Living the cowboy way

You might know Rick Holgate as a public safety communications officer for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, or as a retired Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officer who still serves in its reserves.

But about four weeks a year, he sheds his modern identity and embraces his alter ego, Sixgun Sam McRill. He’s one of about 15 men and women who make up the Hole in the Head Gang, embracing the lives of Wild West cowboys and outlaws when they perform.

Acting out 1880s-era cowboy shoot-em-ups came naturally to Holgate, who is now the group’s leader — or marshal — and still has a picture of himself dressed as a cowboy at age 6, complete with a raccoon hat.

“I grew up watching Roy Rogers,” he said. “I always had the same (cowboy) philosophy—do the right thing.”

Hole in the Head began with two men in 1993, Mike Alle and Alan Crooks. These two former Sarasota residents struck up a deal with the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish to perform cowboy and outlaw “shootouts” for the Florida Railroad Museum as a fundraiser.

Today, the Hole in the Head Gang performs “train robberies” as an interactive program for the museum and one of the museum’s biggest fundraisers. The train departs from the museum and takes passengers to “Periwinkle Junction,” where the outlaws take over the train and cross pistols with the marshal and his crew — using blank bullets, of course.

Everyone participating is dressed in full regalia, and the junction is complete with about six buildings, including a saloon and a jail.

“Each person has their own ‘thing.’ We know each other’s moves, and it helps us to have fun,” Holgate said. “Every show is a little different.”

Before the weekend shows, usually the group will gather in Periwinkle Junction after it has been assembled for its own cowboy camp. Members catch up over a campfire and guitar-playing.

The campout camaraderie is second-in-command Buffalo “Chip” Miller’s favorite part of being in the gang. He has been involved with the group for 11 years with his wife, MaryAnne Chancey Hecht.

It’s the mentality of “doing the right thing — the cowboy way,” he said. During the performances, and even off-duty, Miller tries to exemplify his character.

“We’re trying to live it as authentically as possible,” he said. “I encourage (other members) to think about your character. Throw that image of yourself out there.”

Miller enjoys watching childrens’ reactions to his full costume and seeing the look of amazement on their faces when they think there is a real-life cowboy in their midst. 

Miller and Chancey Hecht are embracing a small piece of Florida cowboy country. About 10 years ago, the couple purchased 15 acres of land east of I-75. They haven’t fenced off their land, so neighboring cattle still amble through their property, and they like showing the cows to their grandchildren.

One piece of the land has a small creek running through it, and a low section of the bank that they said had been known as “The Crossover,” where ranchers used to cross their herds of cattle. They’ve kept the name and installed a small sign signifying the spot.

“‘Cowboy’ is a spirit,” Miller said. “My heroes have always been cowboys.”