“The Bandidos of Early California,” by Charlie Kieffer. Most of us have heard about the Gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, on October 26, 1881, but how many of you know about the Gunfight at the Flatiron Building in Santa Cruz on September 10, 1871? Come to the meeting to hear all about it. Charlie will be giving a power point presentation on two of the most infamous bandidos of early California, Tiburcio Vásquez and Joaquin Murrietta. The fictitious character, Zorro, was said to have been based on these two bandits.

Charlie Kieffer is a direct descendant of the Castro Family who came to California with the de Anza expedition of 1775 / 1776. A retired business man, he grew up in Watsonville, Monterey, and San Jose and served three years in the army as a member of the 101st Airborne Paratroopers Division. Charlie currently serves on the Board of the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, where he is actively involved in the restoration of the Rancho San Andres Castro Adobe State Historic Park.