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News:
 

 

On this page:

 

  Good News

  Ongoing Benefits

  In Our Thoughts   

 

See a list of the contents for  all pages on Page 1 of News Since the Last Newsletter

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Good News

News of our community: Accomplishments, volunteer projects, weddings, babies, foals, championships, awards ... send us yours. Email us.

 

 

  Jeri Dobrowski sends news: Jennifer Dobrowski, daughter of Rob and Jeri Dobrowski, was married on November 12, 2011. Jen married Brent Rogers in a ceremony held in Beach, N.D. She is employed as a policy writer in the Division of Finance and Operations at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Brent, a veteran formerly assigned to the 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 1st Marine Division, works in the construction industry. The couple makes their home near Reynolds, N.D.

Posted 1/4

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  Grandpa Jay Snider shares the photo and the news of ShyAnn, who won the MRCA (Miniature Rodeo Cowboy Association) barrel racing championship for her age group in September.

ShyAnn's little brother Rowdy is one of the newest of a long line of Snider cowboys:

See a photo of many Snider cowboys and see how these two have grown since 2009, in a Picture the West here.

Posted 12/12

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There is no better news than knowing that Briggs Hill, son of Sylina and Brenn Hill, is now a three-year cancer survivor. Brenn writes about the miracle in a post at Briggs' Care Pages, November 11, 2011:

...To the long list of heroes honored today may I respectfully add Briggs. He has carried his burden with grace and dignity. He has inspired so many around him. He continues to give all that he has to improving the capabilities that cancer once robbed from him. I watch in awe.,,

Many members of "Team Briggs" have prayed and hoped along with the family since Briggs was diagnosed with brain and spinal cancer at age two. Brenn and Sylina keep friends posted through the Care Pages.

At the December, 2011 Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering, during cowboy church, which had a special theme of Christmas and thankfulness, Brenn introduced and sang his song, "The Power of Prayer" (find the lyrics here). As Doris Daley commented, all that needed to be said was conveyed in those few minutes.

[2010 photo courtesy of the Hill family]

Posted 12/8

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  A welcome to the world to Magdalene "Maggie" Rose Hedges, born to Alissa and Andy Hedges on August 27, 2011. Andy Hedges writes that they are "ecstatic, elated, and overwhelmed with joy."

Posted 9/12

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  Happy 97th birthday on August 24 to Harry Hanson, National Old Time Fiddler Champion and father of poet Yvonne Hollenbeck. Harry Hanson was featured at the BAR-D on Father's Day of this year. See the feature here.

Posted 8/24

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  Happy birthday to popular Utah poet and retired farrier Don Kennington, who turns 80 on August 12.

See our feature about Don Kennington and his poetry here.

Posted 8/11

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At 105 years of age, Joe Dobrowski served as the parade marshal for the 4th of July celebration held in Wibaux, Montana. The Town of Wibaux observed its centennial of incorporation in conjunction with the community's annual SkiFest, which acknowledges the area's Polish heritage.

Born to Polish immigrants in Roseau, Minnesota, Dobrowski has resided in Wibaux County since 1910, when his family moved west from their Marshall County homestead. His youngest son, Rob Dobrowski, and daughter-in-law Jeri Dobrowski make their home on land Joe bought in 1928, near the Polish settlement of St. Philip.

Posted 8/10

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   A welcome to the world to Cash Culver Isaacs, born August 4, 2011, the 22nd grandchild of Helen and Chris Isaacs.

Posted 8/8

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In Our Thoughts

 

  Darlene McNaught, wife of Slim McNaught, is recovering from emergency surgery on December 7, 2011. She went home from the hospital on December 16, and you can write to her at home: P.O. Box 274, New Underwood, SD.

[Darlene with her 10th great grandchild, Hannah McNaught; photo courtesy of Slim McNaught]

Updated 12/16

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   Popular Australian Bush poet Milton Taylor suffered a serious heart attack in early January 2011. Friends at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, spearheaded by Milton's close friend Dick Warwick, collected get-well wishes and funds to help him through his recovery.

Milton Taylor is well known at gatherings across the West. He was scheduled to be at the Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering and at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. On the Saturday night cybercast here from the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, you can hear the crowd response when Randy Rieman asked the audience to send out a greeting.

Dick Warwick reports that Milton is continuing to improve.

You can write to Milton at: Milton Taylor, 126 Cullen Ben Bong Rd., Hartley NSW 2790, AUSTRALIA.

UPDATE 2/14:

Dick Warwick reported (February 11) that Milton is at home, continuing his recovery and treatment. Dick comments that Milton, "... is very touched by the cards that everyone signed and by the many expressions of friendship and 'get-well-ness' that he has received from the cowboy poetry community here."

