The most memorable event in my grandfather's life was the discovery of a meteorite on land that had once been on his farm. It was described as the largest found in Oklahoma and at that time "the largest granular hexahedrite as yet found in the world.
Ardmore Daily Ardmoreite (OK)
September 11, 1952
"J.C. DODSON TRIUMPHS IN LONG EFFORT GET METEORITE PROVED
Man Who Found Rare Specimen Scores Victory
Official discovery and removal of the Lake Murry a meteorite this week was a triumph for J.C. Dodson, 70-year-ol-park employee.
Dodson relates that he discovered the object 22 years ago when he was farming the land, now included in the park. All these years he told people about it, but couldn't get anyone to believe it might be a meteorite.
He never gave up in efforts to get someone who was qualified to look at it, and without his persistence the meteorite might never have been definitely identified and recovered.
Dodson says he found a small corner of the strange looking rock showing through the clay in the bottom of a gully on his farm about 22 years ago. It did not look like an ordinary rock, so he went back to the house and got a sledge hammer.
He struck the object several hard blows, and found it would not break or shatter. Instead, it only battered slightly under the blows as would a bar of heavy iron. This convinced him it must be a meteorite.
When his farm was included in the park, he began work for the park department when first work was done about 1933. Through the years that followed, he told every superintendent of the park about his find, but none of them would go look at it or notify anyone who might be qualified to render an opinion on its origin.
Finally this summer, Dodson met with success. Allen Graffham, a former university museum worker and oil company geologist, came to the park to be director of the new Tucker Tower museum.
Last Monday, Graffham went with Dodson to the site in northeast part of the park. Dodson says, "Graffham was the first man I ever told about it who would go look. As soon as he saw it, he said 'That is really a meteorite.'
While the meteorite was being removed to the Tucker Tower museum this week it was proposed that it be named the 'Dodson Meteorite.' And this would have been done except that Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, University of New Mexico expert who helped in classification and removal of the find, explained that it is the practice to name all meteorites for the place where they are found.
But to the other park employees and to his neighbors and friends it will always be the 'Dodson Meteorite.""
-----
Ardmore Daily Ardmoreite
September 14, 1952
"HUGE METEORITE IS DISCOVERED AT LAKE MURRAY PARK
National Interest Stirred By Discovery of Unusually Large Celestial Fragments
"The largest meteorite ever discovered in the Southwest, and one of the largest in the United States was discovered Monday in Lake Murray park.
Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, of the University of New Mexico, identified the meteorite Tuesday as a siderite and one of the most important meteoritical discoveries of this century.
First discovery of the object actually occurred about 22 years ago. J.C. Dodson, who is now an employee at the park, was farming the land and found the 'funny looking rock' in a gully.
Dodson pounded on the object with a sledge hammer and when it would not break or shatter he decided it must be a meteor. He says he told a lot of people about the meteor but was never able to get anyone interested enough to look at it.
Monday, Allen Graffham, a geologist and director of Tucker Tower museum went with Dodson to the scene and immediately identified the object as a meteorite.
Graham called Dr. LaPaz whom he had worked with previously on meteorites, and Dr. LaPaz with Dr. Paul W. Healy, both of the U. of N.M. Institute of Meteorites, came at once. They arrived in Ardmore at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
The meteorite is to be placed on permanent exhibit in the Tucker Tower museum, Graffham stated at press time today today that it will be removed from the ground this afternoon or Thursday.
Detailed weights and measurement will be made, and then the meteorite will be placed in the museum for public inspection.
Dr. LaPaz is very enthusiastic about the scientific importance of the find. He estimates that the meteorite will weight about 2000 pounds, one of the largest in the U.S.
he estimates its age at at least 20,000 years. The meteorite is metal, a nickel-iron, which when cut and polished looks like stainless steal.
Thousands of fragments of oxidite, or meteorite rust, are scattered over the immediate area. All these fragments are being collected with a powerful magnet as part of the discovery.
Discover of the meteorite on Lake Murray property is a great advantage to the recently established museum in Tucker Tower. LaPaz says it gives the institution a prize exhibit right from the start.
