A scene I witnessed many times in my old stomping grounds in Wrightwood, California. There is absolutely no question that I was standing right there, near the photographer, watching Grey Otter’s astounding work.
There are reasons to love the Internet. Here’s one: You may recall that last summer I wrote a post on Skeeter Vaughan, aka Grey Otter — ace knife and tomahawk thrower, warrior, showman. When I was young I witnessed his throwing feats many times in Wrightwood, California. It thrilled my young, frontier-obsessed heart and soul. I hadn’t thought about those days in a long time, then Skeeter’s name popped up twice in a week, and I went time-traveling.
You may remember from that post that I mentioned Grey Otter’s lovely target/assistant, who left a teenaged Jim Cornelius rather twitterpated. Well, yesterday, Stephanie Rowles posted a comment on that original Grey Otter story. Yep, the lovely lady herself, who put herself a razor’s edge from Skeeter Vaughan’s blades over and over again.
Skeeter was like a father to me. Obviously I trusted him with life and limb. I miss him terribly. I have many photos of those shows.. it was one of our favorite road trips every year! I’m pretty sure I was the last assistant to work with Skeeter. I have a letter he wrote to me from Washington, shortly before his passing. He was one in a million….
At my request, Stephanie shared some photos from those good days.
“Skeeter had a great sense of humor, when he covered me with the sheet he would purposefully pull his hand away from my chest as he outlined where my body was so he would not hit me.”
“He cut a cigarette in an aqua filter out of my mouth every show. Every, single time, perfectly. Hundreds of shows. Amazing.”
Knott’s Berry Farm Halloween Haunt.
“The man next to Skeeter sitting on the fence is Bob Colony, who was my partner and Skeeter’s assistant with the board set-up.”
“The one I love is of Skeeter wearing a necklace Bob had made him, of Eagle talons, bear claws, otter pelt and silver and turquoise.”
Stephanie had a rare honor, to work with a genuine Frontier Partisan legend. I greatly appreciate her sharing these memories of Skeeter Vaughan and his show — a true legacy of the Wild West.
Paul McNamee says
Fun stuff.
I can see why she might have attracted your teenaged attention 😉
Aniyunwea Tsaligi says
Hello, All!! I just want to say thank you so much for the respect and admiration that you all have for my Grandpa Skeeter. I’ve been showing this article to my mom (his middle daughter, Cherokee), and it’s really touching seeing her reactions, knowing that her father’s legacy is still out there.
Aniyunwea Dykes
JimC says
Thank you so much for visiting the campfire. You have a very honorable heritage.
Eric Golden says
Hey that’s really cool about your grandpa Skeeter. As it just so happens he is my grandpa too. I am the son of his daughter Kituwah
Aniyunwea Tsaligi says
Ha! A yeah later and I’m just seeing this!!
Hey, Eric!!
Catherine Sargis (aka: Cathy Pickett) says
Skeeter was a close friend of my late husband and I in the mid 70’s. He joined us in our business for a few years. I lost track of him but never forgot him all these years and often thought of him and wondered how he was doing. One weekend we had a business getaway in Vegas with about 100 of our business associates and since we were going to be in Vegas a few of us decided to put on a little show. Skeeter performed in it as well. We had our rehearsals in our backyard every weekend for a few months. Skeeter asked me if I wanted to see what it was like to be his assistant but I chickened out. He was such an amazing man. So humble, thoughtful and kind. I never knew about his Army days until tonight when I looked him up on Google. Like I said, he was very humble. So sad to hear about his passing. I’ll never forget him!
Rest In Peace sweet friend.
JimC says
Thanks Catherine. Appreciate the memory.
Eric Golden says
Hey Jim C, is it possible at all for me to try and get into contact with any of these people who had stories about my grandpa. My mom’s birthday is coming up and I’ve always wanted to do something related to my grandpa as a gift?
JimC says
If you are OK with me providing them your email, I will do so.
Eric Golden says
Yes that is fine with me. Thank you
Stephanie Rowles says
Hi Jim, Eric and Aniyunwea!
I’m sorry I just now saw all of these!
Please feel free to contact me if there is anything I can offer. I have a bronze of him by Earl Cacho I think a family member should have –
And many photos …
Stephanie Rowles
Destiny Dykes says
I’d love to see any pictures you have. Our (Aniyunwea and I’s) mother’s health is declining and it’d be great to see more photos of her father.
Stephanie Rowles says
Destiny
Can you contact me? I have a lot of photos I could send you
Stephanie
Rowlesproperties@outlook.com
JimC says
Welcome to the campfire. We’ll see what this kicks up.
Robert Sabet says
Thanks Jim! The author who wrote about Skeeter Vaughan during WW2 was Harry K McEvoy.
Gene De Felicis says
Today I searched the internet for photos and and information on Skeeter. I met him in the early 80s at “The Vanishing Indian”, Stephanie Rowles and Bob Colony’s shop in Burbank, CA. I believe I only saw him there 3 different times but he really left and impression on me with his gentleness and kindness. I guess that’s obvious since I am searching for him 40 years later.
Finding this page, seeing these photos and reading the words here has been a real treasure for me today. While I didn’t know Skeeter well, I stopped in to see Stephanie and Bob monthly for many years and those days are now golden for me and have a special place in my heart. Both of them were beautiful souls and two of the friendliest people I knew in my youth. I last saw Bob in 2013 at his shop in Sedona, AZ. He was like a brother to me and I still have many of his gifts in my home. Steph, I hope you are well my friend. Thank you for your kindness.
Jim C, thank you for this article.
JimC says
Gene, you made my day.
Stephanie Rowles says
Hi Gene!
I just happened to pull up this piece I have saved on my laptop. It’s great to see this and I would love to catch up! I am well, and very happy on the Central Coast town of Cambria. I last saw Bob I think in 2015…? I visited Sedona with a friend and made sure I went in to see him. It was a heartfelt moment for us both, as we were estranged after I left the shop in 1986. I have some amazing memories of my time with Bob, Skeeter and The Vanishing Indian. Not many people can top my answer to…. ‘so, what’s the most interesting job you held when you were younger?’ I can honest,y say that Skeeter was closer to me than my own Father, which is why I trusted him with life and limb! What an enormous heart ♥️
He and I continued to correspond after he moved up to Washington, and the last letter I received from him, was after he had a stroke and his writing, which was a beautiful cursive, definitely reflected the affects of it. I miss him dearly. I wish Bob was still here too. I have many photos and artifacts from those days, and I cherish them!