One of the most colorful and best-known characters in Oklahoma was Billy McGinty of Ingalls, Oklahoma. He was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and rode his horse in "Roosevelt's Rough Riders." He counted as his friends Teddy Roosevelt, Pawnee Bill, and Buffalo Bill. Billy was accepted in spite of the fact that he was only five feet two inches in height. However, when it came to getting the job done, riding and soldiering, he was right in there with the tallest and best. (1)
Upon leaving the army, McGinty made contact with William S. ("Buffalo Bill") Cody and became a rider in that world famous circus. The riders gave a most colorful spectacle with their fast horse riding.
One of the most interesting activities of the McGinty’s was their "Billy McGinty Cowboy Band," which played over the radio stations in Oklahoma during the very early days of the radio. Mollie, his wife sang ballads, as did other musicians and sometimes a church choir would join in the musical broadcasts. The band played dance music, western ballads, and became very popular as radio entertainers. The band was composed of Ripley, Oklahoma community musicians. (2)
1. The Historical Souvenir Edition of the United Spanish American War Veterans Magazine May 12, 1982.
2. Chronicles of Oklahoma. THE STORY OF AN OKLAHOMA COWBOY, WILLIAM McGINTY, AND HIS WIFE By Leslie A. McRill
One of the most colorful and best-known characters in Oklahoma was Billy McGinty of Ingalls, Oklahoma. He was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and rode his horse in "Roosevelt's Rough Riders." He counted as his friends Teddy Roosevelt, Pawnee Bill, and Buffalo Bill. Billy was accepted in spite of the fact that he was only five feet two inches in height. However, when it came to getting the job done, riding and soldiering, he was right in there with the tallest and best. (1)
Upon leaving the army, McGinty made contact with William S. ("Buffalo Bill") Cody and became a rider in that world famous circus. The riders gave a most colorful spectacle with their fast horse riding.
One of the most interesting activities of the McGinty’s was their "Billy McGinty Cowboy Band," which played over the radio stations in Oklahoma during the very early days of the radio. Mollie, his wife sang ballads, as did other musicians and sometimes a church choir would join in the musical broadcasts. The band played dance music, western ballads, and became very popular as radio entertainers. The band was composed of Ripley, Oklahoma community musicians. (2)
1. The Historical Souvenir Edition of the United Spanish American War Veterans Magazine May 12, 1982.
2. Chronicles of Oklahoma. THE STORY OF AN OKLAHOMA COWBOY, WILLIAM McGINTY, AND HIS WIFE By Leslie A. McRill
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