Jefferson Spivey (born 1938 or 1939)[1] is an American author, conservationist, equestrian, and inventor. Spivey is best known for his multiple solo horseback rides spanning two decades to promote conservation, animal migration welfare[2] and access to public lands.[3] He proposed the creation of a "Freedom Freeway" trail system,[4] later renamed "Freedom Trails"[3] for non-motorized transport, promoting unencumbered access to the environment for hikers, bicyclists, horseman, and the like.[5]
Jefferson Spivey | |
|---|---|
.png) Jefferson Spivey and his horse Najah during his Rocky Mountain Ride of 1984 | |
| Born | 1938 or 1939 |
| Died | July 2022 Yukon, Oklahoma |
| Occupation(s) | Author, inventor |
Horseback rides edit
Trans-continental ride of 1968 edit
Jefferson Spivey began the ride April 28, 1968[6] on the Pacific coast of Santa Barbara, California, and ended on the Atlantic coast of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, 7 months later.[3] The ride crossed 14 states[4] and covered approximately 4,000 miles.[7] The purpose of the ride was to bring awareness to conservation issues, especially the effects of pollution on the environment.[4] Jefferson planted a seed from the giant California redwood tree in each state he crossed.[4] He wrote a book about this journey called Wind Drinker.[8]
Rocky Mountain ride of 1984 edit
Jefferson began his Rocky Mountain ride in Canada and ended in Juarez, Mexico. The journey covered 3,210 miles and took 3 months to complete.[3]
Oklahoma City to Santa Fe ride of 1985 edit
Jefferson carried a letter from Oklahoma Governor George Nigh to promote Freedom Trails to the capital of New Mexico. The journey covered 1,000 miles and took 1 month to complete.[9]
Namibia ride of 1986 edit
Jefferson was invited by tourism officials in Namibia to investigate establishing a trail system for horseback riders along the Namib desert. He rode with a guard of soldiers commanded by Col. Pinkie Coetzee of the South West Africa Special unit. The ride lasted 2 weeks.[10]
Inventions edit
Jefferson received a patent for his hunting knife on July 25, 1972.[11] This knife was born out of his experiences and utilitarian needs on the Trans-Continental Ride of 1968. It is now known as the Sabertooth Knife.[12]
Jefferson received a patent for another knife design on September 23, 1980.[13]
Jefferson received a patent for his saddle on November 8, 1988.[14]
References edit
- ^ Berryman, Jane (November 25, 1968). "Wasted Assets Stun Adventurer Living Off Land". archive.newsok.com.
- ^ "Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph from Colorado Springs, Colorado on September 26, 1976 · Page 56". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
- ^ a b c d Johnson, James (1986-05-18). "Sooner Horse-Trail Booster to Ride Across African Desert". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
- ^ a b c d "Arizona Daily Sun from Flagstaff, Arizona on May 14, 1971 · Page 16". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
- ^ "Santa Cruz Sentinel from Santa Cruz, California on March 10, 1974 · Page 6". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
- ^ Antos, Chris (April 22, 1977). "Knox Woman Blazes Trails In The Helderberg Mountains". NYS Historic Newspapers.
- ^ King, Wayne (1985). "Southwest Journal; U.s. Cuts New Deal in a Forest". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
- ^ Spivey, Jefferson (1998). Wind Drinker. Yukon, Okla: Sabertooth Press. ISBN 978-0-9625314-1-5.
- ^ "Oklahoman rides for nation's trails". Amarillo Sunday News-Globe. October 30, 1988.
- ^ Johnson, James (June 8, 1986). "Sooner Trail Rider Saddles Up in Africa". archive.newsok.com.
- ^ Spivey, Jefferson. "Hunting Knife" (PDF). Google Patents.
- ^ "Sabertooth Hits The Trail | Sabertooth Knife". Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews. 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
- ^ Spivey, Jefferson. "Knife" (PDF). Google Patents.
- ^ Spivey, Jefferson. "Combined Saddle and Saddle Bags" (PDF). Google Patents.