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Family plot
Pretty Boy Floyd relative recalls his infamous uncle

Glendon Floyd stands at the former site of the Sallisaw State Bank, which his uncle Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd robbed in 1932. Glendon Floyd doesn't like to glorify what his uncle did but admits that when he was a kid, Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd was his hero. During the Great Depression, "he helped feed us," Glendon Floyd said. MIKE SIMONS / Tulsa World

By DALE INGRAM World Correspondent
Published: 10/18/2009 2:19 AM
Last Modified: 10/18/2009 5:42 AM

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SALLISAW — Glendon Floyd is not looking for a fight when he walks among the tombstones of Akins Cemetery, but he warns it could happen.

His hope, the 85-year-old retired businessman said, is to visit scattered gravesites of his parents, grandparents, brother, uncles, aunts, and cousins, and maybe pull a few weeds.

But once in awhile, Floyd notices strangers lingering near an uncle's grave. He vows there will be a scuffle if he spots them chiseling away a piece of the headstone as a souvenir.

"If I ever catch one of them ," Floyd said.

So far, the only outcome has been polite conversations about Floyd's uncle, buried under a modest marker inscribed, "Charley Arthur Floyd."

Floyd would rather chat about sitting on his uncle's lap or being overjoyed by a gift of a pearl-handled knife from "Choc," a family nickname inspired by his taste for a home-brew beer by that name.

"He was my hero," Floyd said. "He was always laughing, pulling tricks on you, joking around. I never saw him without a smile."

But the strangers want to talk about the other man buried under the headstone: Pretty Boy Floyd, the Depression-era bank robber and Public Enemy Number One whose death 75 years ago this week ended an era and set off the most raucous funeral in Oklahoma history.

On Oct. 22, 1934, a posse shot Pretty Boy on an Ohio farm, ending a spree in which he robbed more than 30 banks — give or take — and killed at least four men. After years of daring shootouts and escapes, he was finally downed after a minor one-car accident in the fog left him on foot and looking suspicious.

No excuses

"I don't make excuses for him. He got tired of not having any damn money" from tenant farming in the parched Sequoyah County hills, Glendon Floyd said.

Glendon's first memories of Choc were in 1929 when his uncle arrived at his family's "shotgun shack" in the booming Greater Seminole Oil Fields. Choc, 25, had finished three years in a Missouri prison for armed robbery, and he joined his brother Bradley, 31, in the oil patch. At the time, Bradley had three sons, including Glendon.

Eventually, Choc made a career move, from drilling oil to robbing banks: Earlsboro (twice), Maud, Konawa, and more. By 1932, headlines told of the elusive "Pretty Boy" — a name reputedly given to him by a brothel madam in Kansas City, Mo., but more likely resulting from news stories in St. Louis after a 1925 armed robbery.

Glendon said his dad gave his uncle refuge from manhunts, and the outlaw returned the favor. When Bradley was jobless and food scarce, Glendon said he watched Choc drive up to their house, hand his mom a roll of 100 $1 bills, and speed away.

"I don't glorify my uncle, but he helped feed us with the money he robbed from the Earlsboro bank," Glendon said.

Glendon scoffs at the idea that his uncle robbed from the rich to give to the poor.

"I wouldn't say he was a Robin Hood," he said. While the robber may have helped some needy families, Floyd said his uncle's generosity was aimed at people who helped him avoid capture.

Glendon said he bristles when Choc is portrayed as a ruthless killer or accused of 12 or more murders; he said there is no report he fired a gun while robbing a bank, and he insists fatal shots were fired only when it was kill-or-be-killed. He attributes four deaths to his uncle: a prohibition agent in Kansas City, two "snitches" in Kansas, and former McIntosh County sheriff-turned-bounty hunter, Erv Kelley, near Bixby.

Ghoulish souvenirs

In 2009, Pretty Boy's grave attracts a growing number of visitors, cemetery caretaker Jim Baty said.

"Every time you go over there, someone is looking at it," Baty said. In recent days, it had ranged from a lone motorcycle rider to a school bus of Heavener junior high students.

