I have truly enjoyed working for the public and would like to feel that I've made a few contributions to the preservation of and perhaps the understanding of history. I certainly didn't do any of this by myself for I had a lot of collaborators. (My work here at Honey Springs would have been completely impossible without the constant support and work of Howard McKinnis, our chief of interpretation, who gave tremendous programs to school students and the general public as well. But a complete list of those to whom I owe "Thanks!" would take up far more room than the website can handle.)
I am especially grateful to the other historians ("professional" = paid for; "amateur" = because of love for) who have contributed so much to this site and others of its ilk. And to the many volunteers, especially members of the Friends of Honey Springs Battlefield, who have given so much of their time, talent, and money, to support our programs and to help in the preservation of the battlefield itself.
I'm not disappearing, for I'll chair a Civil War panel at the upcoming OHS annual meeting in Durant in April and am scheduled to speak at the Oklahoma City Civil War Round Table on the 18th of this month ("Douglas Hancock Cooper") and at the Round Table meeting in Springfield, Mo., in May ("The Indian Territory's Civil War"). And after retiring I'm hoping to finally have time to finish my book.
In the meantime, please allow me this opportunity to say, "Thanks!" to Jim and to Ken and all the other great friends I've met through these sites.
As ever,
Ralph
Ralph Jones, Superintendent
Honey Springs Battlefield
1863 Honey Springs Battlefield Road
Checotah, OK 74426-6301
918-473-5572
ralphjones@okhistory.org
and after February 28 . . .
rockyj74426@yahoo.com