O'Connor question

[270man]

I began reading Jack O'Connor stuff when I was around 12-years-old and now have several of his books and many articles by and about him. One thing always puzzled me and I thought maybe it was an O'Connor family secret.

Some of my older books have photos of his son Jerry as a youngster but the newer ones only show his youngest son Bradford. I was recently given a book titled "The Lost Classics of Jack O'Connor, in which he writes about a couple of hunts with both sons. A brief introductory to one chapter refers to "the tragic turn in his oldest son's adult life."

I can't blame Jack O'Connor for not writing about painful memories associated with his son, but it is strange that no one has ever mentioned the tragic events and the outcome (at least nothing that I've every read). It is probably none of my busines, but I do wonder what happened to this man.

Do any of you O'Connor fans have any information on this?

270man

[Mike Moss]

"Learn about the early years of hardship in Arizona for the O'Connor family and the tragedy that befell Jerry, their oldest son."

http://www.booktrail.com/Guns_general/Jack%20O%27Connor.asp

I never heard of this topic until you brought it up.

[Larryjk]

It was mentioned briefly in one of the biographies. I don't remember the specifics, but it was either drugs or alcohol; I believe the latter.

[PJgunner]

In O'Connor's book THE LAST BOOK, which he never lived to finish, there is a picture of Jerry with his mother in military uniform. Apparently he served in the Korean War and had serious emotional problems afterwards. I don't remember anything about drugs or alcohol, but IIRC, he finally commited suicide. :(
The book was finished up by his son Bradford and Jim Rikhoff.
Paul B.

[skeet]

Met the guy one time at Remington Farms when he was there for one of their Seminars. He was not the nicest person I ever met. I did like his writing. Met ol Elmer Keith as well as a bunch of other writers. Elmer was a hoot. .. Don't think they liked each other all that much though...but that was just an impression. Most of those guys could shoot pretty good. But ya have to understand..we didn't turn 'em loose on any long range geese or ducks. Didn't need to...on Remington Farms

[M.T. Pockets]

I didn't know that about Mr. O'Conner either, tough deal.

I've got to get around to reading his books. I've read Elmer Keith's and he lost a daughter in an auto accident when she was a young girl.

[wrenchman]

I have read books frome both thow i have never read them say a bad word about each other but frome coments they have made you kind of got the idea.
Elmer hated the 270 thougt it was only good for rabbits he felt bigger was better and would put it in print.
O conner championed the 270 and bemone the name sayers it was all shot placement for him.
I have read both and enjoy both Writers like them are getting hard to find.
I just got african game trails for christmas it was kind of neat to read Roosevelt bemone the killing of Elephants for ivory in 1908.

[PJgunner]

Originally posted by M.T. Pockets
I didn't know that about Mr. O'Conner either, tough deal.

I've got to get around to reading his books. I've read Elmer Keith's and he lost a daughter in an auto accident when she was a young girl.

Keith's daughter Druzilla was injured in an auto accident which affecter her spinal chord. She would pass out at times and her health grew more poorly after the accident.
She came down with the flu and the next day so did Elmer. Elmer's flu went into double pneumonia and the next morning the already weakened Druzilla died from the flu. I don't think Elmer ever got over the fact that her was too sick to go to his daughter's funeral. I believe this was in the year 1940.
Paul B.

[M.T. Pockets]

Like I mentioned earlier, I've got to get around to reading more of O'Conner's material. Charmichael had already taken over at Outdoor Life when I was old enough to subscribe.

I've read a lot of more Keith, I find it very entertaining. The man really led an interesting, eventful life. I've always heard about the conflict between he and O'Conner but never read anything where it got personal from either man. I know Elmer called the .270 a "Marginal Coyote Rifle" and O'Conner told another writer that his wife has killed more big game with a .270 than he ever would in his lifetime, but I never remember either taking a shot at each other.

Skeet, did you ever meet Warren Page ? I heard on a good day he had the temperment of a wounded bear. I think G. Sitton followed his footsteps. Both were brilliant people and great gun writers though. I think they both shortened their own lives with their hard living too from what I heard.

Differences aside, my heart goes out to any parent who loses a child, regardless of age.

[skeet]

Originally posted by M.T. Pockets

Skeet, did you ever meet Warren Page ? I heard on a good day he had the temperment of a wounded bear. I think G. Sitton followed his footsteps. Both were brilliant people and great gun writers though. I think they both shortened their own lives with their hard living too from what I heard.

Differences aside, my heart goes out to any parent who loses a child, regardless of age.

I met quite a few of the writers. Mainly to say "hi nice to meet ya". Unless I had 'em in a blind. Remington farms was a neat place to work..Met a lot of the Remington Brass and the Reps. They(the reps) were a hard drinking bunch though. Bout the nicest writer I met was one named Pete Brown I think. Wrote for Argosy mag?? Can't remember cause I got oldtimers and it WAS a long time ago....even in dog years!

[PJgunner]

I have most of O'Connor's books and quite a few of Elmer's books as well including BIG GAME RIFLES and KEITH'S RIFLES FOR BIG GAME which I understand is a hard one to find and originals bring very big bucks. KInd of interesting as BIG GAME RIFLES was written in 1936 where Keith considered the 30-06 a fairly decent big game rifle and the latter book in 1946 where the 30-06 was literally not fit for shooting rabbits. :eek:
I've heard that when HELL, I WAS THERE came out, Elmer was quite upset about the use of the word "HELL" in the title. Apparently he did not like profanity of any type, even in the mildest of forms.
Paul B.

[Larryjk]

Keith was in the National Guard and they frequenly attended the national matches at Camp Perry. He talked a lot about the 30-06 and the Spingfields they shot. I remember they liked the machine-gun ammno because it had an 180 grain bullet Keith liked much better for long range shooting.