Hat's home

For fifty-five years the Tooke family searched and speculated about the hat Feek Tooke was wearing when he died during the eighth performance of the 1968 National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. Where did it end up, and who took it?

Though much of the hat's life remains a mystery, Toby Tooke, Feek's great-grandson finally found its whereabouts around nine months ago. Finally, on Sunday the hat was unboxed at Carter County Museum.

Tooke surmised that since none of the family had ever seen the hat before, Feek must have purchased it on his way to Oklahoma City in 1968. When the hat was inspected...