Horsing Around With "Freckles"

 While waiting to get a haircut recently, I picked up a copy of South Dakota Magazine, which features articles that have South Dakota connections.  One of the articles in this edition (July August/September 2020) was written by Chuck Cecil, whose wife Mary is the older sister of the late Cathy (Wilber) Madson of our class.  Cathy's husband Tom was also in our class.  As an aside, one of my sisters was good friends with Mary Wilber in high school, and registered the guests at Chuck and Mary's wedding.

Mr. Cecil had a long career editing and writing for several daily and weekly newspaper in addition to working at SDSU for 23 years.  While at State, he met Bill McCone, father of Jean McCone, also of our class.  Mr. McCone told Mr. Cecil the story of a horse called Freckles, who, in the 1930's, went from the Spink County farm of the McCone family to the stables of Hollywood legend Gene Autry.  Mr. Cecil has written numerous books about life in South Dakota, with a special emphasis on the Brookings area.   His latest book is number 24 and is called Grandpa's Horses, and includes this amazing story about Freckles.  

Thanks to the barbershop for letting me borrow this copy of the magazine.  Hope there are no problems resulting from posting this article.