Just To Keep Even - Paperback

by James C. Simmons (Author)

The events depicted in "Just To Keep Even" occurred one hundred years ago. Yet, hot debate continues in the Hi-Line country of Montana whether our hero was murdered, committed suicide, or simply perished due to bad luck and severe weather. Long George Francis was easily the most recognizable, famous/infamous, and misunderstood individual of Hill County, Montana, at the dawn of the twentieth century. A superb horseman in a time of rapid mechanization, his formative years were spent governed by the ethos of the open range and self-reliance. By adulthood, he found himself in a changed world with new rules that placed him in constant conflict and peril. He adapted by using his cowboy skills to become a topnotch rodeo performer and showman gaining him an honored spot in the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame. A culmination of factors including mechanization, his continuing belief in open range rules, and a small number of bitter enemies resulted in his untimely death and the legend that followed.

Author Biography

James C. Simmons is a retired physician living in Bozeman, Montana. He was born in Provo, Utah in 1938 into a family of Mormon heritage. Following graduation from the University of Utah Medical School in 1964, he served in the USAF as a flight surgeon for five years including one year in the Republic of Vietnam ('66-'67). Following completion of his USAF commitment, he practiced in Hamilton, Montana as a family physician ('68-'72) and then returned to the University of Utah for a residency in Anesthesiology. He practiced this specialty until retirement. He continues enjoying his horses and outdoor pursuits as well as his long interest in western history. This is his first novel.