Game Wardens: Memorial dedicated to the fallen
They are known by various names such as Conservation Officers, Game Wardens, Wildlife Enforcement Agent, and Fish Wardens just to name a few. Game Wardens are called upon to protect our wildlife by enforcing game laws. A job that can be dangerous. Oklahoma has lost two game wardens in their service to the sportsmen and the state.
Charles W. Estes - was killed in the line of duty in the Tulsa County Oklahoma area. On February 28, 1911, Estes told his wife he’d be back soon and rode off on his horse in search of poachers violating a law prohibiting hunting on Sunday.
The
first Oklahoma game warden to lose his life in the line of duty
was honored with a memorial dedicated June 3 at River Park in
Tulsa.
In 1911, the Wildlife Department was very new and only a few
wardens existed. One of those men, Charles W. Estes, was killed
in the line of duty in the Tulsa County area. On February 28,
1911, Charlie Estes told his wife he’d be back soon and rode off
on his horse in search of poachers violating a law prohibiting
hunting on Sunday.
At the top of Turkey Mountain, Estes was shot to death by an
unknown killer. His gun, holster and bullets were stolen. His
sacrifice for the future good of Oklahoma’s wildlife and
sportsmen was individually recognized June 3, 2001, with a
memorial service dedicating a monument to his sacrifice at River
Parks.
"It was a duck hunter he was investigating, but it wasn’t a duck hunter that shot him," said Carlos Gomez, Tulsa County Game Warden. "He was killed by someone with a high powered rifle. They suspected moonshiners and counterfeiters operating in the Turkey Mountain area."
The memorial, located at 5800 S. Riverside Drive, was made possible with the hard work of Estes’ great, great nephew, Bobby Tipton, Game Warden Gomez, River Park employees and benefactors. The dedication was attended by Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Commissioners John S. Zink, Vryl Keeter, and John Groendyke, retired and present Department employees, law enforcement officers from several state agencies, friends and family of the Estes family and Senator James Williamson.
Gomez said that enough donations were made on Estes’ behalf
to place a concrete walkway leading from the jogging trail to
the memorial site with boulders on either side to serve as bench
seating. A large boulder that stands erect will display a bronze
plaque in Estes’ honor with a light shinning down on the
memorial from a cottonwood tree.
Melvin Lewis Garrison Jr. - drowned in the Deep Fork
River arm of Lake Eufaula while on patrol. December 27, 1971
On
Friday, June 24, 2005, the Oklahoma Game Warden Association and
the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation paid tribute to
fallen Warden Melvin “Bucky” Garrison. Through the collective
efforts of the OSGWA and ODWC as well as a donation from the
Fort Gibson Lake Association and many others a monument was
created in Garrisons’s honor. The memorial is located at the
Fort Gibson Lake Association office at the intersection of US 69
and SH 51 in Wagoner, OK. The memorial reads:
“We enjoy the bountiful wildlife and rich natural resources in
Oklahoma because of the many officers who have dedicated their
lives to wildlife law enforcement. Ranger Buck Garrison gave his
life, the ultimate sacrifice, while attempting to arrest a ring
of illegal commercial fish poachers in the Hoffman Bottom area
of Lake Eufaula. May we never forget our loss and the words
written on his tombstone: “Buck loved God, He loved his
creation. Thus, he chose a Game Ranger’s life as his vocation.””
Johnny Ray Maisano, Sr. – died of complications from Lyme
disease. August 26, 1990
Johnny
was recognized for his work outdoors by having his named
engraved into the National Police Officers Memorial in
Washington D.C. A Krebs native Maisano began his career with the
Wildlife Department in 1976 assigned to Cherokee County where he
worked for three years before being transferred to Latimer
County in 1978.
Maisano was also named the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation
Officer of the Year in 1986.
He was hospitalized several times over the next couple years
from the effects of the disease. In spite of his continual
sufferings from the disease he remained an active Game Warden
until his death the morning of August 26, 1990.
Johnny's last activity was related to a part of his job and
service as a Game Warden which he enjoyed the most. On August
25, 1990 Johnny took part in a fish fry at Robber's Cave State
Park with the local Sportsman's Club from Wilburton. He loved
being part of the community and this was one part of his job he
enjoyed the most, being able to interact with sportsmen.