Oquawka

Several years ago I heard a spot on NPR about elephants painting and thought immediately of a circus elephant named Norma Jean, who was struck and killed by lightning in Oquawka, an old Mississippi river town not far from my home in Galesburg, Illinois.

An Interview with Robert Hellenga 2010

Hamilton grew up in Oquawka, a town of about 1,500 people.

USATODAY.com - Journeyman Hamilton captures British Open 2004

Carla DePoyster, The Hawk Eye/AP Kent Hamilton celebrates in Oquawka, Ill., as son Todd wins the British Open.

USATODAY.com - Journeyman Hamilton captures British Open 2004

Once a year or so we drive over to Oquawka to have a look at the river and to stop at Norma Jean's grave, which is in a little park near the center of town (right where she died).

An Interview with Robert Hellenga 2010

SEITZ: We're concerned about Oquawka, we're concerned about the Cameron Village area, we're concerned about the Wallmax (ph) area, we still have Dallas City to contend with and on down the line.

CNN Transcript Jun 17, 2008 2008

They're battling in our county seat in Oquawka, that battle's still going on.

CNN Transcript Jun 17, 2008 2008

Hamilton was 30 yards short of the green, 50 yards away from the hole and thousands of frequent flier miles from Oquawka, Ill., where he grew up and learned the game at a local municipal course.

USATODAY.com - Journeyman Hamilton captures British Open 2004

Curtis, a native of Ostrander, Ohio, missed the cut as the defending champion this year at Royal Troon in Scotland, where Hamilton, a native of Oquawka, Ill., beat Ernie Els in a playoff.

USATODAY.com - Journeyman Hamilton captures British Open 2004

Todd Hamilton, now the pride of Oquawka, Illinois, joins us with his wife, Jacque.

CNN Transcript Jul 20, 2004 2004

Todd Hamilton, now the pride of Oquawka, Illinois, joins us with his wife, Jacque.

CNN Transcript Jul 20, 2004 2004