My days on The Ridge date back to the 1950's. I first set foot on this ground as a grade school boy carrying a .410 shotgun purchased from my Uncle Merrill. I spent many a morning before chores, as well as Sunday afternoons, exploring The Ridge and surrounding terrain while hunting cottontails and squirrels. My Dad and I jumped a 16 point buck from the gully in the West timber of The Ridge on two consecutive Sundays preceding deer season. We were sure he would be ours on opening day. On opening day the buck was nowhere to be found. I never heard of one that size being taken and we never saw him again. I got my first running hound at the age of 13. Like everyone else in this part of the world, I was going to shoot some foxes. Something strange overcame me when hunting that dog. I was soon so enchanted with watching the dog work that I didn't get many foxes bagged. In those days we had fox everywhere. Coyotes were not native to these parts back then. At around age 20 I was introduced to the sport of running foxes at nite. This was an uncommon activity to most of the local population. I purchased another dog or two, but was being out run badly in the Saturday nite fox races. Being competitive by nature, I was soon in search of better hounds. I bred a gyp that I bought named "Missy",  to Heinz Dreier's "Deadeye" male. Old Deadeye was a rangy built July male that had come from Billy Walters of Iowa. From this mating came three red female puppies. We had a big snowstorm that winter and the three puppies climbed over a snow bank and out of their kennel. Unfortunately, one of these was killed by a car before I could get them rounded up. The other two, namely Cinnamon and Ginger, trained themselves on The Ridge and surrounding territory. Those were the days when neighbors were neighborly and farms were passed down generation to generation. Cinnamon also met an untimely death, being ran over by an automobile. Ginger was my favorite, and a Red Foxhound deluxe. She put me in the race and in the July business. I can't tell you how many nights I have spent listening to her drive a Red Fox. She was hated by some and loved by a few. When she was in a race, hounds better have their running shoes on. I have both listened to her run all nite long, and observed her in the daytime, on countless occasions. When Ginger made  a "lose", she would hush her mouth, swing wide, and pickup close behind Mr. Red. She would make sure the fox was "lined out", then commence to barking. Hounds had better pay attention or they would be out of the race.  Well, of course all good things must come to an end. Outside running became less and less enjoyable. With the influx of wealthy "outsiders", increased road traffic, and no common sense laws being passed, I was forced to find another avenue in which to enjoy my hounds. The land where Ginger's Ridge now stands came up for sale. After much discussion with my lovely wife Margaret, the decision to purchase was made. Huge financial and personal time sacrifices were made by both of us. Friends have pitched in enormously as well. Ginger's Ridge came into existence in 1991. We have suffered good times and bad throughout. The amount of work to maintain such a facilty is unimaginable. Through it all we have persevered. May this facility flourish as long as Margaret and I are able to maintain it. Please visit the Ridge soon. We not only appreciate your patronage, we need it to continue!

A photo of Gordee's Copper taken in Madill, OK. after winning the first ever $10,000.00 money hunt for running hounds. There were six advertised Walker stud dogs competing in this hunt. This was a fast running pen, but not a sight chase pen. A hound needed nose, as well as athletic ability. Copper was winning All Age Speed and Drive hunts at 13 months of age. In my opinion, she is as good a track running one day S&D hound as ever set 4 paws on the ground. Copper was whelped, raised, trained, and buried here at Ginger's Ridge. Pictured left to right are Greg Johnson, myself, Dalton Wilson. Thanks to Mr. Harland Stonecipher for organizing this event.

My long time friend and hunting companion Doug Berg, showing Rufus ( Pecos Gordee x Berg's Fast Bessie). Photo was taken at the Ginger's Ridge Open in 1997. Doug has hunted perhaps hundreds of times on The Ridge. Doug no longer owns hounds due to health complications, but I will always remember the fun we had running hounds together. Doug always owned hounds that would compete, be it in the woods or at a field trial. Two of his best were Corky and Deacon.