UPDATE 9/26/11:

Milton has had some setbacks with continuing health challenges. He probably will not be able to make his usual winter trip to U.S. gatherings. Cards and notes are welcome: Milton Taylor, 126 Cullen Ben Bong Rd., Hartley NSW 2790, AUSTRALIA.

[photo, detail from a 2007 Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering report  by Yvonne Hollenbeck]

Updated 9/26

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  Briggs Hill, son of Sylina and Brenn Hill, had surgery for the removal of a massive brain tumor in early November, 2008, when he was two years old. Briggs underwent extensive treatment, including a bone marrow transplant, and has rehabilitation ahead. The most recent reports have all been positive.

Briggs is now a sturdy five years old, and recent news is good, overall. Recent scans show no sign of recurrence. He is faced with some inner ear problems. In a February 20, 2011 posting on Briggs' Care Pages, Brenn writes:

Briggs is a 27-month, 5-year-old brain and spinal cancer survivor. And we get four more months to live like there's no tomorrow.

Read the entry on Briggs' Care Page (www.carepages.com/carepages/briggshill).

And see a note above with more positive news from Briggs, with an excerpt from a November, 2011 post.

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Previous updates are below:

It's been two years since Briggs Hill started his treatment, and a November 10, 2010 report is great. Brenn Hill writes:

....just twenty days ago, on the heels of his Make-A-Wish trip to meet Lance Briggs, linebacker for the Chicago Bears, Briggs had another "stable" MRI report. It marked another three-month stretch and an increase in his overall chance at freedom from cancer. Doctor Bruggers was as hopeful as ever.

Next week, he'll be in for outpatient surgery on his right eye-an attempt to fix the optic nerve and muscle that was stretched by a Medulloblastoma two years ago. There's a better-than-ninety-percent chance that it will bring his eyes back to full conjugation.

Beyond the horizon, an ear surgery.

Briggs did have a bout with pneumonia, and Brenn wrote:

But it's been all smiles since, except for a few tears shed by a few weathered old cowboys at the Heber City Cowboy Gathering. Briggs was all smiles when he walked into the Green Room to shake hands and say thanks for the benefits, the prayers, and the well-wishes over the last two years. Ol' Uncle Waddie had to wipe both eyes when Briggers threw his arms around his neck.

Read the entry on Briggs' Care Page (www.carepages.com/carepages/briggshill).

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On July 25, 2010, the good news continued, with doctors saying that an MRI showed "nothing but good news." Brenn describes the day in moving prose. Read the entry on Briggs' Care Page (www.carepages.com/carepages/briggshill).

On April 29, 2010, there was good news, with doctors stating Briggs' condition as "stable."  Read the entry on Briggs' Care Page (www.carepages.com/carepages/briggshill).

On March 29, 2010, always eloquent, Brenn Hill wrote good news on the occasion of Briggs' 100-day post-transplant check-up, on Briggs' Care Page (www.carepages.com/carepages/briggshill).

....
It makes Briggs one of only a handful of other kids ever to have a triple-autologous stem-cell transplant at Primary Children's Medical Center. Drawing samples of his blood is like collecting raw data. There is so little to compare his circumstance to.

It was just over a year ago that he began the Bone Marrow transplant process. Since then, he has had three lethal doses of chemotherapy wipe out his bone marrow and his own stem cells have rescued it every time. While in some regards cancer treatment still seems a bit barbaric, there is good reason to believe that there will continue to be strides toward an eventual outright cure that is far less taxing to the patient.

Twenty years ago, it is likely that Briggs would not have made it to his third birthday. Last week, he boasted his age to many that asked about Quayden turning 8 and Cambridge turning 1. He is living proof that the tides are turning in the battle against cancer.

And tonight he is two more trips to physical therapy closer to finding his feet again and regaining some semblance of the life he once had-the chances that every four-year-old longs for. And as we continue to try to restore a sense of normalcy to our lives we continue to pray hard that our son will remain triumphant in his fight. And that one day, his experience will be a contribution toward the ongoing battle against cancer.
 

Previously in 2010:

On March 16, 2010, "Team Briggs" cheers went out all around, as Brenn reported, "Briggs appears to have marrow that is not just on the mend but producing healthy blood." Briggs must still wear the boot for his leg that was injured in January, for another month. Read Brenn Hill's eloquent, moving update at a Care Page here: www.carepages.com/carepages/briggshill.

On March 2, 2010, Briggs was rushed to the hospital; he was suffering from a staph infection, which was extremely dangerous for him as a recent bone-marrow transplant recipient. The infection was treated, and he spent three days in the hospital.

