release of course).
Gervase is a man of many talents and life experiences. He’s 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 ‘once a marine, always a marine’, who will “never quit marching”. 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 there’s 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 books… c'est magnifique! Dan states, “Gervase can walk the line between blue collar and ivory tower, and he’s been doing it for 70 years.”
Gervase is currently working on a larger quilt creation using old Levi’s that when completed can be rolled up and buttoned like a sleeping bag. “I would love nothing more than to throw that on the back of my horse and hit the trail, but I’ll probably just keep it safe on my horseless carriage.”
Gervase stays fit by eating a healthy diet, which includes a lot of Wild Idea Buffalo meat! And is a true example of “if you use it - you don’t lose it”! Happy 86th Birthday Gervase, and thank you for your love, friendship and service - all of it!
43 comments
Semper fi and Happy Birthday, Marine!
Although I have never met you, your story is inspirational.
The happiest of birthdays to a man who is truly making a difference in this world. That is the highest accomplishment possible.
Thank you, Gervase, for all you do for us!
Wishing you the happiest birthday!
Quilts? Pecan pies? What other dark secrets are lurking in your soul?
Happy Bird Day, Amigo!
PC
joyeux anniversaire Gervase ! votre style de vie actif est une source d’inspiration pour moi alors que je me prépare à célébrer mon 80e anniversaire. J’espère que vous avez une merveilleuse fête d’anniversaire!
That cake looks amazing. Best birthday wishes, Gervase!
Have a marvelous year!
Happy Birthday young fella it’s a blessing to see and know that God almighty has you in his righteous right hand and I’m glad that there’s things for you yet to do on this good green earth God bless ya.
Happy Birthday, Gervase! We sure are lucky to have you around!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GERVASE!! Looking good..everything (that includes the pasture), looks good! Wishing you many more years of things looking good!
Happy Birthday Gervase! I will be 76 this year and live by the same motto, as they say in Germany, ’Wer rasted – rosted!
Best
Angela
I met you many years ago at Cheyenne River Ranch
I KNEW YOU WERE OLDER THN ME BY 2 MONTHS. HAPPY B’DAY AND WISH YOU MANY MORE
Happy B-Day Gervase! Thank you for all that you do for the environment and for our diet! We’re enourmously grateful that you and the whole WIB team is out there doing your great work – as east coasters in CT we know that we’re all tied together from the beautiful northern plains where the buff roam all the way to our dinner plate. Happy Birthday and here’s to many more! Matt