Vandals continue to extract what Anadarko-born crime writer Jim Thompson in 1956 described as "ghoulish souvenirs." Because of theft and vandalism, it is believed to be the third marker the family has planted.

Baty said most visitors are respectful, and some leave tributes, sometimes a coin or beer can. A few years ago, someone staked a ribbon to the ground with a simple message: "Hero."

Last week, Baty said, someone anonymously left an empty slug from a .45-caliber automatic pistol, Pretty Boy's frequent weapon of choice.

Less attention is given to a larger, more ornate headstone nearby, the one for Pretty Boy's younger brother, E.W., who was a highly respected Sequoyah County sheriff from 1949 until his death in 1970.

Coming home to Sallisaw

Six years ago, Glendon Floyd relocated to Sallisaw, the first time he has lived in the area since age 2. He had resided mostly in the Oklahoma City area, prospering in the 1970s oil boom and other enterprises. "I got lucky, because I ain't that smart," he laughed.

He is widowed, and three of his four children have died. Glendon said he believes Sallisaw, with his relatives and roots, is the best place for him during this season of his life.

Sallisaw has changed. The downtown bank that Pretty Boy robbed is a vacant lot. The train station, where his corpse arrived from Ohio in a pine box, is a library. The eight miles of road to the Akins Cemetery were paved long ago. The hub of commerce has moved to Interstate 40, anchored by a Walmart, a Cherokee casino and chain restaurants.

Towns along I-40 seem eager to alert passers-by to their famous sons and daughters. Okemah claims folk singer Woody Guthrie. Henryetta boasts of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman. Checotah is proud of "American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood. Near Sallisaw, drivers are invited to visit the home of Cherokee legend Sequoyah.

Glendon Floyd said it is "incredible" that so much interest in his uncle persists, but do not expect "Home of Pretty Boy Floyd" highway signs or museums.

"That's unnecessary. That's not something our family or any relative would relish. We wouldn't go for that," he said.

Dale Ingram, an Oklahoma historian, lives in Little Rock. He was a reporter for The Tulsa Tribune in the early 1980s and has a journalism degree from Oklahoma State University. He can be reached at dale.ingram@sbcglobal.net. By DALE INGRAM World Correspondent

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Sunday: Nephew watches over outlaw's grave," which was published on 10/17/2009.