Location of the discovery is about eight miles southeast of Ardmore in the northeast corner of the park."
Written in bold letters in the middle of article:
"Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, meteorite expert from New Mexico University of Albuquerque, and Allen Graffham, director of the Tucker Tower museum at Lake Murray will be radio guests of Sam Blackburn tonight at 6:45 p.m. over Radio KVSO. The subject under discussion will be the sensational meteorite discovery on Lake Murray property which is causing national attention."
The Marietta Monitor (OK)
Friday, April 16, 1915
"MARRIED
The marriage of J. C. Dodson and Miss Elsie Cagle of Sivills Bend, Texas, occurred in this city Sunday at 12:30 o'clock, at the Methodist parsonage, Rev. R.A. Crosby pastor of the Methodist church officiating."
-----
Jim's obituary was published in The Daily Ardmoreite on April 16, 1961:
“James Calvin Dodson, Sr. - Funeral services for James Calvin Dodson Sr., are scheduled at 2 p.m. Monday in Bettes Chapel with Rev. A.R. Hambrick, minister of the Central Church of God, officiating.
Dodson, a resident of Ardmore for 35 years, died Saturday in a local hospital. He had been in ill health for some time.
Born Jan. 27, 1892 in Clarksville (Fort Douglas), Arkansas, he was married to Miss Elsie Dewey Cagle at Marietta, April 11, 1915. Dodson was a retired oil field worker and also had been an employee at Lake Murray State Park.
He was a member of the Central Church of God.
Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Morris Keeton, Arnold Muncrief, Delma Tyner, Harvey Holybee, Enoch Watterson, and Granville Mann. He is survived by his widow, Elsie of Ardmore: a son, James C. Dodson, Jr., Ardmore; three daughters: Mrs. Lillian Lindsey, Ardmore; Mrs. Lavinia Love, Modesto, Calif; and Mrs. Loveta Miley, Las Vegas, Nev.; a brother, Bill Dodson, Ardmore; a sister, Mrs. E.C. Graham, Pampa, Texas; 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.”
Ardmore Daily Ardmoreite (OK)
September 11, 1952
"J.C. DODSON TRIUMPHS IN LONG EFFORT GET METEORITE PROVED
Man Who Found Rare Specimen Scores Victory
Official discovery and removal of the Lake Murry a meteorite this week was a triumph for J.C. Dodson, 70-year-ol-park employee.
Dodson relates that he discovered the object 22 years ago when he was farming the land, now included in the park. All these years he told people about it, but couldn't get anyone to believe it might be a meteorite.
He never gave up in efforts to get someone who was qualified to look at it, and without his persistence the meteorite might never have been definitely identified and recovered.
Dodson says he found a small corner of the strange looking rock showing through the clay in the bottom of a gully on his farm about 22 years ago. It did not look like an ordinary rock, so he went back to the house and got a sledge hammer.
He struck the object several hard blows, and found it would not break or shatter. Instead, it only battered slightly under the blows as would a bar of heavy iron. This convinced him it must be a meteorite.
When his farm was included in the park, he began work for the park department when first work was done about 1933. Through the years that followed, he told every superintendent of the park about his find, but none of them would go look at it or notify anyone who might be qualified to render an opinion on its origin.
Finally this summer, Dodson met with success. Allen Graffham, a former university museum worker and oil company geologist, came to the park to be director of the new Tucker Tower museum.
Last Monday, Graffham went with Dodson to the site in northeast part of the park. Dodson says, "Graffham was the first man I ever told about it who would go look. As soon as he saw it, he said 'That is really a meteorite.'
While the meteorite was being removed to the Tucker Tower museum this week it was proposed that it be named the 'Dodson Meteorite.' And this would have been done except that Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, University of New Mexico expert who helped in classification and removal of the find, explained that it is the practice to name all meteorites for the place where they are found.
But to the other park employees and to his neighbors and friends it will always be the 'Dodson Meteorite.""
