Sam McKone

 My name is Mickey Basden. I moved to Victoria Texas in 1969.

In about 1974 I was attending and participating in a pistol shoot at the Victoria Gun Club.  During a lull in the proceedings I was approached by a gentleman who introduced himself — Sam McKone.  I learned that he had been an active competitor in pistol shooting — he won the pistol National Match Gold medal at Camp Perry —  but he had retired his competition guns.  He attended our monthly shoots as a spectator. 

Sam and I became friends. He invited me to his home on Rhodes Road in Victoria. He introduced me to his wife, Nita.  And he proudly showed me the Gold Medal that he won in competition at the Camp Perry National Matches.

He showed me a copy of LIFE magazine with him on the cover, a border patrolman running across the River, revolver in hand, in pursuit of an alien.

In 1975 I went to work as a deputy at the Victoria County Sheriff's Department.

Sam's background in law enforcement enabled him to give me valuable advice as I entered this phase of my life in a new profession.  He taught me the “Sam McKone fast draw.”1

Bill Jordan, another retired Border Patrolman who had achieved a degree of fame visited Sam.  I was privileged to view a slide show, in Sam's home, of photographs of Bill's recent African hunting trip. A projector bulb needed to be placed, and in my truck I drove Bill to town to buy one.  

Could I say that I rode with Bill Jordan ???

I was humbly honored to visit with these two famous BP retirees. 

Sam followed the newspaper coverage of my participation in the monthly pistol shoots at the Victoria Gun Club, and congratulated me for my frequent first place trophies. He said to me

“Mickey, your publicity for winning those pistol shoots is for you as a Deputy Sheriff the best life insurance you can get.”

I remember a letter that he wrote, published in the Victoria newspaper, commenting on local politics:  “Nitty gritty sand and gravel company” — Addressing some questionable dealings involving a city official and a paving contract.

In 1979 I was hired by a company involved in manufacture of equipment for the petroleum industry. My employment as a consulting engineer took me to various out of state locations, and I lost contact with Sam. I regret that.  

I returned to Victoria in 2014. I was unsuccessful in locating Sam.

I remember Sam with fondness and respect. A rare gentleman.

1   Sam's fast draw: About a minute before the shooting starts, put down your coffee cup and carefully remove your gun from the holster...