Carjackers make big mistake jumping this Lone Grove man - 83 YO breaks would-be carjackers arm

Ardmoreite.com ^ | December 10, 2003 | By Wilbert Wiggs

[MeekOneGOP]

Story last updated at 8:52 a.m. Wednesday, December 10, 2003

Carjackers make big mistake jumping this Lone Grove man
By Wilbert Wiggs
Staff Writer

  Ratliff  

And the moral of this story is: Don't be fooled by a relaxing "old" man kicked back with his boots off. Especially if that "old" man happens to be Pat Ratliff of Lone Grove.

That's the first mistake a Dallas carjacking team made a few days ago while scouting a parking lot for an easy mark. At 83, Ratliff can strike one as an easy mark.

That was the second mistake, as they spotted Ratliff waiting for his wife and grandson to return from a nearby store.

A red-headed woman and gun-toting male companion had the element of surprise on their side. That advantage didn't account for Pat's cool approach to just about any situation and his reputation as "the man who tears quarters with his bare fingers."

"They shouldn't have done that," Ratliff remarked about the totally unexpected attack.

Ratliff was only momentarily surprised when the woman appeared by the driver's door and began hitting him with her purse for no apparent reason. The reason became clear moments later when a man stuck a gun inside from the opposite side.

Being the alert type and an individual who's "been through a lot of stuff," Ratliff immediately began looking for an opportunity. He was ready when the man glanced away.

"I grabbed his arm and broke it over the door," Ratliff said of his response, speaking literally. "The bone was sticking from his arm. I was trying to teach him a lesson."

Disarmed and with a broken arm, the man fled. Security personnel at the store suspect the carjackers have pulled previous capers. Police were able to apprehend the pair, but Ratliff advised them he doesn't want to return to Dallas for a court appearance.

Ratliff is almost apologetic when he says he's not as stout as he once was.

Be that as it may, you're not going to convince a cool (much younger) dude from Dallas who "fled like a 'possum" after his personal encounter with the 83-year-old man from Lone Grove.

"They shouldn't do that," Ratliff repeated.

Wilbert Wiggs, 221-6526 or wilbert.wiggs@ardmoreite.com.

[Eaker]

New posters always scare me.

However, I think that you are going to make a bunch of friends here.

Welcome!

Eaker

[Eaker]

Carjackers who didn't know Rule One: "Do not act incautiously when confronting a little bald wrinkly smiling man." - Terry Pratchett, "Thief of Time", page 53.

Victoria,

Please forward this to my buddy Humblegunner as I don't want him to know that I forwarded it.

;<)

[squidly]

Perhaps he'd like to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court?

"They shouldn't do that" would be his judgment on most things, I expect.

[Free Trapper]

W,I think we had talked when the murderers of the cheerleader from Okla. escaped.Did you know that one of their mothers tried to spring them after they were caught by acting as their attorney and got locked up herself?HAHA

IIRC,you said your outfit's on the little "water" W. of where they were loose.A lot of good folks around there and at one time I'd lived just out of Muenster,"really" good memories.:o)

But that's a loooong time back...when I lived on that side of the River........Okies couldn't read. HeHeeee ;O)

[The South Texan]

Fantastic!! Message to would be carjackers:

Don't mess with old people that wear cowboy hats!!

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Gosh I had forgotten all about the cheerleader killers! That is a riot about the mom posing as their attorney! ROFL..........

I'm glad you reminded me....... I was just telling my husband the story of this 83 year old teaching that thug a lesson and he was so tickled by it! I'm sure he'll be spreading this story at work tomorrow...;^)

[Donaeus]

Julia is a beautiful name. I'm glad that she has a ready defense if the need arises. I've been working on my own proficiency and encouraging my family (parents and sisters) to do the same. Mine is named after our great president and reminds me to act with character and decisiveness.

[Squantos]

"the man who tears quarters with his bare fingers." .....hah ! What a wus I can tear a whole dollar bill in half.....:o)

Tough guy indeed......glad he broke the POS's arm.

Stay Safe Ya'll !

[.45MAN]

I wonder is his wife has him registered as a weapon?
Surprise!!

[xm177e2]

.I won't say if I was "packing" cause I live in Commiefornia, and evahbuddy knows, y'all cain't do that heah:)

(not unless you are friends with a political muckety-muck or the sheriff)

[Texasforever]

If I hadn't graduated high school from Ardmore High, I certainly wouldn't have caught this.

I caught it. I was born in Ardmore, spent my first 5 years in Marietta and the next 15 in Kansas. I have been in Texas ever since. Ardmore is so close to the "River" it is more Texas than Oklahoma but both states are heaven.

[MeekOneGOP]

hehe ! I think it's great ! I figured that too. See that title and then see
the real story. What a hoot !

[MeekOneGOP]

Aw, Jeez. That totally stinks. Man ! What is wrong with people ? No sense.

[DugwayDuke]

Lone Grove is a small town, maybe a few hundred, located about eight miles west of Ardmore. It's been 10 years or so since I was there so things may have changed some.

[DugwayDuke]

Actually, I was born in Wilson, about sixteen miles west of Ardmore. You have to go thru Long Grove to get there. When did you leave Ardmore? I graduated HS in 1964. I've been in Alabama, off and on, since 1973.

[Oberon]

This is what they call "an acute failure of the victim selection process."

[2Jedismom]

This man is from Oklahoma. Wish I had an Oklahoma ping list.

Allow me.

[Rodney King]

bump

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!From Southwest Oklahoma.

[stainlessbanner]

Texan Pride bump