-----
Ardmore Daily Ardmoreite
September 14, 1952
"HUGE METEORITE IS DISCOVERED AT LAKE MURRAY PARK
National Interest Stirred By Discovery of Unusually Large Celestial Fragments
"The largest meteorite ever discovered in the Southwest, and one of the largest in the United States was discovered Monday in Lake Murray park.
Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, of the University of New Mexico, identified the meteorite Tuesday as a siderite and one of the most important meteoritical discoveries of this century.
First discovery of the object actually occurred about 22 years ago. J.C. Dodson, who is now an employee at the park, was farming the land and found the 'funny looking rock' in a gully.
Dodson pounded on the object with a sledge hammer and when it would not break or shatter he decided it must be a meteor. He says he told a lot of people about the meteor but was never able to get anyone interested enough to look at it.
Monday, Allen Graffham, a geologist and director of Tucker Tower museum went with Dodson to the scene and immediately identified the object as a meteorite.
Graham called Dr. LaPaz whom he had worked with previously on meteorites, and Dr. LaPaz with Dr. Paul W. Healy, both of the U. of N.M. Institute of Meteorites, came at once. They arrived in Ardmore at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
The meteorite is to be placed on permanent exhibit in the Tucker Tower museum, Graffham stated at press time today today that it will be removed from the ground this afternoon or Thursday.
Detailed weights and measurement will be made, and then the meteorite will be placed in the museum for public inspection.
Dr. LaPaz is very enthusiastic about the scientific importance of the find. He estimates that the meteorite will weight about 2000 pounds, one of the largest in the U.S.
he estimates its age at at least 20,000 years. The meteorite is metal, a nickel-iron, which when cut and polished looks like stainless steal.
Thousands of fragments of oxidite, or meteorite rust, are scattered over the immediate area. All these fragments are being collected with a powerful magnet as part of the discovery.
Discover of the meteorite on Lake Murray property is a great advantage to the recently established museum in Tucker Tower. LaPaz says it gives the institution a prize exhibit right from the start.
Location of the discovery is about eight miles southeast of Ardmore in the northeast corner of the park."
Written in bold letters in the middle of article:
"Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, meteorite expert from New Mexico University of Albuquerque, and Allen Graffham, director of the Tucker Tower museum at Lake Murray will be radio guests of Sam Blackburn tonight at 6:45 p.m. over Radio KVSO. The subject under discussion will be the sensational meteorite discovery on Lake Murray property which is causing national attention."
The Marietta Monitor (OK)
Friday, April 16, 1915
"MARRIED
The marriage of J. C. Dodson and Miss Elsie Cagle of Sivills Bend, Texas, occurred in this city Sunday at 12:30 o'clock, at the Methodist parsonage, Rev. R.A. Crosby pastor of the Methodist church officiating."
-----
Jim's obituary was published in The Daily Ardmoreite on April 16, 1961:
“James Calvin Dodson, Sr. - Funeral services for James Calvin Dodson Sr., are scheduled at 2 p.m. Monday in Bettes Chapel with Rev. A.R. Hambrick, minister of the Central Church of God, officiating.
Dodson, a resident of Ardmore for 35 years, died Saturday in a local hospital. He had been in ill health for some time.
Born Jan. 27, 1892 in Clarksville (Fort Douglas), Arkansas, he was married to Miss Elsie Dewey Cagle at Marietta, April 11, 1915. Dodson was a retired oil field worker and also had been an employee at Lake Murray State Park.
He was a member of the Central Church of God.
Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Morris Keeton, Arnold Muncrief, Delma Tyner, Harvey Holybee, Enoch Watterson, and Granville Mann. He is survived by his widow, Elsie of Ardmore: a son, James C. Dodson, Jr., Ardmore; three daughters: Mrs. Lillian Lindsey, Ardmore; Mrs. Lavinia Love, Modesto, Calif; and Mrs. Loveta Miley, Las Vegas, Nev.; a brother, Bill Dodson, Ardmore; a sister, Mrs. E.C. Graham, Pampa, Texas; 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.”