Previous to the infection, Briggs had been recovering a fracture of two bones in his right tibia, suffered January 5, 2010. Otherwise Briggs has been doing well, though even in February a problem with a shunt necessitated another emergency hospital visit. At that time, Brenn wrote that after a visit to the oncology clinic, "His counts are perfect."

You can be a part of "Team Briggs," and find regular updates on Briggs at a Care Page here: www.carepages.com/carepages/briggshill, where Brenn and Sylina report on Briggs' progress.

You can help the Hill family by contributing to a fund:

Sylina Hill FBO Briggs Hill
Centennial Bank
4605 S. Harrison Blvd.
Ogden, UT 84403.

and you can also contribute by credit card or Paypal at the Team Briggs website, www.teambriggs.org.

You can write to the Hill family, which includes Briggs' brother Quayden and sister Cambridge: 5826 South 6950 West, Hooper, Utah 84315.

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Find some earlier information here.

Updated 2/21

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  U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Dee "Gabby" Giffords of Arizona, seriously wounded in a shooting on January 8, 2010, is a 2008 recipient of the Cowboy Keeper Award from the National Day of the Cowboy organization.

Rep. Giffords helped passed legislation to recognize the National Day of the Cowboy. A 2008 article here at the Willcox, Arizona Willcoxrangenews.com tells about her efforts with National Day of the Cowboy.

Bethany Braley, Executive Director of the National Day of the Cowboy, recalls giving the award to Rep. Giffords, "My late father was there with me, but he was too ill to get out of the chair to meet her, so she went over and kneeled down next to him and introduced herself and chatted with him for a few minutes. It was such a kind thing to do. I'll never forget that image." She shared photos:

photo courtesy of Bethany Braley
Bethany Braley with Rep. Giffords

photo courtesy of Bethany Braley
Rep. Giffords carrying the National Day of the Cowboy flag

See the National Day of the Cowboy site for more from Bethany Braley.

Twenty people were wounded in the January shooting in Tucson, Arizona; six of them died.

Find more about the National Day of the Cowboy in our feature here.

Find Rep. Gifford's official web site at giffords.house.gov.

Posted 1/10

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  Montana rancher Gary Wilhelm, husband of poet Margaret Wilhelm, was seriously injured on August 28, 2010 while moving cows. A web site here tells about the accident, has updated information about his condition, and has a guestbook. He is expected to be in Craig Hospital in Denver for several months.

[Thanks to TJ Casey for the information]

Posted 10/18

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   Poet and reciter Rusty McCall has faced multiple surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy, and ongoing treatment for his neurofibromatosis condition. He enrolled in a drug trial in Fall, 2009.

[February, 2009 photograph © Lori Faith Merritt, www.photographybyfaith.com]
 

UPDATE 10/5/10:

Deanna Dickinson McCall shares an update about recent results of tests, after almost a year of the drug trial:

We finally got the MRI report. There is no discernible change, which in Rusty's case doesn't mean a lot, since even a slight growth can affect him. He has decided to stop the chemo until December and have another MRI. When an MRI shows growth, he may decide to try it again. He was so fatigued and it was just too much. And this chemo only hopes to stop growth, won't really shrink or kill the tumors. We are hoping for a cure to this disease.

Neurofibromatosis type 2 is a disorder characterized by the growth of noncancerous tumors in the nervous system. There is no cure and treatment is difficult. The fight for a cure needs attention and funding.

  Deanna Dickinson McCall also shared the link to a compelling video here, a film made by a woman with Neurofibromatosis type 2, featuring many others with the condition and links to important organizations, including www.nf2crew.com, www.advocurenf2.org, and www.ctf.org.

You can write to Rusty and the McCalls:

PO BOX 376
Timberon, NM 88350-0376

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Previous updates:

UPDATE 2/16/10:

There's no better indication of Rusty McCall's progress that seeing him horseback, the first time in a year, in this photo taken February 14, 2010:

In recognition of Rusty's indomitable spirit, the 2010 Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering is dedicated to Rusty McCall "for his courage and perseverance in spite of his medical problems to carry on the oral tradition of the cowboy."

 

UPDATE 1/25/10:

Deanna McCall sends a positive report about Rusty's progress: "The radiologists say it looks like the center of Rusty's most dangerous tumors appear to be dying. His hearing continues to improve and he can almost use the phone by rigging it up with amplifier and hearing aid. And, we got the majority of treatments moved to Las Cruces."

UPDATE 9/16/09: 

Deanna McCall reports that Rusty has decided to enter a drug trial with the hope of treating his inoperable tumors, which press on his brain stem. Deanna says that the first few treatments will be in Albuquerque, and that they hope eventually the treatments can be done in Las Cruces. The drug is given intravenously for 30 minutes every other week. She writes, "It has shown some promising results, so we are hopeful."

