Tribute To Johnnie Barnes

Johnnie "Strong Heart" Barnes Was a pioneer in his time. He not only was the founding father of Royal Rangers but also the founding father or Frontiersman Camping Fellowship. His death in 1989 is still felt by Royal Rangers. Below is a poem that was wrote by Harry Hicks as a tribute to Johnnie Barnes.

Strong Heart

by

Harry Hicks

He done it ! Yes'r the ole pilgrem done it ! After a lifetime a trappin' an' skinnin' th' ole' bar made it through. Up into them shinin' mountains, onto the high plains' through th' narrow pass an' into that sonlit valley we all heerd about. Down through th' green aspens an' across the' grassy meadows bustin' out with floxan' daisys an' buttercups, bees a hummin, birds a singin.

Ole Strong Heart set camp amongst as grand a stand o' cottonwood as ere ye seen. Don't have to worry ' bout the devil's own neither: they can't touch him there- nuthin' can! Pleanty of food;pleanty waterwater from th' livin' stream flowin' out o' the high place down through them cottonwoods. I kin see him camped with some other pilgrems. Bell,Kenyon, Doan, Troyer.Voorhees and some powerful Booshway with white hair an' a heap o' scars. I yells, "Hey boys! Punch up them coals an" keep the stewpot warm. the rest of us is comin' too! We' comin' to Rendezvous!!!"

Already I see a pleanty other pilgrems all up an'down that stream. I see a great multitude which no man can number, of all nations, and kindred, an peoples, and tongues, an' they wuz all dressed in white buckskins!!!!

In Memory of Johnny Barnes
( Strong Heart)

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