I graduated with a much higher grade point in high school than HE graduated with. The point is I graduated from college, Colorado Women’s College, in four years; and it took HIM six years to graduate. I graduated with knowledge and skills, and HE graduated from college. As HE explained to a mental health professional, after being hit in the head one too many times, “For all the pain and suffering of trying to become rich, famous, and great as a football player, all I have is a screwed up body, a screwed up mind. And I’m four years behind in college.” The Athletic Director at the University of South Dakota was the head coach at Denver when they dropped football. HE should have gotten the message then, but HE had a goal. After another four years of a lust- filled relationship, at four different colleges, I asked him to marry me. We were married in Bartlesville on August 24, 1964. We lived in Vermillion, S.D. where HE finally graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1966.

We, i.e. HE, needed a job in January of 1966. And HE convinced the U.S. Department of Interior that HE could walk and breathe so they hired him. That began a long journey over the next fourteen years on three Indian reservations in South Dakota. It was a good fourteen years until the last eight months. HIS boss was indicted and convicted of theft and fraud of government funds, and the Indians who were also involved threatened to kill us. The Department of Interior in their wisdom moved us to Wyoming.

We actually never lived in a “town” during those fourteen years, but we both agree that those years were a special time in our lives that included many friends and much excitement-(excitement such as the Occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973. ) HE was heavily involved being detailed to the Oglala Sioux Tribe. What did I do during those fourteen years, other than participate in the lust-filled relationship and fill my spare time with some substitute teaching? I produced three children- Beth, Amy and James III.

Our move to Worland, Wyoming in 1979 was only going to be a one year stay, and here we are thirty years later. We sold HIS land near Nowata Oklahoma, actually very near to where Wally Ferris lived. As a result we now have a winter home, summer home and retirement home in Worland. Beth and Gerald live in Worland; Amy and Scott live in Windsor, Colorado; and James III and Shana and James IV and Eli Randall live in Sioux Falls, S.D. We actually spend much time in Colorado and South Dakota.

HE retired from the Bureau of Land Management after 40 years, kept working within the Incident Command System, (wild land fire, hurricanes, etc.) and has been from Alaska to Katrina, and is now phasing out. Because of our lust-filled relationship, I went back to work at South Side School working with special children, some like HIM. I also have a needlework business, Wild Strawberry, which I enjoy.

It has been a wonderful journey since our Col High days. We have been very blessed. We are spiritually, physically and, within reason, mentally very happy. And as anyone can plainly see I am aging much more gracefully than HE! (That’s what rich, famous, and great will get you.)

James was born February 14, 1942 to James "Rip" Legg, Sr. and Dorothy (Benbow) Legg in Bartlesville, Oklahoma near the Caney River where he was free to roam and play, learning to be a "real kid." A 1960 graduate of College High School, he played football for Hall of Fame coach Burl Stidham and baseball for Sid Burton and Glen Winget along with many beloved friends and teammates. James often repeated to his grandsons something Stidham told him many years before, "It's all about friends and memories, and those that do not play do not have as much to look back on." Nature and science were always his other passion, so a degree in botany from the University of South Dakota and graduate classes in geology from the South Dakota School of Mines led him on a lifelong career in teaching, coaching, and natural resources management.

On August 24, 1964 he married his high school sweetheart, Ann Miller, also of Bartlesville. They first made a home on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota where he taught science and coached wrestling and football. He would later recall the pride in coaching and teaching young men and women during very turbulent years. He mentored many, and he maintained relationships with many-decades after leaving Pine Ridge. James and Ann would eventually move onto the Crow Creek and Lower Brule Reservations, before finally settling in Worland, Wyoming. James never lost his love for for the Badlands and Missouri River returning as often as possible to study, hunt, or fish. During their time together, James and Ann loved to travel-visiting with family and friends- laughing, eating, and enjoying each others company. They are forever grateful to all of their friends for their love and generosity.

James is survived by his wife Ann, his sister, Pam (Clarence) Stull of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, a brother John of Bartlesville, beloved cousin and partner in shady activities Mr. Wayne (Kay) Benbow of Baton Rouge Louisiana, children Beth (Gerald) of Worland, Amy Legg-Rogers (Scott) of Windsor, James R. Legg, III (Shana) of Sioux Falls and his two grandsons, Tigger (James IV) and Eli, as well as a gaggle of nieces, nephews, cousins, relations, and friends. He is also survived by one of favorite hunting companions, Annie. He was proceeded in death by his parents and several beloved hunting partners, both the two and the four-legged.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held Saturday, December 3, 2016 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Thermopolis, Wyoming at 2:00 p.m. with dinner and fellowship to follow.

James was a wood carver, gardener, cook, teacher, coach, school board and vestry member, hunter, fisherman, wildland firefighter, artist, writer, story teller, joke collector, advocate, counselor, and comforter. He was a good man with a gentle spirit who was always sustained by a deep and abiding faith in God's promises. While delivering a eulogy for one of his firefighting brethren, James said that the best way to honor the dead was to take care of the living so the family asks that you make a donation to the charity or hospice of your choice in lieu of flowers.