You can write to Rusty and the McCalls at PO BOX 376, Timberon, NM 88350-0376.

Arizona photographer Lori Faith Merritt (www.photographybyfaith.com) has photographs and an interview with Rusty, titled "Rusty McCall: Punchin’ Cows instead of Clocks" here on her blog at www.lorifaithmerritt.com.

Find previous updates and photos here.

Previous updates:

UPDATE 1/26/08: 

Rusty performed at the 25th Annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, despite his serious hearing and balance problems. Rusty made his first appearance at the gathering at age 3, in 1989. He has performed there many times since, sometimes along with other the other poets and reciters in his ranching family, including his parents, Dave and Deanna McCall, and his sisters Terri and Katie. Rusty faces major brain tumor surgery soon after this year's event. Regretfully, the surgery has caused him to have to cancel a scheduled appearance at the 17th Annual Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering in Sierra Vista, Arizona, in February.

A January 23, 2008 article by Steve Crump, "One Very Brave Idaho Cowboy Poet," in Idaho's Times News, tells more about Rusty's experience and health challenges. Rusty attended the College of Southern Idaho.

UPDATE:

Popular poet and reciter Rusty McCall—who has faced multiple surgeries, radiation, and ongoing treatment for his serious neurofibromatosis condition—now faces major brain surgery on March 5, 2009, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

To help offset the many expenses of care and treatment for Rusty's condition, a  "stay-at-home" benefit and associated fund has been created.

Find all of the information here, including how to contribute by mail or electronically. You can also donate directly and/or write to Rusty and the McCalls at PO Box 376, Timberon, NM 88350-0376.

Award-winning deejays Andy Nelson and Jim Nelson of the popular syndicated Clear Out West (C.O.W.) Radio show have created a special "stay-at-home" benefit show for Rusty McCall.

The show airs live during the week of March 2, 2009, broadcast on many radio stations. It is available for listening on demand here at the Clear Out West web site starting Wednesday, February 25, 2009.

The special show created by the "C.O.W. boys" includes some of Rusty's favorite Western music and cowboy poetry, with selections by Dan Roberts (www.oldbootsmusic.com), Chris Isaacs (www.chrisisaacs.com), Dave Stamey (www.davestamey.com), Ross Knox, Mike Beck (www.mikebeck.com), Gail Steiger, Joel Nelson, and Deanna McCall.

UPDATE 3/5:

Deanna McCall writes, after Rusty's March 5 surgery:

Just a note to let you know Rusty was operated on for 8 hours and is now recovering. He will experience temporary deafness for a period of a few days to 6 weeks due to fluid in the ear. Please continue your prayers as this is a critical time. Our family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts. God bless all of you!

                                                                                                     Dee, Dave & Family

UPDATE 3/9:

Rusty continues to recover after the surgery, and they expect he will remain hospitalized for several more days.

UPDATE 3/13:

Rusty is at home. The family and doctors agreed that he could continue his recovery at home, and when the brain swelling has lessened, he will have outpatient therapy. Deanna says that at the news he was going home, Rusty " lit up like a lamp." He is weak and cannot walk unassisted, and he faces a long recovery and rehabilitation. The McCalls are grateful to all whose friendship and caring have helped Rusty and the family through this difficult time.

UPDATE 3/24:

Rusty is continuing to improve, and has started rehabilitation in Ruidoso.

UPDATE 4/7:

Rusty is slowly improving, bound and determined to be walking alone in a week. He received therapy in Ruidoso and receives daily therapy at home. He'll see his doctors again on April 15. His hearing may be returning. Deanna McCall says, "That is a daily prayer for me, to heal his hearing."
 

UPDATE 4/17:

Deanna McCall reports from Albuquerque, where Rusty is having post-operative appointments: The doctors say it may take another 1 to 2 months for things to return to a pre-surgery state, or close to it. Rusty is doing better, he can stand unassisted and alone for a couple of minutes, and is working on being able to use the walker unassisted. It doesn't sound like much, but, it is actually a lot of progress, He is also hearing more, not enough to understand yet, but is hearing more sounds. All great things...

Find more information here, including how to contact Rusty and the family.

Updated 1/25

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Below:

Never forgotten

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Photo by Jeri L. Dobrowski, obtain permission for reproduction rights

 

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  Tyler Plummer 1978-2012

We learned, with great sadness, of the death of Tyler Plummer, age 33, on January 25, 2012. Tyler Plummer was Rodney Nelson's son-in-law, married in August, 2009 to his daughter Annika.

The Nelson family photo above, Tyler Plummer top right, was taken January 22, 2012. In 2009, Annika Nelson Tyler wrote about her marriage in her popular blog, here.

Read a moving obituary, find services information, and a guestbook here.