	Report Comment Darkstar, (10/17/2009 3:41:44 PM) PRETTY BOY FLOYD (Woody Guthrie) Come gather round me children, a story I will tell Of Pretty Boy Floyd, an outlaw, Oklahoma knew him well Was in the town of Shawnee on a Saturday afternoon His wife beside him in the wagon as into town they rode A deputy sheriff approached them in a manner rather rude Using vulgar words of language and his wife she overheard Well, Pretty Boy grabbed a long chain, and the deputy grabbed a gun And in the fight that followed, he laid that deputy down Then he took to the trees and rivers to lead a life of shame Every crime in Oklahoma was added to his name Yes he took to the trees and timbers on the Canadian river shore And the outlaw found a welcome at many a farmer's door Yes, there's many a starving farmer, the same story told How the outlaw paid their mortgage and saved their little home Others tell about the stranger who came to beg a meal And underneath the napkin left a thousand dollar bill It was in Oklahoma City, it was on a Christmas day Came a whole carload of groceries and a letter that did say Well, you say that I'm an outlaw, and you say that I'm a thief Here's a Christmas dinner for the families on relief Well, as through the world I've rambled, I've seen lots of funny men Some rob you with a sixgun, some with a fountain pen As through this world you ramble, as through this world you roam You'll never see an outlaw drive a family from its home
	Report Comment jess, (10/17/2009 3:46:37 PM) The word "hero" is not the proper description for Pretty Boy Floyd.
	Report Comment Nim, Jenks (10/17/2009 3:47:24 PM) Something tells me he could whip Romeo's arss.
	Report Comment RomeosTune, Tulsa (10/17/2009 3:49:12 PM) You got that right jess. Though songs and movies about these former day thugs are fun to watch, people should not forget they were murdering criminals.
	Report Comment Nim, Jenks (10/17/2009 3:52:05 PM) His funeral was attended by between 20,000 and 40,000 people and remains the largest funeral in Oklahoma history. But he was not a good man. He was a killer.
	Report Comment okie ridgerunner, Small Country Town State Line (10/17/2009 3:52:45 PM) Romeos Tune, sounds like you may have been one of the fountain pen type.did you get to old to use it anymore.
	Report Comment RomeosTune, Tulsa (10/17/2009 3:52:45 PM) Nim... Doubtful he'd get the chance since obviously I wouldn't be there to get a souvenir from the grave. Rod is your last name eh?
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (10/17/2009 3:54:18 PM) It's wrong to disparage the dead. And you can't fault Glendon Floyd for calling his uncle a hero.
	Report Comment RomeosTune, Tulsa (10/17/2009 3:54:42 PM) okie.. If you're going to insult people then at least learn to spell or use a spell checker. It doesn't have much affect on people when you don't appear a little intelligent.
	Report Comment RomeosTune, Tulsa (10/17/2009 3:58:13 PM) Future...Then why did you do it earlier with the story about the helicopter pilot? Rather hypocritical wouldn't you say?
	Report Comment Toska, (10/17/2009 5:45:28 PM) PBoy once lived in Tulsa, neighbors knew it, lived on Young Street. Did you know that?
	Report Comment Daniel Day Simpson, Edmond (10/17/2009 7:10:55 PM) Long, long ago at a place far far away this old man talked about running with one of the old depression era bank robbers. Nobody believed this old man's stories. He rambled on all the time about days gone by and times no more. But one young whipper snapper with a small touch of autistic ways sat by the old man and absorbed and digested his stories. Today you have Stephen King, no, just kidding. Anyway that young boy grew up and took to heart his stories. One story told about a hidden treasure trove of stolen U.S. mint coins going between Colorado and New Orleans on a train. It was near a certain large terrain feature near the property marker of stacked rocks. It was between Atoka and Antlers and the nephew soon learned time was short as Oklahoma City was going to flood the area to create McGee Creek Reservoir. The nephew made some inquiries with the mint as to the veracity of the story and they even sent him some news clippings about the robbery. They also sent him a copy of the IRS's rules on recovered stolen U.S. property. Several years went by, the lake flooded as planned. He made note of some good fishing spots. And through the years he bought some rather nice things like boats, new home, vehicles, trips, etc. Did he find it? Nobody knows.
	Report Comment Jack9, somewhere (10/17/2009 7:37:27 PM) Aww ya'll should leave Ole man Glendon Floyd alone, this possible all his has left in his aging lonely world. Just listen to his stories.
	Report Comment PAN, (10/18/2009 3:18:40 AM) Why are so many so hard on this elderly gentleman? Pretty Boy Floyd is his uncle and might have been a good uncle, especially in the eyes of a little boy. Mr. Floyd has fond memories of him anyway. For all we know, Pretty Boy Floyd might have, and probably did, love his family very, very much. Pretty Boy was family and Mr. Floyd probably loves all of his family. We all have some not-so-good-ones somewhere in our family history. I feel sad for the people who are ridiculing Mr. Floyd for the good memories and love he has for his uncle. After all, it wasn't Mr. Floyd who committed the crimes. To carry a grudge or dislike for a person because of who their relatives are is immature and not really very smart. That kind of hatred eats away at a person. I hope Mr. Floyd continues to do as he has been doing. It gives him pleasure and happiness in his older years and it gives the rest of us the 'other side' of Pretty Boy Floyd. Not one of us can ever know what is really in the heart of another person whether that person was a 'good' person or a criminal. Please carry on, Mr. Floyd, and teach the history you know of the uncle you loved so much. Continue to give people a look at the other side of Pretty Boy Floyd. Thank you and God Bless You for your contribution.
