Ramsey (Ramsey-Eyes) Washington Blankenship

Ramsey (Ramsey-Eyes) Washington Blankenship serves as the elderly black custodian of the Cattleman’s Hotel. Known for his obliging and amiable nature, he is a widower who finds the antics of the Knights of the White Magnolia more entertaining than threatening. Despite being seventy-five, he maintains a zest for his simple life and shows no racial bitterness, even though the Knights, with the exception of Colonel Kinkaid, treat him with contempt. Although he may appear slow and shuffling, he is far from the ignorant and illiterate fool they assume him to be. At the conclusion of the Knights' last meeting, Ramsey-Eyes remains serenely dignified and triumphant.

Rufe Phelps

Rufe Phelps is a refinery worker characterized by his narrow provincialism, low social standing, and lack of education, traits common among the Knights. At fifty-five, he is married but childless, valuing the socialization and sense of tradition the organization provides. He often engages in a continuous verbal sparring match with Olin Potts, his friendly enemy. Their arguments, starting with a dispute over horseshoes, set the stage for the eventual chaos and dissolution of the order. Furthermore, Rufe sponsors Lonnie Roy McNeil for membership, much to the chagrin of Colonel Kinkaid, adding fuel to the group's discord.

Olin Potts

Olin Potts, a cotton farmer, is married but childless, much like Rufe Phelps. A year older than Rufe, he participates in spirited verbal duels with him while also serving as the group's genealogist, adept at outlining the lineage of nearly anyone in Bradleyville, Texas. However, he remains woefully uninformed about world affairs. He and Rufe perpetuate their disputes, often over trivial matters, highlighting their contentious dynamic.

Red Grover

Red Grover owns Red’s Place, a modest bar and package store. Though he has resided in Bradleyville for some time, he remains an outsider due to his Mississippi origins. At forty-eight, he is a cynical and bitter bachelor, habitually sarcastic and abrasive. Arrogant toward Ramsey-Eyes, he reserves his utmost disdain for the alcoholic Skip Hampton, a sentiment that eventually leads to physical confrontation, sealing the chapter's demise.

L. D. Alexander

L. D. Alexander manages a supermarket and holds the position of Imperial Wizard of the Knights. At forty-nine, married with a small family, he has attained a nominal middle-class status. A staunch believer in white supremacy, he has the most to lose with the disintegration of the fraternal order. Despite his efforts to maintain decorum and placate egos, he ultimately confronts the inevitable collapse.

Colonel J. C. Kinkaid

Colonel J. C. Kinkaid owns the Cattleman’s Hotel and is a retired U.S. Army officer. Confined to a wheelchair at seventy-five due to World War I wounds and shell shock, he appears senile and disconnected from current realities. Despite his mental disorientation, he retains remnants of dignity and honor absent in the others, lending the group an air of respectability. Gruff and cantankerous, Kinkaid shows kindness to Ramsey-Eyes, valuing his loyalty, unlike Red Grover, who scapegoats him. The ongoing disputes and verbal abuse take a toll on the Colonel, contributing to his eventual lapse into a comatose state, which precipitates the play’s climax.

Skip Hampton

Skip Hampton works as a service station attendant and is known as the town's lush at only thirty-one. A Korean War veteran who fabricates wartime exploits, he harbors resentment toward Colonel Kinkaid, a genuine hero. More pathetic than malicious, Skip's alcoholism reduces him to a whining, pleading state, which intensely irritates Red Grover. Their disruptive behavior escalates when Skip's alleged knife attack prompts Red to retaliate with a whiskey bottle, striking Skip in the stomach.

Lonnie Roy McNeil

Lonnie Roy...