The most memorable event in my grandfather's life was the discovery of a meteorite on land that had once been on his farm. It was described as the largest found in Oklahoma and at that time "the largest granular hexahedrite as yet found in the world.
Ardmore Daily Ardmoreite (OK)
September 11, 1952
"J.C. DODSON TRIUMPHS IN LONG EFFORT GET METEORITE PROVED
Man Who Found Rare Specimen Scores Victory
Official discovery and removal of the Lake Murry a meteorite this week was a triumph for J.C. Dodson, 70-year-ol-park employee.
Dodson relates that he discovered the object 22 years ago when he was farming the land, now included in the park. All these years he told people about it, but couldn't get anyone to believe it might be a meteorite.
He never gave up in efforts to get someone who was qualified to look at it, and without his persistence the meteorite might never have been definitely identified and recovered.
Dodson says he found a small corner of the strange looking rock showing through the clay in the bottom of a gully on his farm about 22 years ago. It did not look like an ordinary rock, so he went back to the house and got a sledge hammer.
He struck the object several hard blows, and found it would not break or shatter. Instead, it only battered slightly under the blows as would a bar of heavy iron. This convinced him it must be a meteorite.
When his farm was included in the park, he began work for the park department when first work was done about 1933. Through the years that followed, he told every superintendent of the park about his find, but none of them would go look at it or notify anyone who might be qualified to render an opinion on its origin.
Finally this summer, Dodson met with success. Allen Graffham, a former university museum worker and oil company geologist, came to the park to be director of the new Tucker Tower museum.
Last Monday, Graffham went with Dodson to the site in northeast part of the park. Dodson says, "Graffham was the first man I ever told about it who would go look. As soon as he saw it, he said 'That is really a meteorite.'
While the meteorite was being removed to the Tucker Tower museum this week it was proposed that it be named the 'Dodson Meteorite.' And this would have been done except that Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, University of New Mexico expert who helped in classification and removal of the find, explained that it is the practice to name all meteorites for the place where they are found.
But to the other park employees and to his neighbors and friends it will always be the 'Dodson Meteorite.""
-----
Ardmore Daily Ardmoreite
September 14, 1952
"HUGE METEORITE IS DISCOVERED AT LAKE MURRAY PARK
National Interest Stirred By Discovery of Unusually Large Celestial Fragments
"The largest meteorite ever discovered in the Southwest, and one of the largest in the United States was discovered Monday in Lake Murray park.
Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, of the University of New Mexico, identified the meteorite Tuesday as a siderite and one of the most important meteoritical discoveries of this century.
First discovery of the object actually occurred about 22 years ago. J.C. Dodson, who is now an employee at the park, was farming the land and found the 'funny looking rock' in a gully.
Dodson pounded on the object with a sledge hammer and when it would not break or shatter he decided it must be a meteor. He says he told a lot of people about the meteor but was never able to get anyone interested enough to look at it.
Monday, Allen Graffham, a geologist and director of Tucker Tower museum went with Dodson to the scene and immediately identified the object as a meteorite.
Graham called Dr. LaPaz whom he had worked with previously on meteorites, and Dr. LaPaz with Dr. Paul W. Healy, both of the U. of N.M. Institute of Meteorites, came at once. They arrived in Ardmore at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
The meteorite is to be placed on permanent exhibit in the Tucker Tower museum, Graffham stated at press time today today that it will be removed from the ground this afternoon or Thursday.
Detailed weights and measurement will be made, and then the meteorite will be placed in the museum for public inspection.
Dr. LaPaz is very enthusiastic about the scientific importance of the find. He estimates that the meteorite will weight about 2000 pounds, one of the largest in the U.S.
he estimates its age at at least 20,000 years. The meteorite is metal, a nickel-iron, which when cut and polished looks like stainless steal.
Thousands of fragments of oxidite, or meteorite rust, are scattered over the immediate area. All these fragments are being collected with a powerful magnet as part of the discovery.
Discover of the meteorite on Lake Murray property is a great advantage to the recently established museum in Tucker Tower. LaPaz says it gives the institution a prize exhibit right from the start.
