t was near the end of a five-hour flight. My normally well-behaved daughters had reached the end of their sitting-still limit.
The flight attendant took pity on me and reassured me that she had seen worse. In an ordinary exchange of pleasantries, I somehow got around to saying my hometown was Gamaliel. Imagine my shock when she not only knew exactly where Gamaliel was, but also asked, “Do you know Mike Chapman?”
Asking me if I knew Mike Chapman was like asking a UK basketball fan if they knew who Tubby Smith was. Not only is he well-known in Monroe County, but Mike’s wife Janice, a distant cousin, has worked with my mom and my aunts at the Gamaliel Beauty Shop for numerous years. Mike is one of those larger than life characters that inhabit every small town. We love their outrageous personalities and their ability to fill the room with stories and laughter.
Gamaliel has had its fair share of these great people, including Betty Ann, Billy Murphy, Genoa, Cletus, and even my grandfather, Smokey Joe. The benefit of living in a small town like Gamaliel is that you not only know the stories, you know the person, too.
Like most Gamaliel natives, I have had the fortune to hear many of Mike’s stories from the horse’s mouth. (Mike is a talented horseman, so that pun was most certainly intended.) Part trucker, part cowboy, and part farmer, he is a stranger to no one and is the subject of many a story, ranging from innocent to shady. Ask Mike about a set of unique luggage and an armadillo and you’ll get more information than you ever wanted. My favorite story is about Rooster.
Rooster was an Australian Shepherd that Mike wanted to work cattle. But good cattle dogs aren’t born; they’re raised (read: lots of training).
Months and months of rigorous work went into making the dog something more than just a four-legged pet, and after more training than any dog (or human) should endure, he was ready for a test (Rooster, that is).
Always the showman, Mike decided to put the skills of his newly trained pup on display. Mike separated some cows, and with his friend Nelson watching, prepared Rooster for his big debut. Mike gave the command: “Get’em, Rooster!”
Now, Mike intended for this innocent sounding command to encourage Rooster to go off and herd the cattle back together. Like they say in Cool Hand Luke, “What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.”
Mike recalls that he saw Rooster jump enthusiastically after his command but did not exactly see what happened next. That was probably a good thing because when he landed, Rooster took hold of Mike’s backside. I won’t go into the distasteful details of disentangling cowboy and canine.
Suffice it to say that after that, Rooster was more like a blood brother than man’s best friend. Afterwards, Mike confronted his misguided pup, saying, “Rooster, I think you have the wrong idea here!” It was clear that Rooster needed more training, and Mike needed to stick with horses.
Getting back to the flight, it turns out the attendant was a competition barrel racer. Mike is a world champion when it comes to penning. These geographically separated acquaintances knew each other from horse shows.
When I got back home and shared this encounter with Mike he replied quite simply, “I’d hate to think I didn’t have friends in high places.”
Mary Fye can be contacted at mary_fye@yahoo.com.
Features
Gamaliel’s Mike has friends in high places - by Mary Fye
- Features
-
- ROTARY REPORT: Barren ROTC to be topic Thursday
-
SLIDESHOW: Sports figures react to Joe Paterno's death
Players, coaches and sports journalists took to Twitter on Sunday morning to react to the death of former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno.
-
Viral video: Announcer goes nuts after full-court shot wins game
One college basketball play-by-play radio host likely needed some throat lozenges when he woke up Sunday morning, a day after his shocked, screaming reaction to a game-winning basket.
-
Viral video: Groom surprises bride with Justin Bieber dance
The choreographed wedding dance is a staple of a healthy viral video diet, right up there with cute kittens and babies laughing at everyday sounds. Still, it's hard not to smile when you watch one as well-executed as this groom's Justin Bieber tribute to his new bride.
-
Viral video: Anchor has Ron Burgundy moment on live TV
A morning meteorologist at a TV station in Green Bay, Wis., had a real-life Ron Burgundy moment this week thanks to a prank by one of his co-workers.
-
Christmas sights
A dog at the entrance of a house on North Race Street got a festive touch for the holidays.
-
Viral video: Woman makes amazing hockey goal, wins truck
Some folks are calling it a "miracle on ice." A 59-year-old woman who had never held a hockey stick made a nearly impossible goal, sending a puck into a tiny opening to win a brand new truck.
-
Viral video: FedEx guy tosses computer monitor over fence
During the holidays more than any other time, shoppers rely on delivery services to bring important packages to their doorsteps safe and sound. But a YouTube video gone viral shows that sometimes, packages aren't exactly handled with care.
-
Viral video: Senior citizens stage flash mob
Flash mobs aren't just for teenagers anymore. A group of senior citizens proved it recently after staging a song and dance inside the Christmas decorations department of the Target store in Lawrence, Kan.
-
Guide to this year's hottest gift: The tablet
Tablet computers and e-readers are extremely popular and are expected to be strong sellers this holiday season despite a weak economy. But the array of models and brands can confound many potential gift-givers. Check out this guide to tablet-giving on any budget.
- More Features Headlines






