Holy Moses and Hipshot

By Bennett Owen

©Used with permission of Stan Lynde

Rick O'shay was deputy sheriff...his girl was bar owner Gaye Abandon...his sidekick, a mysterious and taciturn gunslinger named Hipshot Percussion.  There were others, of course.  Doctor Basil Metabolism and Chief Horse’s Neck, plus a regular side show of colorful characters residing in Conniption a tiny, non-descript frontier village...visited by about 15 million people every single day.  For two decades.

©Used with permission of Stan Lynde

Rick O'Shay and his cartoon cohorts were the brainchild of Stan Lynde, award-winning author of eight western novels, a master storyteller with a singular talent for dialog. That combined with a draftsman's sensitive eye for detail to produce Sunday morning masterpieces like this:

©Used with permission of Stan Lynde

And they were historically accurate as well right down to the hardware. One fan recalls Hipshot flashing a smile as he exchanges an old set of ‘navy’ revolvers for a new pair of ‘armies’ while quietly remarking, ‘blessed are the peacemakers.’

©Used with permission of Stan Lynde

A cowboy’s son, one generation removed from the pioneers, Lynde grew up in central Montana, among the Crow Indians near Little Big Horn.  He was mesmerized as a young boy by tails of the Wild West and legends like “Jim Bridger, Wyatt and Doc, Wild Bill.” He poured all of that knowledge and respect into Rick O’Shay, with plenty of laughter and melancholy and lessons of life to go around: 

©Used with permission of Stan Lynde

You may be wondering where Moses fits into all of this. On his blog, oldmontana.com, Lynde tells of basically having the strip that he created and nurtured taken away from him by the distribution syndicate...and receiving a letter of condolence from one Charlton Heston.  Lynde quotes the letter on his blog and it reads in part...  “I cannot help regretting that we will see no more of the beautifully drawn and engaging characters with which you populated Conniption.”  And it ends, “Let me thank you for the pleasure you’ve given me.”  High praise from on high.

©Used with permission of Stan Lynde

Hipshot was also a man of the "talk less say more" breed. And despite his hair trigger temperament, he had time for his cat and an occasional talk with ‘The Boss.’ He does so in my favorite and most memorable Sunday cartoon of all time.  And if we're lucky enough to receive Mr. Lynde's blessing, we'll be showing it to you on Christmas day.  He is featured in the current edition of True West Magazine. The article is called ‘What History Taught Me,’ and it’s well worth reading.