[Thanks to Jeri Dobrowski for the guestbook and services link]

Posted 1/26

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  Louise Serpa, 1925-2012

Noted rodeo photographer Louise Serpa died January 5, 2012. An article after her death, here in the Tucson Sentinel, comments:

Her work captured all the elegance, essence and grit of a 900-pound horse, or a 1200-pound bull, giving its rider eight seconds, more or less, of sheer terror and excitement. But beyond the arena, Louise explored the people and places that made rodeo. After all, rodeo is a way of life – not a sport, despite corporate attempts to make it one.

In 2008, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum had an exhibit of her work. Arizona poet Chris Isaacs wrote in response to our article about it:

Your article on Louise Serpa brought back a lot of memories from a long time ago. Louise and I were at a lot of the same rodeos in the 60s and I'm proud to say she was a friend although I haven't seen her in years. I'm glad to hear that she is being remembered and honored for her work. She's a great Lady. Here's a photo that Louise took of me in about 1963 or 1964. If you look close in the bottom right hand corner you can see her Walking S brand that she signed her photos with [see the detail below the photo].

Find another recent article here in Inside Tucson Business and another here in a Cowboys & Indians blog. There is a January 12, 2011 article and slide-show tribute to Louise Serpa in the New York Times, "Sweetheart of the Rodeo,"

Posted and updated 1/12

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 Jim Cook, died January 10, 2012

Dee Strickland Johnson sent the sad news of the death of Arizona humor writer Jim Cook, brother of songwriter, poet, and musician Dean Cook, on January 10, 2012.

Jim Cook, an Arizona Culturekeeper, was known for his columns for Arizona newspapers, "The Journal of Prevarication," and as "Arizona's State Official Liar."

He was the author of several books, including the recent Half a Sack of Cats; Jim Cook's Version of His Raffish Youth. Its description tells a bit about him:

For sixty years, Arizona native Jim Cook has been writing about the Grand Canyon state in newspapers, magazines, and books. In 2005, Jim and his brother Dean, a songwriter and storyteller, were named Arizona Culturekeepers for their work in keeping alive the lore of Arizona. After a long career in journalism, Jim became the Official State Liar of Arizona. He is director of the Wickenburg Institute for Factual Diversity, which is a think tank for recreational liars, and a treatment center for recovering newspapermen. He also edits the institute's organ, The Journal of Prevarication....

He also wrote The Arizona Liar's Journal and The Arizona Liar's Almanac.

Don Dedera, former Arizona Republic columnist and former editor-in-chief of Arizona Highways magazine writes a January 15, 2011  
tribute column, "A place unbelievable without its prolific liar" in the Arizona Republic.

cook-editorial.html#ixzz1jdNnc6Yn

Services are pending.

Updated 1/16
 

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Bob Huff, 1931-2011

We were sad to learn of the death of Colorado poet Robert Allen (Bob) Huff, December 10, 2011. Bob was a popular performer at gatherings, including the Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering and the Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

Find an obituary here.

Thanks to Pauline Young, who send the following, with the permission of Bob Huff's family (who provided the photo):

July 25, 1931-Dec. 10, 2011

Long time Pagosa resident, Bob Huff, departed this world on Saturday, Dec. 10,with his wife by his side.

After moving to Pagosa Springs 23 years ago, Bob became an active member of the community. He was a member of the local Rotary Club, serving as president of that organization in 1997-98. He also served on several boards, including the Upper San Juan Health Service District and Dr. Mary Fisher Medical Foundation Board, the Archuleta County Planning Commission, the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District and the Citizens Bank Board of Directors.

Bob is perhaps best remembered for his writing and reciting of cowboy poetry. He published two books of poetry and became well known as a cowboy poet throughout the state and region.

Bob kept a few horses and grazed a few cows each summer on his Little Bit Ranch. He spent endless hours as a volunteer for the local Forest Service district. He deeply loved the high country and helped pack in trail crews, maintain trails and monitor leased grazing allotments. His poetry — sometimes humorous, often thoughtful, but always truthful — reflects the connection he felt with the San Juan Wilderness.

After growing up on a small farm in Kansas and receiving a scholarship at the University of Kansas, Bob started his career as a biology teacher at Punahou Academy in Honolulu, Hawaii, with his wife, Mary Ann, at his side. After receiving a doctorate in educational administration at the University of Oregon, Bob embarked on a series of moves that took him and his family to a number of college towns across the country. He became a sought-after higher education administrator and teacher. Among other positions, Bob was associate director of the National Center for Higher Education Management systems, professor of higher education at Virginia Tech University and executive secretary of the Board of Educational Finance in Santa Fe, N.M. He served as associate vice president of academic affairs at Arizona State University and as executive director of the Arizona University System Board of Regents. Bob served on the governor’s cabinet in Arizona and represented Arizona on the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education.

