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Dr. Ken Bridges

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He was one of the most famous gunmen of the Old West; but in the end, he was felled by a bacteria rather than gunfire Certainly as the 1870s and 1880s on the western frontier became years filled with unforgettable characters who became legends with tales of their exploits echoing across the wideopen plains and into the American imagination, only a handful of names stand out Doc Holliday became one of the most famous of these figures, and his journey into legend began deep in the heart of Texas

John Henry “Doc” Holliday was born in central Georgia in 1851 His father was a veteran of the Mexican War and the Civil War. The future gunslinger and gambler became an expert shot while a youngster, not unusual for that time period When he was a teenager, his mother and stepbrother both died from tuberculosis, a widespread and deadly lung infection that was often called the “white plague” that left thousands dead each year

Holliday was an ambitious young man with a brilliant mind He reportedly absorbed languages such as Greek, Latin, and French In 1870, he enrolled at the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, the most prestigious dental school in the country at the time, though few such schools were to be had In just over a year, at the age of 20, he completed his doctorate

He soon established a dental practice in Georgia and was on his way to a quiet, respectable career when he also came down with tuberculosis While the disease is curable today – and easily prevented with vaccinations -- it was a death sentence in the 1870s Little was known how tuberculosis spread and no treatments existed Patients could die in a matter of months or linger on for years or die from any accompanying infection

The common belief at the time was that the warm, dry climates of the West could slow the deterioration of the lungs So with little left to lose,

Holliday moved to Texas

He established a successful dental practice in downtown Dallas in 1873, initially working with a friend of his father’s Within a few months, he set up his own practice at Main and Lamar Streets

However, his coughing fits during examinations and news of his contagious illness frightened away many patients He could keep his diagnosis a secret no longer As a result, the gambling he once enjoyed for recreation and the occasional thrill became an important source of income

As Dallas leaders attempted to tame the wild frontier city into a respectable center for business, gambling became a crime to deter troublemakers Well-known gamblers like Holliday were targeted, and he was indicted in

1874 for illegal gambling The situation grew even worse in 1875 when he got into a shootout with a Dallas bartender While he was acquitted in the incident, Holliday realized his days in Dallas were numbered

Shortly afterward, he left Dallas and headed north to Denison He attempted to restart his dental career in the small community, but his increasing complications from tuberculosis and his spreading reputation from Dallas made it difficult to stay in business Within a few months after his 1875 arrival, he left for Fort Griffin, northeast of modernday Abilene His Grayson County office was the last known time he had a regular dental practice

At Fort Griffin, Holliday began gambling full time and moving from place to place and picking up odd jobs in a curious assortment of adventures For a time, he worked as a card dealer in Colorado. Periodically, he ran afoul of the law in some cities and quickly had to make his departure On a trip back to Fort Griffin, he met Wyatt Earp, who was then working as a Deputy U S Marshal in pursuit of a suspected train robber

The two became close friends and that loyalty itself became a legend Holliday saved Earp’s life on several occasions and fought alongside him and his brothers, Morgan and Virgil, at the notorious shoot-out at the O K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, in 1881

Holliday found himself in several gunfights over the years but survived them all He was never injured in any of the confrontations But his time ran out His disease caught up to him, and he checked himself into a tuberculosis sanatorium in Colorado Springs, Colorado He succumbed to his lingering illness in 1887 at the age of 36

Holliday’s fame rose in the years after his death as tales of his exploits and the famed gunfight at the O K Corral spread and eventually found their way into the movies While many variations on the story have appeared, from such actors as Victor Mature, Kirk Douglas, and Dennis Quaid, many depictions gained acclaim for the portrayal of the legendary figure who was as quick with a one-liner as he was with his guns Val Kilmer’s performance as an unflappable and quick-witted Holliday in Tombstone (1993) has by itself won a legion of fans

Arrested more than a dozen times and responsible for shooting an untold number of men, Holliday was never convicted of a crime Each April, Denison celebrates the Doc Holliday Festival in honor of its one-time resident

Dr Bridges is a Texas native, writer, and history professor He can be reached at drkenbridges@gmail.com.

The Christian direction and purpose

Many people believe it’s their mission in life to tell everyone what to do and how to believe and I’m sure there have been times when we have been guilty of something similar There are situations when we feel that individuals need sound advice and this might be true, but it’s also common to forget that everyone has a right to think and live however they want Christians do not intend to be insulting, but sometimes their message can be offensive and in rare cases some end up living in isolation because everyone intentionally avoids them It’s true, serious Christians have a burden and really care about others, but sometimes they take matters into their own hands and do not wait for God to guide them It becomes even worse when concern turns to condemnation or even hatred for what someone else believes, which no matter how civil and courteous it might appear, no one can walk in the peace of God and embrace unforgiveness at the same time Since the beginning of history, humans have drawn religious and political lines in the sand and dared the other side to cross over as strife and judgment is embedded within our nature Unfortunately, being divided is so common that we would not comprehend how to act any other way Jesus talks about how we should display spiritual love instead of being led by our emotions, but sadly, instead of accepting his guidelines for charitable living, many who boldly call themselves his disciples believe it’s their responsibility to fight against anyone whose theological, social, or political views are contrary to their own y Holland the extent of it For those who are convinced they know everything, it’s nearly impossible to gain their respect In the rare situation that anyone has ever listened to you and followed your suggestions, you should consider it a miracle Even counselors that are paid handsomely from those who are seeking advice will confess it’s sporadic that anyone follows what they suggest This reveals why Jesus has such a small following as the scripture relays that, “narrow is the way to eternal life and few there be that will find it ” Speaking of choices, the Bible is filled with stories and insights that illustrates the beauty of obedience and the negative consequences of rebellion We are reminded of the simple illustration of a child who behaves badly and is disciplined while another follows instructions and is rewarded The concept of good and evil is associated with an obedient person who follows God’s divine order even if it means personal sacrifice while the disobedient individual who lives independently is content to trust their emotions and base every decision on what they want to do compromising our faith or playing both sides of the fence Yes, it’s difficult to live in a state of spiritual sensitivity, but if we desire to be pleasing to the Lord, it will always be in direct

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