Fort Bliss Monitor

Farewell to ‘great cavalryman’

Kevin L. Harris
Special to The Monitor

A funeral detail folds the flag that covered retired Col. James Ray Spurrier’s casket. Spurrier, 86, served 25 years in the Army. He passed away Dec. 27, 2004.

Editors note, Retired Col. James Ray Spurrier, 86, passed away Dec. 27, 2004. His funeral was held Friday at Chapel 1. Kevin Harris was a friend of Spurrier and wrote a story featuring his life. The story will run as a series.

I had the sad privilege of bearing retired Col. James Ray Spurrier to his final resting place Friday. Others sharing in that honor were his brother-in-law, retired U.S. Navy Commander Frederick R. Lafferty Jr.; son-in-law, Theodore Christie, nephew, retired Lt. Col. Frederick G. Lee, and two grandsons, James Bright and C. Spens Woodroof; and a funeral detail from the 11th Brigade, who flawlessly conducted their part in this country’s last farewell to a fallen warrior, as he was interred at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery.

How had Spurrier reached this point on his path to immortality? It all started Aug. 17, 1918, when he was born in the Osage Hills of northeastern Oklahoma in the little town of Bigheart, a community established by his grandfather, Osage Indian Chief James Bigheart. It ended in El Paso Dec. 27, 2004, after a long battle with cancer and its complications. But, oh, how he lived those 86 years in between. Spurrier did not go quietly into that good night, he squeezed all the gusto life had to give out of his days here on earth. His was a life well spent, a life that bore witness to the great events of the day. He was a proud member of what has come to be known as the Greatest Generation, those hearty individuals who lived through the Great Depression, fought War World II and laid the foundation for the success and prosperity this country has enjoyed since.

I first became acquainted with Spurrier during the 150th Anniversary of the Army in El Paso, in 1998. Since the Cavalry had played such an important role in the history of Fort Bliss and their spirited polo matches were so closely associated with their time here, it was decided to bring the game back to Noel Field as part of the commemoration. How to do that? Find someone in the know. Spurrier was that someone. You see, he had often played on Noel Field as a member of the 1st Cavalry Division, and as captain of the 12th Cavalry’s Regimental Polo Team. It was his team that won the last division championship in 1943. With his expert tutelage, the field was made polo ready and the matches that followed turned out to be among the most successful of the many sesquicentennial events held that year. I will never forget his great generosity or his enthusiasm as he ensured the game he so loved was appropriately presented to a new generation at Fort Bliss.

Spurrier, right, jumps his horse, Swing Low, at a Steeple Chase in Fort Riley, Kansas.

Spurrier, center, meets former President Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office.

I will also never forget getting to know him and his wife of more than 63 years, Lucile, over the ensuing years. Their friendship has enriched mine and my family’s life immeasurably. I would like to share some of this great American’s story with you upon his passing. Some people are called to their professions; some are called to be ministers of their faiths, and others to heal the sick. It seems that Spurrier received his calling early on to be a horse soldier – a cavalryman - and a polo player. He was truly at home on a horse and literally rode one from the time he was an infant, being led around his father’s buffalo ranch near Tulsa, Okla., until he hung up his spurs after more than sixty years in the saddle. After many of his contemporaries had taken up the rocking chair, he was still riding the rugged Gila Wilderness of western New Mexico.

His love of polo started almost as early as his love of horses, and upon his enrollment in 1932 at the Oklahoma Military Academy in Claremore, he quickly learned the skills that would make him an outstanding player. Along with fellow Osage, Emery Hickman, a formidable squad was developed that in their last two years of play won 34 of 36 matches, against the best college, military and independent teams in the Southwest. Lopsided scores were the norm, as Spurrier and Hickman scored the majority of the goals for the OMA Cadets.

Continued in next week’s issue of The Monitor.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	January 13, 2005

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Farewell to ‘great cavalryman’ Kevin L. Harris Special to The Monitor A funeral detail folds the flag that covered retired Col. James Ray Spurrier’s casket. Spurrier, 86, served 25 years in the Army. He passed away Dec. 27, 2004. Editors note, Retired Col. James Ray Spurrier, 86, passed away Dec. 27, 2004. His funeral was held Friday at Chapel 1. Kevin Harris was a friend of Spurrier and wrote a story featuring his life. The story will run as a series. I had the sad privilege of bearing retired Col. James Ray Spurrier to his final resting place Friday. Others sharing in that honor were his brother-in-law, retired U.S. Navy Commander Frederick R. Lafferty Jr.; son-in-law, Theodore Christie, nephew, retired Lt. Col. Frederick G. Lee, and two grandsons, James Bright and C. Spens Woodroof; and a funeral detail from the 11th Brigade, who flawlessly conducted their part in this country’s last farewell to a fallen warrior, as he was interred at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery. How had Spurrier reached this point on his path to immortality? It all started Aug. 17, 1918, when he was born in the Osage Hills of northeastern Oklahoma in the little town of Bigheart, a community established by his grandfather, Osage Indian Chief James Bigheart. It ended in El Paso Dec. 27, 2004, after a long battle with cancer and its complications. But, oh, how he lived those 86 years in between. Spurrier did not go quietly into that good night, he squeezed all the gusto life had to give out of his days here on earth. His was a life well spent, a life that bore witness to the great events of the day. He was a proud member of what has come to be known as the Greatest Generation, those hearty individuals who lived through the Great Depression, fought War World II and laid the foundation for the success and prosperity this country has enjoyed since. I first became acquainted with Spurrier during the 150th Anniversary of the Army in El Paso, in 1998. Since the Cavalry had played such an important role in the history of Fort Bliss and their spirited polo matches were so closely associated with their time here, it was decided to bring the game back to Noel Field as part of the commemoration. How to do that? Find someone in the know. Spurrier was that someone. You see, he had often played on Noel Field as a member of the 1st Cavalry Division, and as captain of the 12th Cavalry’s Regimental Polo Team. It was his team that won the last division championship in 1943. With his expert tutelage, the field was made polo ready and the matches that followed turned out to be among the most successful of the many sesquicentennial events held that year. I will never forget his great generosity or his enthusiasm as he ensured the game he so loved was appropriately presented to a new generation at Fort Bliss. Spurrier, right, jumps his horse, Swing Low, at a Steeple Chase in Fort Riley, Kansas. Spurrier, center, meets former President Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office. I will also never forget getting to know him and his wife of more than 63 years, Lucile, over the ensuing years. Their friendship has enriched mine and my family’s life immeasurably. I would like to share some of this great American’s story with you upon his passing. Some people are called to their professions; some are called to be ministers of their faiths, and others to heal the sick. It seems that Spurrier received his calling early on to be a horse soldier – a cavalryman - and a polo player. He was truly at home on a horse and literally rode one from the time he was an infant, being led around his father’s buffalo ranch near Tulsa, Okla., until he hung up his spurs after more than sixty years in the saddle. After many of his contemporaries had taken up the rocking chair, he was still riding the rugged Gila Wilderness of western New Mexico. His love of polo started almost as early as his love of horses, and upon his enrollment in 1932 at the Oklahoma Military Academy in Claremore, he quickly learned the skills that would make him an outstanding player. Along with fellow Osage, Emery Hickman, a formidable squad was developed that in their last two years of play won 34 of 36 matches, against the best college, military and independent teams in the Southwest. Lopsided scores were the norm, as Spurrier and Hickman scored the majority of the goals for the OMA Cadets. Continued in next week’s issue of The Monitor.