He completed his busy career by returning to Arizona State University as a tenured professor and, in 1989, Arizona State named Bob Professor Emeritus.

Bob led a modest, calm and untroubled life. In many ways he was a man “before his time.” In the late 1950s he took a survival training course, learning how to live off the land. Before it was trendy, Bob loved to cross country ski, play and coach tennis, fly fish, go backpacking and, when he was 50 years old, he ran the Grand Canyon from rim to rim. But perhaps where Bob felt most at one with nature was on top of a good horse.

Bob considered himself a fortunate man. He had the love of a life partner for 58 years, his wife Mary Ann. He had a couple of good children, a couple of wonderful granddaughters and some good horses. He was a trusted mentor to many people in ways he knew and in ways he sometimes never knew.

Memorial services for Bob Huff will be held this spring. The date, time and other specifics will be announced in The Pagosa Springs SUN.

This is Bob’s final poem, for his family and friends.

The View from the Top

It’s been my nature to explore.
On a high country ride,
Climbing up a mountain ridge,
What’s on the other side?

In every part of life,
Adventures without end.
I always want to know,
What’s just around the bend?

I want to see God’s plans,
Whatever they may be.
What’s in that great beyond?
What is God’s plan for me?

And now it’s time at last,
My earthly ties to sever.
On top of this final hill,
I now can see forever.

Bob Huff
 

Updated 12/16

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Tom Ryan, 1922-2011

The Cowboy Artists of America (CAA) reported the death of celebrated artist and long-time member Tom Ryan, on December 10, 2011.

Tom Ryan was widely known for his paintings of the famous 6666 Ranch in Guthrie, Texas. The CAA comments: "When Ryan paints a cowboy, you know it is the real thing," says one fellow artist.  "You can just tell by looking at the figure that that man has been around.  His horses are real cow horses.  His men are real ranch hands. They always have just the right feel; there is never anything in the
painting that does not fit the scene exactly. He may not have grown up in the West around ranches and cattle, but he captures them better than anyone else."

Find more about Tom Ryan at the CAA web site and a detailed biography at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

A service will be held Friday, December 16, 2011, at 2:00 pm at the First Baptist Church, 214 N Swenson St, Stamford, Texas (phone 325-773-2781). Cards may be sent to the family at 1018 N 6th, Haskell, TX 79521.

Posted 12/15

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Bill Horn, 1938-2011

Jay Snider sent the sad news of the death of the legendary Bill Horn, Texas, member of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Hall of Fame and the first NRHA member to reach Million Dollar Rider status. One of the founders of the organization, he died December 9, 2011.

The NRHA web site comments, "Sadly, today NRHA and Reining lost one of its most beloved legends when Bill Horn succumbed to illness.  The void his passing leaves behind cannot be filled."

See the NRHA web site for updated information, which includes information about a memorial service: http://reiner.nrha.com/?p=5686   

Posted 12/15

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Marvin Lee Brown, Jr. 1925-2011

Our condolences to popular storyteller and radio host Waynetta Ausmus on the death of her husband, Marvin Lee Brown, Jr., on November 24, 2011.

Waynetta has written, "For those who knew my husband, Marvin Brown, he is now at peace today after a long struggle with heart trouble the past few years. Even though he passed away today, I am so THANKFUL for the adventures we shared together and for Marvin filling the past 11 years with happy memories. He will be remembered lovingly every day....

Find a December 18, 2011 obituary here.

Waynetta sent information about the memorial service:

We are having a memorial evening on Dec. 27. We're having some local cowboy poets and musicians perform in a Memorial/Tribute. Marvin and I used to put on a monthly "storytelling" night at a local restaurant so we are hoping that  friends and family will attend. Cowboy poets and storytellers Bob Upchurch, Lanny Joe Burnett, Edward Sutherland, Jerry Young from Mesquite, Texas and some fine local musicians will perform.

Updated 12/19

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Lynn Owens

Heidi Koch sent the sad news that California poet and reciter Lynn Owens died on November 4, 2011.

Lynn Owens was a popular performer at Northern California events, Livermore's first Cowboy Laureate. He was the Division Chief of the Livermore Fire Department, retired fter 32 years of service.

Find an obituary here.

[2009 photo by Frank Thornburgh]

Posted 11/23

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Kell Robertson, 1930-2011

Poet, songwriter, and storyteller Kell Robertson died November 7, 2011, at his home near Santa Fe.

His work appeared in the Dry Crik Review in 1991 and 1993.

An article here in the Santa Fe New Mexican tells about his life and work. It quotes poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, "I would say Kell Robertson is one fine cowboy-poet, worth a dozen New Yorker poetasters. Let them listen and hear the voice of the real America out there."

