The Navajo County Sheriff’s Hashknife Posse heads out on its 54th Pony Express Ride at 8 o’clock this morning (Feb. 8) from the Holbrook Post Office. As the first rider leaves, he will be carrying a bag of letters on the trek over the Mogollon Rim and on to Scottsdale. Each mile a posse rider hands off the mailbag to another rider waiting alongside the roadway. All of the packed mailbags will be carried in turn over the route.
The Holbrook Senior Center will make certain the riders head out on a full stomach as they host a breakfast for the Hashknife Posse, area residents and visitors at 6 o’clock this morning at a cost of $6 per plate.
The riders are being lead by Sheriff K.C. Clark, with Mark Reynolds as captain of the Hashknife Posse, Dave Alford as trail boss and Chuck Jackman as assistant trail boss. This year’s swing bosses are Tim Kelley of Holbrook, Clayton Alford of Pine, Matt McRae of Payson, Cole Alford of Fountain Hills and James Dusenberry of Scottsdale. Other riders taking part in this year’s event include Pat Nichols, Steve Reynolds, Michael Volpe, Steve Weiss, Don Chiappetti, Pat Reynolds, Jack Lundeen, Dave Fortney, Howard Lange, Wayne Ramey, Brian Chambers, Greg Long, Tom Hill, Dave Mofett, John Nuss, Shane Williams, Nate Perkins, Mark DiBrito, Bill Fischer, Justin Maly, Danny Sharp, Andy Lund, Jake Jacobson, Brandon Brewer, Mark McRae, Jack Alford, Rusty DeSpain, Travis Chavez, Wade Williams, Kevin Featherston, Slim Garner, Allen Mitchell and Shawn Maestas.
The support crew for this year’s ride includes Bill Bridwell Sr., Del Allen, Louie Jimenez, Perry Lank, David Cole, Tony Gardella, David Reese, Jim Mobley, Frank Long, Mark Jackson, Greg Lucas, Rick Borta, Andy Pickett, Royce Reynolds, Randy Weems, Randy Moffet, Brad Carlyon, Bob Price, Shawn Maestas, Brandon Nichols, Sean Cassidy, Jack Mead, Brad Porter, Stephan Birdsong, Jack Arend and Dan Bielefelt, with Kenny Mott in spirit.
The Navajo County Hashknife Sheriff’s Posse organized in 1955 as a search and rescue group, and is still involved in these types of missions.
