Jr. Patriot Report - December 2025

John Stumpner

“Young People Speaking Their Minds . . .”

Some young people in this country may be thinking that because they are kids, they can't do much. This may even include a few ABATE of Wisconsin Junior Patriots. After all, one has to be 18 to vote. Often, young people are told about all the things they can't do because they aren't old enough or don't know enough. Young people may feel that being young means being tied down and not able to accomplish anything.

Two youngsters who didn't care about what they couldn't do were Louis (Bud) and Temple Abernathy. Their father, Jack Abernathy, was the U.S. Marshal for the Oklahoma Territory. Their mother had passed away in 1907, and their father was raising them and four other brothers and sisters as a single parent. In 1909, while Marshal Abernathy was in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on business, Louis (9 yrs old) and Temple (5 yrs old) decided to go visit him. Alone, they rode horses from Oklahoma to Santa Fe and back, a round trip of over 1000 miles. In the next four years, they made many long rides with horses, cars, and finally an Indian motorcycle, putting on about 12,000 miles. They met former President Theodore Roosevelt (a friend of their father) and even had a movie made about them. And all this before Louis (the elder of the two) was 16 years old.

Another youngster who didn't let age get her way was Eula “Pearl” Carter Scott. In 1928, she met a famous pilot and airplane pioneer, Wiley Post. A year later, at age 13, she made her first solo flight and started to perform as a stunt pilot. After she got married and started raising a family, she gave up flying to be a devoted mother to her children. But that didn't end her activities. Pearl's mother was a member of the Chickasaw Nation, and in 1972, Pearl started working as a health care advocate for the Chickasaw Nation. She was also, in 1983, elected to three terms in the Chickasaw legislature.

If you are a hard-core motocross fan, you may have heard of Grayson Townsend. At age 14, he is currently one of the top prospects in motocross, having been winning amateur races and championships since he was 6 years old. Despite all this success, Grayson still puts in time at the top motocross training facilities in the country. When he shows up at a race, he doesn't pull in with an entourage and big fancy truck; he gets out and lets his riding do the talking.

So, you can see, you don't have to be an adult to do big things. As ABATE of Wisconsin Junior Patriots, you can help with ABATE's mission of protecting freedom of the road. To all who want to make a difference and be successful, something to remember would be the advice Teddy Roosevelt gave the Abernathy boys: “Keep your eyes on the stars but remember to keep your feet on the ground. . .. Alike for both the nation and the individual, the one indispensable requisite is character.”

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year.

John