The article notes, "...a public memorial featuring music and poetry by Robertson's friends is being planned for February."

Posted 11/9

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  Rene Heil, 1944-2011

Yvonne Hollenbeck sent the sad news of the death of Rene Heil, ranch photographer, on July 25, 2011 in Follett, Texas.

For over 15 years, Rene Heil traveled from Mexico to Montana "photographing the working ranches and the working cowboys during their spring roundup." Those were his words, from a communication in May, 2010, when he also wrote, "...I am in the midst of 2010 Ranch Tour with a branding every day. I average 2500 photos per day..."

At Rene Heil's web site, he posted daily photos.

He published six books of his work. His last book, Dust & Smoke: Top Hands and Pretty Loops includes the Hollenbeck Ranch in South Dakota. Find more about the book here.

See an obituary here.

Posted 10/5

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  Ronald Haugen, died September 6, 2011

Deepest sympathy goes out to Jean Mathisen Haugen on the death of her husband, Ronald Haugen, 65, on September 6, 2011, in Lander, Wyoming.

Jean told us, "He learned to love cowboy poetry and western music (although his rock band had opened for Ike and Tina Turner in Seattle, WA back in the late 1960's). He had been very ill for a long time and his passing was a mercy, but I will miss him very much—we had been married 8 years on July 3rd this summer...."

Jean offers this poem:

My Ron

Ron had done many things in his life,
and I was privileged to be his wife.
He loved rock music and mushing dogs,
loved the Northern Lights and Alaska,
and had come to love Wyoming.
He had been a psychologist,
a car racer and a rabble rouser,
a trapper, a carpenter,
and knew his way around plumbing.
He could play a great rock guitar
and loved sail boats and
sailing them around Puget Sound.
That was my Ron—
he had learned to love western music
and cowboy poetry.
Life was never easy, but he knew
to look upwards and know
A Gentle Shepherd
kept an eye on his wanderings
and had finally come to take him home.
May the Good Lord bless and keep him—
I was privileged to be his wife.

Jean Mathisen Haugen, September 8, 2011

 

 

Jean wrote a poem back in 2003 about their meeting, which you can read here. Jean, who is also a local historian and writer, has been a part of CowboyPoetry.com since its earliest days, and has shared her poetry and many photos and stories in Western Memories and Picture the West.

The funeral is Tuesday, September 13, at 10:00 a.m. at the Hudson's Funeral Home Chapel in at Lander.

Posted 9/12

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Ben Buckles, 1930-2011

Yvonne Hollenbeck first sent the news of the death of Nebraska rancher Ben Buckles on August 8, 2001. Ben Buckles was South Dakota cowboy and poet Ken Cook's great uncle, one of the many respected cowboys and ranchers in the Buckles family.

Ken told us:

Ben was the youngest brother of my Grandpa Frank Buckles....Years ago. I wrote the poem 'Let the Hammer Down,' inspired in part by Uncle Ben. It's on the Dad We'll Rope Today album:

Throw caution to the wind, if you're gonna ride with Ben,
'Cause careful ain't the way that he was raised.
The boy was weaned on rank ones, that could buck a sunset down,
For courage in the storm he should be praised.

An obituary here tells of Ben Buckes, "He never would allow a tractor on his property because he was no 'damn' farmer. He raised and broke his own saddle horses and didn't want a horse on the place under sixteen hands. 'When I rope something, I don't want to be tied to it, I want it tied to me.'"

Ben Buckles is survived by four daughters, a son, four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Posted 8/15

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Ken Graydon, 1933-2011

The Western music and poetry world mourns the loss of beloved songwriter and singer Ken Graydon, who died July 30, 2011.

Dave Stamey has said of Ken Graydon, "Singer, writer, historian and gentleman, Ken Graydon is one of my heroes and a genuine California folk music treasure." 

See a tribute here, written by Ross Altman shortly before Ken Graydon's death. He writes, "Ken and Phee (Ken Graydon and Phee Shirline) are rarely seen apart; they appear almost like one musician with two instruments—she plays the hammer dulcimer and he plays a big twelve string guitar—matching his booming bass voice with its powerful bass runs. Ken doesn’t play anything “fancy on a stick,” as Woody Guthrie once described his own playing, just the right chord and the right strum at the right time, always keeping the song and its story front and center."

The Los Angeles Times has an moving two-page piece on Ken Graydon here by Tony Perry, in which he writes, "Admirers compare his work to that of Walt Whitman."

Find more about Ken Graydon at www.kengraydon.com.