Location of the discovery is about eight miles southeast of Ardmore in the northeast corner of the park."
Written in bold letters in the middle of article:
"Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, meteorite expert from New Mexico University of Albuquerque, and Allen Graffham, director of the Tucker Tower museum at Lake Murray will be radio guests of Sam Blackburn tonight at 6:45 p.m. over Radio KVSO. The subject under discussion will be the sensational meteorite discovery on Lake Murray property which is causing national attention."
The Marietta Monitor (OK)
Friday, April 16, 1915
"MARRIED
The marriage of J. C. Dodson and Miss Elsie Cagle of Sivills Bend, Texas, occurred in this city Sunday at 12:30 o'clock, at the Methodist parsonage, Rev. R.A. Crosby pastor of the Methodist church officiating."
-----
Jim's obituary was published in The Daily Ardmoreite on April 16, 1961:
“James Calvin Dodson, Sr. - Funeral services for James Calvin Dodson Sr., are scheduled at 2 p.m. Monday in Bettes Chapel with Rev. A.R. Hambrick, minister of the Central Church of God, officiating.
Dodson, a resident of Ardmore for 35 years, died Saturday in a local hospital. He had been in ill health for some time.
Born Jan. 27, 1892 in Clarksville (Fort Douglas), Arkansas, he was married to Miss Elsie Dewey Cagle at Marietta, April 11, 1915. Dodson was a retired oil field worker and also had been an employee at Lake Murray State Park.
He was a member of the Central Church of God.
Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Morris Keeton, Arnold Muncrief, Delma Tyner, Harvey Holybee, Enoch Watterson, and Granville Mann. He is survived by his widow, Elsie of Ardmore: a son, James C. Dodson, Jr., Ardmore; three daughters: Mrs. Lillian Lindsey, Ardmore; Mrs. Lavinia Love, Modesto, Calif; and Mrs. Loveta Miley, Las Vegas, Nev.; a brother, Bill Dodson, Ardmore; a sister, Mrs. E.C. Graham, Pampa, Texas; 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.”
Ardmore Daily Ardmoreite (OK)
September 11, 1952
"J.C. DODSON TRIUMPHS IN LONG EFFORT GET METEORITE PROVED
Man Who Found Rare Specimen Scores Victory
Official discovery and removal of the Lake Murry a meteorite this week was a triumph for J.C. Dodson, 70-year-ol-park employee.
Dodson relates that he discovered the object 22 years ago when he was farming the land, now included in the park. All these years he told people about it, but couldn't get anyone to believe it might be a meteorite.
He never gave up in efforts to get someone who was qualified to look at it, and without his persistence the meteorite might never have been definitely identified and recovered.
Dodson says he found a small corner of the strange looking rock showing through the clay in the bottom of a gully on his farm about 22 years ago. It did not look like an ordinary rock, so he went back to the house and got a sledge hammer.
He struck the object several hard blows, and found it would not break or shatter. Instead, it only battered slightly under the blows as would a bar of heavy iron. This convinced him it must be a meteorite.
When his farm was included in the park, he began work for the park department when first work was done about 1933. Through the years that followed, he told every superintendent of the park about his find, but none of them would go look at it or notify anyone who might be qualified to render an opinion on its origin.
Finally this summer, Dodson met with success. Allen Graffham, a former university museum worker and oil company geologist, came to the park to be director of the new Tucker Tower museum.
Last Monday, Graffham went with Dodson to the site in northeast part of the park. Dodson says, "Graffham was the first man I ever told about it who would go look. As soon as he saw it, he said 'That is really a meteorite.'
While the meteorite was being removed to the Tucker Tower museum this week it was proposed that it be named the 'Dodson Meteorite.' And this would have been done except that Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, University of New Mexico expert who helped in classification and removal of the find, explained that it is the practice to name all meteorites for the place where they are found.
But to the other park employees and to his neighbors and friends it will always be the 'Dodson Meteorite.""
