Approaching Wilburton from the west, one cannot help but notice the enormous American flag flying at the Shero Ranch.  It is the kind of flag that is generally reserved for high school football stadiums or car dealerships, the kind of flag that makes a person wonder just how big it actually is.  This flag waves gently over the flat prairie land, it watches over the cattle that graze underneath, and it stands as a reminder that the American Dream is alive and well in southeast Oklahoma. 

The term “American Dream” was popularized by James Truslow Adams, an American writer and historian, during the great depression.  Adams defined the American dream, in part, as “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone.”  A look around Latimer County shows that change, growth and hope are still alive and well in every way and that there are folks here working hard to ensure that life is richer and fuller for everyone.  

Recently, our community lost one of those hard-working people, an incredibly influential man, and not surprisingly, one of the men responsible for that mammoth American flag over the prairie, Mr. Earl Shero.  Earl has been gone for a month now, and the loss is still palpable and visible, in every corner of this little town.  Earl was something different to everyone: husband, brother, father, uncle, friend, boss….the list goes on and on.  To many Earl was a champion.  Earl was a starter and a finisher, he was the spark that ignited the fire, he was a dreamer and he was the glue that held people together.  Earl was passion, personified.  Whether he was talking about the newly forming historical trails in Latimer County, The Butterfield Trail, all things True Grit, the Edwards Store, 21 Mine, county infrastructure, a great steak, the restaurant business…whatever he was talking about, he was into it, living it, breathing it…he jumped in with his whole soul.

At Earl’s celebration of life, Wilburton mayor, Loran Mayes, commented that Earl was a “steady, guiding force” and she couldn’t have been more right.  Earl had a vision for our county that was bigger than any of us could imagine, and he knew that with the right people, in the right places, nothing was impossible.  Earl was an encourager, a believer, the true definition of a leader, a dreamer, a builder, a servant, and a friend.  Earl was a historian, and as the mayor reminded us, “He valued history as something to learn from and build upon, he understood that preserving history is an act of love for the future, a way of saying – this is who we came from and this is who we are.” 

Thankfully, Earl passed on his passion for history and the urgent quest to share our county and our story with the members of the Latimer County Tourism Board during the time he was Chairman.  He was able to inspire the Board to continue the work, he was able to empower the future leaders of this county reminding us that we have important work to do. Earl was able to pass on, to everyone who knew him, the excitement, enthusiasm, and passion for this beautiful county.  Earl wanted to be sure that we make continuous forward progress and he successfully put all of the pieces in place to ensure that his dreams, became our dreams, and the reality of those who follow.  

Earl had an unmistakable laugh that filled up a room, he had an easy way about him, the gift of listening to understand and a smile worth a million bucks.  

Occasionally, a gray pickup truck like Earl’s can be spotted moving slowly down Main Street, demanding a second glance and reminding us that no, it isn’t him after all. For a moment it’s easy to feel sad, but simply for a moment.  Thinking of Earl, being reminded of him, is truly just a reminder that there is work to be done.  Earl left each one of us with tasks to complete and that is what we aim to do. 

Driving west out of Wilburton on Highway 270, you will see an enormous flag on the south side of the road, the kind usually reserved for high school football stadiums and car dealerships.  It stands as a reminder that this particular land of the free, home of the brave, has a magnificent history to share and that we all have a role and a duty.  As you travel into or out of Latimer county from the west, look for that flag, think of our Earl, imagine his smile and his laughter, and know that he’d be so glad you came.  

Rest easy Earl Shero and thank you for making Latimer County a better place to be.  

Image: Earl Shero at the grave of Principal Chief of the Choctaw Nation, Thompson McKinney (1837-1889).