Blanchard Living Magazine - May 2025 Issue (Part 1)
This is a photo of Oscar Washington Morgan circa 1936. The big Stetson hat that Morgan is wearing was purportedly presented to him by E.W. Marland, Governor of Oklahoma after Morgan captured Comer.
Blanchard Living Magazine - June 2025 Issue (Part 2)
Morgan and Wiser Model Restaurant & Bakery AD from the Feb 9, 1911 edition of The Blanchard Record. The Blanchard Record was published by R.M. McFall from R.E.L. McLean's post office every Friday beginning on May 17, 1907. R.E.L. McLean was Blanchrd's first postmaster.
About some of the characters of this month's story:
Tolbert H. "Tol" Perry (1860-1942): Perry was one of Blanchard's first peace officers. In February 1910, he was on duty when five bandits attempted to blow up the safe at the First State Bank. When Perry interrupted the robbery in progress, he was shot with a shotgun by one of the outlaws. The injury was not serious, and Perry made a full recovery. The would-be robbers escaped from the bank, went to the railroad, and seized a hand car, upon which they made their getaway. Perry resigned from his position as Town Marshal in early 1911.
Later, Perry moved to Washington and finally to Roff, where he died in 1942. He was born in Sherman, Texas, and was a noted Sportsman, especially in fishing and hunting. Before Oklahoma was established, he camped on the open prairie on many occasions, his dog and horse his only companions.
Fred Leon "F.L." Prigmore (1878-1922): Prigmore was the son of Dock Henderson Prigmore, who in 1888 built a general store and trading post two miles east (on Southeast 7th Street) and one mile south along Walnut Creek. The store became the center of the small village of Womack, a precursor to Blanchard.
Grant George "Uncle Grant" Vincent (1850-1929): According to his obituary, Vincent was born in Missouri in 1850 and moved to McClain County in an early day. He lived in Purcell for many years and played a prominent part in its development. He was elected sheriff of McClain County in 1910 and served two terms, giving eminent satisfaction. In 1917, he moved to Stillwater and later to Cushing, where he died in 1929.
Blanchard Living Magazine - July 2025 Issue (Part 3)
Young Oscar Washington Mogan circa 1911 and 1923.
Robert Golston “Bob” "Big Boy" Brady circa 1930.
Brady's FBI wanted poster.
Blanchard Living Magazine - August & September 2025 Issues (Parts 4 & 5)
This is a 1922 Dodge touring car, similar to the one that William H. Prewett was driving when members of the Whiz Bang Red gang hijacked him near Newcastle.
Pearl Duffield "Whiz Bang Red" circa 1923.
Henry Clay (1889-1972) and Pearl Anna Carpenter (1896-1988) Bench were the grandparents of Major League Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench. Both are buried in the Blanchard cemetery.
Henry Madison "Matt" Sankey (1877-1931) served four terms as Grady County Sheriff during the 1920s.
Blanchard Living Magazine - Oct 2025 Issue (Part 6)
Left to Right: Oscar Morgan, Guy Wilkerson and James Williams. Guy Wilkerson was one of the bandits who robbed the Washington First State Bank on June 11, 1924.
This is Sheriff Johnie E. Ratliff (1874-1925). He was in his fourth term as McClain County Sheriff when he was shot and killed while he and several other officers attempted to restrain a crazed man. While in the grasp of Ratliff, the man, somehow, was able to gain control of his gun and shot him twice. He was buried in the Dibble cemetery.
Blanchard Living Magazine - Nov 2025 Issue (Part 7)
Chester Comer - circa 1935.
Elizabeth Childers - circa 1935.
Blanchard Living Magazine - Jan 2026 Issue (Part 8)
Prominent Shawnee attorney and former Oklahoma University football player Ray Evans (circa 1935). Murdered by Chester Comer near Ada in November 1935.
Left to Right: Garlin Fain and Otis Fain - circa 1935. After taking the life of Ray Evans, Comer visted the Otis Fain farm, where he once worked, on the Lindsay Highway, near the Oakhurst community.
Odessa Childress circa 1935. Odessa was pursued by Comer while he was visting the Fain farm.
1934 Ford Sedan. This car is similar to the one that Comer drove to the Fain farm. It was later determined to be the car taken from Ray Evans when he was murdered.
Blanchard Living Magazine - Feb 2026 Issue (Part 9)
Charles Stevens, father-in-law of Chester Comer, who lived with his wife, Jennie, and 11-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, some six miles north of Maysville.
Elizabeth Stevens, 11-year-old sister-in-law of Chester Comer and daughter of Charles and Jennie Stevens.
Eva McCune, Salvation Army field worker who reluctantly gave Chester Comer a ride from the Kingfisher-El Reno area, to Guthrie.
Blanchard Living Magazine - Mar 2026 Issue (Part 10)
Piedmont farmer, L.A. Simpson, and his 14-year-old son, Warren.They went missing on November 23 as they started to drive to their home from the home of Simpson’s mother, who lived in the Piedmont neighborhood.
J.E. "Jack" Stanley, an oil operator who had recently moved to Blanchard from Chickasha, and who had encountered Chester Comer on a road south of Blanchard, and summoned Oscar Morgan. Along with J.E. Saunders, Stanley drove Morgan to the area where Comer was last seen and where a car chase ensued.
J.L. Saunders, a 1932 graduate of Blanchard High School and a relative of Ray Evans, the missing attorney from Shawnee and who accompanied Jack Stanley and Oscar Morgan when Morgan shot and captured Comer.
The actual 1935 dark-colored Chevrolet sports model sedan that was stolen from L.A. Simpson in Pedmont and was driven by Comer when he was shot and captured. Note the bullet holes in the "wing window".