The notorious Jesse James-Cole Younger Gang has stirred strong reactions for more than 120 years across the South and Southwestern United States, but very few people are aware of how close the ties are between Sherman and Jesse and Frank James, Cole Younger and his brothers, and also the bandit queen Belle Starr.

Jesse James	Cole Younger

This theme will be presented during the upcoming "Ride the Outlaw Trail" event May 12-13 in Sherman under the sponsorship of the Sherman Convention and Visitors Council, the Herald-Democrat and A Touch of Class Antique Mall.  The event is open to the general public, at no charge, and begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 12, on the Grayson County courthouse square, and continues through Sunday, May 13, at A Touch of Class.  There will also be free screenings of the Clint Eastwood movie, "The Outlaw Josey Wales," which has scenes depicting Sherman after the Civil War.

According to nationally known author, folklorist and historian Phillip W. Steel of Springdale, Arkansas, the connection began during the Civil War when Frank James and the Youngers rode with William Clarke Quantrill and spent two winter encampments here in Sherman and the Grayson County area.  Later, Sherman became a familiar haunt as these famous outlaws returned again and again to hide out, visit friends and look after property they had bought in Grayson County.  Jesse James' sister, Susan Lavenia James, lived in Sherman and was a respected school teacher here.  She married James Gang member Allen Parmer, who farmed a piece of land south of Sherman on Post Oak Creek.

Allen Parmer	Susan Lavenia James Parmer

Later in 1879, Grayson County Sheriff W.C. "Bill" Everheart arrested Parmer near here for the Glendale, Missouri train robbery. And in 1888, Confederate Civil War veterans who rode with Quantrill held their first reunion in Sherman.

Featured attractions at the event include presentations by Phillip W. Steele, an appearance as guest of honor and a book signing by the Hon. James R. Ross of Fullerton, California, the true great-grandson of Jesse James, a display of the Jesse James Collection memorabilia and artifacts, and a presentation by Carl Clink of Sony Studios in Hollywood.  In addition, direct descendants from the James Younger and Belle Starr families will attend the event as invited guests.

As one of the nation's foremost authorities on the James and Starr families, Steel is a co-founder of the James-Younger Gang Historical Society, member of the Western Writers of American and past president of the National Outlaw & Lawmen History Association.  He served on the 15-member team that exhumed the grave of Jesse James in Kearney, Missouri, in 1995.  He subsequently served as a pallbearer at the third funeral for Jesse James. He has appeared in several films, as well as A&E, the History Channel and Current Affairs.  He is the author of twelve books, including the benchmark edition of "Jesse and Frank James: The Family History."