Originally Posted by Texas Star

Who was Rene Randall Keith? Part of the name is cut off on the headstone pic.


I met Lorraine Keith and Elmer in Dallas in the 1970's, when Elmer addressed an audience of his fans at a hotel. They seemed an affectionate couple. I later met Elmer at the 1979 SHOT show and we had breakfast together courtesy of the Winchester PR man. John Falk was a fine PR guy for the firm in Olin days. That press breakfast was probably the best I ever had. It was in San Antonio and the buffet included a lot of fresh fruit as well as the usual items.


Elmer poured scotch in his tea. Said he picked up the habit from his white hunter in Africa, I think John Lawrence. Many of the older gun writers drank a lot, including Elmer.


He recalled me from our earlier meeting and asked if I'd like to join him. He was very cordial on both occasions, and I got to see him shoot at the Winchester gun range in Dallas. I don't doubt that he performed all the shooting that he mentioned. My only reservation is that famed 600 yard shot on the mule deer with a S&W M-29. But I think he believed that he hit the deer at that distance. I think it more probably succumbed to shots at closer range and to a hit from a .300 H&H rifle.


Anyone interested in guns should have his books, Sixguns and, Shotguns. His other books were good, too, but those are justifiably classics.