	Report Comment staggerwing, tulsa (10/18/2009 9:26:42 AM) The cow town gazette thinks that this is a front page story - The funeral of a depression era gangster. Judgment counts for a lot if your business is to survive.
	Report Comment Boomer Sooner Poster, (10/18/2009 9:51:39 AM) Desperate times call for desperate measures. My Grandad use to tell me stories from the great depression and all of the hardships the people faced, he told me stories of lack of food, money and medicine. Those of you on here laying such harsh judgement on this man have probably never experienced times even remotely close to those described by my Grandad. Until you walk in another man's shoes, I don't think you should be so quick to judge. Most "real Men" will do whatever it takes to provide for their families. Moral to my story, shut your mouth, turn on your 60" HDTV and eat your large breakfast this morning rather than bagging on this Gentleman.
	Report Comment H_Harl, (10/18/2009 10:57:16 AM) yes, most "real men" do whatever it takes to provide for their family. but, most real men in this area during the 20s and 30s lived through the same depression pretty boy floyd lived through. including 4 of my grandparents. and they did whatever WORK they had to do to survive. they didn't resort to robbing other people of their money to get by, just because they didn't like the work. people resort to floyds way of making a living for one basic reason. they don't like having to work hard for it. period. it's the same now as it was then. a criminal is a criminal. but, if this man has fond memories of his uncle, that's fine. i'm not going to knock him for it. he may have been a good uncle. but he wasn't a good citizen. and he wasn't a "robinhood".
	Report Comment Mr. Brown, Could be anywhere (10/18/2009 11:11:18 AM) My Grandmother told me stories about those times, as well, but shooting people and robbing banks was never seen as a viable option. I have no problem labeling a killer and a thief as exactly that, either. Most of these young knuckleheads out selling dope and pillaging Tulsa today would say apply, "Desperate times call for desperate measures" to what they're doing. I think I will turn on my legally obtained HDTV, and have a large lunch. Great idea.
	Report Comment H_Harl, (10/18/2009 11:33:54 AM) Mr. Brown...very good point. enjoy your hdtv, and your lunch. i'm kinda craving a nice steak, myself. :)
	Report Comment aint missbehavin, no thanks (10/18/2009 12:16:54 PM) yeah yeah,my mother knew pretty boy floyd personaly.He was a frequant visitor at my grandparents home.
	Report Comment 007, Tulsa (10/18/2009 2:46:34 PM) If you ever talk to people who grew up during the depression, you understand why they like pretty boy floyd. There was no jobs,let alone social security, medicare or food stamps all the things republicans hate...nothing. People were left at the mercy of the wealthy and churches, and we see how that turned out..oh by the way it was a republican name hoover that ushered in that grand and glorious era, and judging from todays republican it's hard to tell the difference.
	Report Comment 007, Tulsa (10/18/2009 2:59:20 PM) If you ever talk to people who grew up during the depression, you understand why they like pretty boy floyd. There were no jobs,let alone social security, medicare or food stamps all the things republicans hate...nothing. People were left at the mercy of the wealthy and churches, and we see how that turned out..oh by the way it was a republican named hoover that ushered in that grand and glorious era, and judging from todays republican it's hard to tell the difference.
	Report Comment Nim, Jenks (10/18/2009 3:19:02 PM) It doesn't have much affect on people, Romeo? Don't you mean EFFECT? Pinhead.
	Report Comment Centrist, the burbs (10/18/2009 4:35:32 PM) A families memories are much different than the publics opinion. Leave the family alone.
	Report Comment katie, (10/18/2009 7:57:59 PM) I like Glendon Floyd's recount of his uncle and I see nothing wrong with it. Its history,people,and his family. Pretty Boy only took from those who had plenty and gave to those in need.Something our government could learn. The biggest crooks in todays history is the morons we elect to protect us and in fact help rob us of everything we have.If they aren't crooks when they go in,they will be after they get in. Power and money, the American dream. at least thats the way it is now.Yes he killed four or so people but he paid for it with his life.I am pretty sure he didn't do it to support a drug habit like the bank robbers today are doing. now that,I don't agree with,if you must do something drastic in the name of the your family,I have no comment,but doing it to support a drug habit,forget it,I hope they gun you down before you get out of the bank.The government doesn't seem to want to help us,they have their hand out wanting more!! so Mr Floyd,I'm ready for more stories,if you write it I will definitely read it. thanks for the good read!

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