In Memoriam - Richard D. Branum

[Dick Hosmer]

Sad to report that we have lost another one of the "greats" in trapdoor collecting - Richard D. Branum, of Houston TX, passed away in January. He was 97. I last spoke with him in November. When I was just starting out in the early 1970s, Dick Branum was my mentor - no question was too dumb; he was very patient with me, and I shall miss our correspondence and now all-too-infrequent telephone chats.

He was fully the equal of men such as Bert Kellerstadt, and Bob Hill, having a fantastic collection, including the only completely virgin .30-caliber known (letter I). He told me that one evening he had five (5) .30s laid side-by side on his living-room carpet! He and Dr. Vance Haynes (of Officer's Model research note) had begun a manuscript very similar to Al Frasca's, but it was never published. I have a copy, with permission to use as I see fit, as well as his massive collection of serial number cards. One of my goals is to edit the ms and publish it as the middle piece of what would become my trilogy, but re-doing the .58/.50 book comes first.

[Tom Trevor]

Sad news indeed. A shame their book never came to publication. I hope Dr Haynes gets his book on officers rifles published soon as his years are adding us as so many of us are.

[carlsr]

Thanks for sharing Dick.
I have one of Burt Kellerstadt's rifles, 1877 cartouched with a Bull rear sight.