It's The Month Of Jack-O-Lanterns,

Witches' Brew And Maybe a Ghost or Two!!

And Have I Got A Story For You!

There once was a fella' named William Murray; but he came to be known in Oklahoma history and folklore as "Alfalfa Bill."  

Now, "Alfalfa Bill" was a little more than just your average citizen. He married the daughter of an Indian chief, helped draft the Oklahoma constitution, served in its first legislature as speaker of the house,  served in the United States legislature and became Oklahoma's governor in 1930.

 

A Democrat most of his life, he acquired his nickname because of his constant references to his alfalfa fields in his many public speaking engagements. 

But, here's the fascinating thing about "Alfalfa Bill".  A colorful character throughout his life who ran several times unsucessfully before and after his term as governor from 1931 to 1935, many believe that he still haunts the governor's mansion.

Current Democratic governor Brad Henry and his wife Kim have yet to encounter "Alfalfa Bill" and former governor George Nigh and his wife also reported no incidents.  Not so with Republican governor Frank Keating and his wife Cathy.  

When the Keatings first moved into the mansion, the staff immediately told them that "Alfalfa Bill" haunted the third step of the stairs.  The Keatings didn't take the tale seriously until Cathy Keating tripped on the third step as did several other guests to the governor's mansion.

In addition, one evening their fourteen-year-old son, Chip, was in the basement watching TV with friends when all of them saw a man whom they described as looking eerily like "Alfalfa Bill" walk across the room.

Governor Keating later reported that the boys were visibly shaken by the experience.  Cathy Keating became so convinced that the ghost actually existed that she had a doll made in his likeness and placed it on the third step of the stairs, where it remains today.

The Keatings reported no more incidents after that.  So, what do you think?  I'll let you draw your own conclusions!