25 Years Ago April 26, 1995
Washita County Man Survivies Oklahoma City Bomb Blast
“An utter madhouse. Chaotic is too generous a word.”
That’s how a Sentinel High School graduate described the scene last Wednesday outside Oklahoma City’s Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, the location of the largest terrorist attack ever in the United States.
Danny Humphrey, an accountant in the Journal Record Building, had just settled into his chair to do his accounts payable for the building’s parking garage when a bomb ripped through the downtown area, tumbling walls, blowing out windows and breaking the hearts of all Oklahomans.
The 23-year-old Humphrey said he never heard the initial blast, even though his office is a mere 250 north from the most heavily destroyed area. He did, however, hear a roar as his office started collapsing in on him.
At first he thought it was a remodeling accident on one of the floors above him. But when the light fixture crashed down on his desk he knew it was something bigger.
Humphrey was able to get under his desk before he was seriously injured.
Teen Charged In Death Of Friend
Benjamin Charles Harris, a 19-year-old man from Cordell, was formally charged Monday afternoon with First Degree Manslaughter in the Washita County Courthouse.
The charge stems from an incident early Saturday morning in which 18-yearold Amory Joe (A.J.) Pearce was shot and killed.
According to Washita County Sheriff Larry Burrows, the duo had parked themselves in a grassy area near the intersection of Highway 183 and North Crider Road. The Bronco II they were driving was registered to Cordell Police Officer Ed Klein, who is also Harris’ uncle.
An information sheet filed at the Washita County Courthouse said the two men got into an argument over the victim’s relationship with Tara Klein.
In the altercation both a knife and gun were pulled. Burrows said Harris was cut on the leg between the knee and waist. Pearce was shot four times, once in the upper body and three times in the neck.
Love Of Danger Hooked Bullrider
Adrenalin pumping through the veins. Bull rope pulled tight, twice around the glove-clad hand. Black cowboy hat drawn down to the eyes. Green and purple chaps wrapped around the worn out, but lucky, Wranglers. Time enough to mentally go over the check list: squeeze with the legs, pull on rope, keep shoulders square and tuck chin. No time to be scared, astride a 1,700 pound beast of hooves, horn, power and fury. There is only one thing left for Kenny Gregory to say: “Let’s go boys.”
With those words the 22-year-old aspiring cowboy from Cordell is set free from the chute. If the ride goes like he hopes it will be eight seconds of jumping, spinning, kicking and simply trying to hang on.
Young Airman, Woman Die In Flaming Crash
Two persons lost their lives in a flaming car-motorcyle crash just north of Burns Flat Sunday afternoon, April 19. Their deaths mark the first two traffic fatalities of 1970.
Killed were Sgt. Billy B. Mallory, 35, Clinton-Sherman, driver of the motorcycle, and a passenger, Sharon Stowe, 23, Clarksville, Tenn. The accident occurred at 3:45 p.m. Sunday, .3 miles north of Burns Flat on Highway 44.
Mallory was traveling north on a 1969 Yamaha.
Also traveling north was Bill Wilhelm, 16, Burns Flat, who was driving a 1964 Ford sedan.
The highway patrol reported Wilhelm had apparently started to make a U-turn and that the motorcycle, traveling behind it, crashed into the left side of the car.
The gasoline tank on the Yamaha exploded and the motorcycle burst into flames.
Activity Starts For Golf Facility
Thirty five persons made application for membership in a golf and family recreation facility to be maintained at the Clinton-Sherman golf course at a meeting held Tuesday night, April 21, at the base NCO club.
The name of Midwestern Oklahoma Golf Association was selected for the organizations which will maintain the facility. Persons interested in membership are asked to contact Rual Denton at Cordell.
Chamber To Get Economic Report
Cordell Chamber of Com merce members will get a report on the Washita County economic base at their monthly luncheon meeting at noon Friday in the Loftonian Restaurant.
Harry Revelle, labor market analyst for the Oklahoma employment service, will explain the report and brief the chamber members on its vital importance to industrial prospects.
The report was prepared from statistics obtained by a survey firm, headed by Charles Wheat, that worked in Cordell and Washita County several months last summer and fall.