John Garst a Cowboy Hero 1953-2000 By Phil Fogg:(AKA CailGus Clyde) A friend of John's said, "I have always liked John alot,and considered him a "cowboy hero". Webster's defmition of a hero is - any man or woman admired for their qualities or achievements and regarded as an Ideal or Model. John Garst was certainly admired and held in high regard. This was quite evident when you looked at the line at the funeral home. People of all ages stood in line and had to wait about two hours to pay their respects. The line was between two and four people abreast, winding through the hallways, and doubling back through the front door. Family, friends relatives, business associates, and of course fellow cowboys were all there. According to one of the home's personnel, this was one of the largest wakes they had ever experienced. No one grew impatient and left the line. The early session melted into the evening session and then had to be extended an houror more, before all the visitors could get through. It was sobering to gaze over the crowd and wonder, in amazement, at how John's life had an impact on so many people. An honest smile, a strong handshake, and a monotone "how ya doin?" John showed little emotion in speech and motion. But he glearned with sincerity and carried an aura of willingness to help others. In deed, as well as in manner, he continually showed these qualities. If you needed help of any kind, he was there to lend a hand, a tool, or a word of encouragernent. It seemed to be a natural ability of John's to work with people and get involved. With a full plate of activity, he managed to fmd time for everyone. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Manchester and chairman of the board of trustees. This was no small task for a church with such a large building and such a diverse congregation. He was a member of the Antique Auto Club. He went to as many meets as possible and showed his 4l Chevy, originally owned by his grandfather As a member of Kinnicum Fish and Game Club, he was a director for many years, helping to organize shoots and social events. These qualities were also present in the work place. John was highly thought of and respected as a quality assurance representative for the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency at DCMC in Manchester New Hampshire. His duties included monitoring quality submarine antenna control systems at Allard Industries in Manchester, and other electronic defense equipment at Kollsman Instrument Company in Merrimack. He was also involved in quality control of jet fuel for military aircraft, including Air force One, at Manchester Airport. It is no wonder that John was a stickler for detail and for doing things right. If you didn't know John, you might:ask what the connection was to cowboys. Although born in the east, he was a cowboy through and through. He loved the west and had visions of moving to Arizona some day. He and his wife Diane owned and rode horses, which were stabled in a specially built combination stable and garage. They collected Indian pottery and western artifacts during their visits to the southwest, which decorate their home and stand as reminders of those trips. John's favorite suit was of a western cut. In fact, aside from an old pair of slippers, all of John's shoes were cowboy boots, of which there were many. In his younger years, John spent many summers with his cousins in a place-called Flat Gap Tennessee. He learned to ride, shoot, hunt, and camp during those years, and this made it a special place for him. The horses came from there and so did the cowboy alias he chose for himself, Flat Gap Jack. His biggest western passion was his involvement in SASS, The Single Action Shooting Society, and cowboy action shooting. Today, cowboy action shooting is one of the largest and most rapidly growing shooting sports in the country. Presently there are upwards of thirty thousand SASS members alone. This sport instills by its very nature a comradery and sense of belonging. It holds a special forum for developing friendships with its members, which John always kept close. Through his efforts, he managed to give the sport it's beginning in the state of New Hampshire and possibly New England. As the sport grew, the number of New Hampshire cowboy shooters grew. John, among others, decided that they needed an identity to distinguish themselves as a shooting faction, the same as other groups had done out west, where the sport originated. So John formed the White Mountain Regulators of New Hampshire based at the Kinnicum Fish and Game Club. Soon after, he was able to acquire SASS affiliation and the benefits that go with it.
Last October fellow menbers presented John with a special gold, number one, While Mountian Regulators badge in apprciation for his efforts. It was rewarding and interesting to him to look back at the beginning and see how far we had come over the years. John first started in the early eighties when he organized a 22 caliber western shoot in Goffstown.This lead to the firt western shoot at Kinnicum where the targets consisted of logs and paper cut outs. The firearms consisted of 30-30 Winchesler lever action rifles and any kind of six gun you could find. Today we use authentic reproduction firearms, metal targetsd and electronic timers In February,almost two weeks before his death,John recieved the prestigious SASS Regulators Badge for his contribution to the cowboy action shooting in New Hampshire. As active as John was, he didn't let having too many irons in the fire, get in the way of his first prriority. His family came first and most all decistous revolved around them. Diane and his two daughters Charlene and katherine were always part of the picture. they enjoyed boating and camping together, and John planned weekends and holidays on a regular basis.The facts of his death from pancreatic cancer are well stated, but it seemed like he knew as much as a year ago, that perhaps the end was near. He made a special effort to spend as much time with the family as possible, forsakingg most other activities. The last trip the family took together was to Florida, the Keys, and Disney World. The trip went without a hitch, and it wasn't until atter arriving home that John fell ill. All of us that know and love John will miss him. His friendship, honety, integiity, and helping hand will atways be remembered. John really is a cowboy hero.