-----
Ardmore Daily Ardmoreite
September 14, 1952
"HUGE METEORITE IS DISCOVERED AT LAKE MURRAY PARK
National Interest Stirred By Discovery of Unusually Large Celestial Fragments
"The largest meteorite ever discovered in the Southwest, and one of the largest in the United States was discovered Monday in Lake Murray park.
Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, of the University of New Mexico, identified the meteorite Tuesday as a siderite and one of the most important meteoritical discoveries of this century.
First discovery of the object actually occurred about 22 years ago. J.C. Dodson, who is now an employee at the park, was farming the land and found the 'funny looking rock' in a gully.
Dodson pounded on the object with a sledge hammer and when it would not break or shatter he decided it must be a meteor. He says he told a lot of people about the meteor but was never able to get anyone interested enough to look at it.
Monday, Allen Graffham, a geologist and director of Tucker Tower museum went with Dodson to the scene and immediately identified the object as a meteorite.
Graham called Dr. LaPaz whom he had worked with previously on meteorites, and Dr. LaPaz with Dr. Paul W. Healy, both of the U. of N.M. Institute of Meteorites, came at once. They arrived in Ardmore at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
The meteorite is to be placed on permanent exhibit in the Tucker Tower museum, Graffham stated at press time today today that it will be removed from the ground this afternoon or Thursday.
Detailed weights and measurement will be made, and then the meteorite will be placed in the museum for public inspection.
Dr. LaPaz is very enthusiastic about the scientific importance of the find. He estimates that the meteorite will weight about 2000 pounds, one of the largest in the U.S.
he estimates its age at at least 20,000 years. The meteorite is metal, a nickel-iron, which when cut and polished looks like stainless steal.
Thousands of fragments of oxidite, or meteorite rust, are scattered over the immediate area. All these fragments are being collected with a powerful magnet as part of the discovery.
Discover of the meteorite on Lake Murray property is a great advantage to the recently established museum in Tucker Tower. LaPaz says it gives the institution a prize exhibit right from the start.
Location of the discovery is about eight miles southeast of Ardmore in the northeast corner of the park."
Written in bold letters in the middle of article:
"Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, meteorite expert from New Mexico University of Albuquerque, and Allen Graffham, director of the Tucker Tower museum at Lake Murray will be radio guests of Sam Blackburn tonight at 6:45 p.m. over Radio KVSO. The subject under discussion will be the sensational meteorite discovery on Lake Murray property which is causing national attention."
The Marietta Monitor (OK)
Friday, April 16, 1915
"MARRIED
The marriage of J. C. Dodson and Miss Elsie Cagle of Sivills Bend, Texas, occurred in this city Sunday at 12:30 o'clock, at the Methodist parsonage, Rev. R.A. Crosby pastor of the Methodist church officiating."
-----
Jim's obituary was published in The Daily Ardmoreite on April 16, 1961:
“James Calvin Dodson, Sr. - Funeral services for James Calvin Dodson Sr., are scheduled at 2 p.m. Monday in Bettes Chapel with Rev. A.R. Hambrick, minister of the Central Church of God, officiating.
Dodson, a resident of Ardmore for 35 years, died Saturday in a local hospital. He had been in ill health for some time.
Born Jan. 27, 1892 in Clarksville (Fort Douglas), Arkansas, he was married to Miss Elsie Dewey Cagle at Marietta, April 11, 1915. Dodson was a retired oil field worker and also had been an employee at Lake Murray State Park.
He was a member of the Central Church of God.
Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Morris Keeton, Arnold Muncrief, Delma Tyner, Harvey Holybee, Enoch Watterson, and Granville Mann. He is survived by his widow, Elsie of Ardmore: a son, James C. Dodson, Jr., Ardmore; three daughters: Mrs. Lillian Lindsey, Ardmore; Mrs. Lavinia Love, Modesto, Calif; and Mrs. Loveta Miley, Las Vegas, Nev.; a brother, Bill Dodson, Ardmore; a sister, Mrs. E.C. Graham, Pampa, Texas; 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.”
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