The cattle drive from Texas to Colorado is my favorite episode. All the elements for a truly great western series was in place for this particular segemnt of Centennial. I have often wondered why NBC did not capitalize on this particular segement and create a spinoff TV series. Dennis Weaver was certainly very memorable as R. J. Poteet, and would have been a tremendous draw as a leading man in a series based on the events and characters created for Centennial.

Centennial has helped me to appreciate that the settling of America was not without a huge price. Much of our history presented even today to our youngsters in school, glosses over much of the signicance that early explorers, mountain men, trappers, and cowboy's played in our becoming a great nation.

Although fictional, men such as Levi Zendt, Jim Lloyd, Maxwell Mercy, and Pasquinel represent the true heart of what western migration meant in the 19th century. This series shuld be included as part of the educational curriculum for students of American history. The portrayals of such men a Frank Skimmerhorn and Mervin Wendell would help up and coming generations appreciate that prejudice and commercial greed are firmly rooted in our culture. It is a sad but true part of our history.

Centennial reminds us all that in the end, each choice we make now will effect coming generations that will use the same land and resources. We all need to do just as Paul Garrett suggested and take a really long hard look at our past, to see where we are going now.

--Tornado Wrangler