Trail of Tears Researcher to Speak at Book Luncheon

Dusty Helbling

Dusty Helbling, a Trail of Tears Researcher, will speak at noon Nov. 15 at the Book Review Luncheon held at the Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library in Sallisaw.

Helbling, of Fort Smith, holds dual citizenship in the USA and Switzerland, where the Helblings have lived since 900 A.D. He was born in 1934 in the home built by Gen. Benjamin L. E. Bonneville in 1865. His father was a PGA golf pro and Helbling developed an interest in golf history which led to a monthly column for Golf Publication and a history column for Global Golf.

Helbling competed in rodeos from 1948 to 1958 and afterwards served on the staff of The Rodeo Cowboys Association. As a member of the Rodeo Historical Society he was involved in the selection of inductee’s for The Cowboy Hall of Fame. 

In recent years Dusty has been an active Trail of Tears researcher and often provides presentations about the Removal Routes through northwest Arkansas.

His great-grandfather settled in Fort Smith in 1857 at the southeast corner of Garrison and Third Streets where he made boots and shoes for 50 years. He made boots for Belle Starr as well as Judge Parker.

Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library is a part of the Eastern Oklahoma District Library System. The library is located at 101 E. Cherokee in Sallisaw. To RSVP for the free lunch please call the library at 918-775-4481.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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