Paulette Tcherkassky shared this 2008 photo of Jerry Brooks, Jo Lynne and Michael Kirkwoord, Marianne and Gary Robertson, Ken Graydon, Melissa and Dave Stamey and Catherine "Lilbit" Devine, taken at the Palace Saloon in Prescott, Arizona, during the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering.

The Los Angeles Times reports, "A memorial party is set for 2 p.m. Sept. 4 at his home in Fallbrook."
 

Updated 8/11

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Don Atkinson, 1929-2011

Tom Morgan sent the sad news of the death of respected Texas boot and saddle maker Don Atkinson, who died July 15, 2011.

An obituary here tells:

Don was born in Hickory, Missouri on March 6, 1929 to Isaac and Elva Atkinson. His education was the school of hard knocks. He never graduated high school but was a very astute businessman. His father died when Don was a young boy and when he was nine years old, he met Monroe Veach, a renowned boot and saddle maker. Monroe gave Don his first piece of leather to make a holster for a Hopalong Cassidy cap pistol and instructed the boy to bring it back so he could see it. When Don returned, Monroe saw a talent in the raw. So went the beginning of a successful career of saddle making that would make the boy a legend in his own right.

....Over the years he garnered a legendary reputation in the fields of boot making and saddle making. There was nothing he couldn’t do with leather that didn’t turn out beautifully. He made boots for Slim Pickens, Hank Williams and Gene Autry. Don took such pride in his craftsmanship, he was truly a master.

Read the entire obituary here.

Tom Morgan shared a photo of the last ‘’fancy saddle’’ that Don Atkinson made (that's how Don Atkinson described it), which is in Tom's collection:

Find more about Don Atkinson here at the American Saddle Makers Association web site.

Posted and updated 8/1

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  Lloyd M. Gerber, 1927-2011

We were sad to learn that Idaho sheep-ranch-raised cowboy poet Lloyd M. Gerber died July 16, 2011 at his home in Eagle, Idaho.

An obituary here in the Washington Post states that, "He was one of eight siblings and grew up on his family's sheep farm in Wellington, Utah.
In the 1940s, the Gerbers moved to a sprawling cattle ranch along Utah's Green River in Desolation Canyon." In his bio in our feature here he tells:

In 1946 we bought the Rock Creek ranch in Desolation Canyon on the Green River. Pop immediately called it "Seldom Seen" and it was so named on some maps. That ranch was accessible only by a two-day pack trip along difficult trails. A year or so later we bought the Range Creek ranch, which was one day's ride toward town from Rock Creek.

With a two-day commute to get to work at Rock Creek, we didn't get out to the valley as often as we would like, and it made family life difficult. This led to my seeing the benefits of an education. Accordingly, I became a lawyer and practiced in New Mexico and Utah.
In 1969 I accepted a management position in a subsidiary of The Washington Post in Washington, D. C., and later became the CEO of that company.

I retired from there December 31, 1985, in order to return to the West....

In the cowboy poetry world, he was perhaps best known for his poem, "A Matter of Taste," which he recited on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show in 1989. He performed at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 1989 and 1994.

Another obituary here that appeared in the Idaho Statesman notes, "Lloyd is survived by an adoring family including three sons, Steven, Mark, and Nathan; five daughters, Kathy, Julie, Lisa, Susan, and Lori; 37 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; and his sister Elma.

Services were held July 19, 2011.

See our feature about Lloyd M. Gerber here.

Posted 7/20

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    Mike Puhallo, 1953-2011

We mourn the loss of Mike Puhallo, popular poet, cowboy, artist, Kamloops Cowboy Festival organizer, and friend to so many. Mark McMillan, at the British Columbia Cowboy Heritage Society (BCCHS) sent the sad news:

Mike passed away peacefully in his sleep in the wee hours of June 24th. There will be a Celebration of Mike's Life at 1:00 pm, on Thursday, June 30th, at the Calvary Community Church in Kamloops. Bryn Theissen and Pastor Don will officiate. The family is asking that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the BC Cowboy Heritage Society Student Scholarship fund.

Mike had been battling brain cancer. Find a link for the fund here, where there is also a PayPal donation button.

In an announcement in April, Mark McMillan of the British Columbia Cowboy Heritage Society (BCCHS) commented, "Mike Puhallo could be referred to as Mr. Kamloops Cowboy Festival, Mr. BC Cowboy Hall of Fame, and Mr. BC Cowboy Heritage Society. Mike is one of the founders of all three, and has put a big chunk of his life over the last 15 years towards the betterment of all three, and everything connected to them. He's put on many Cowboy Concerts over the years, many of which have been benefit concerts for others...."

Find more at the BCCHS web site, including a moving article by Mike's daughter Shar, here.

A June 28, 2011 article here in the Kamloops Daily News comments, "Kamloops has lost a leading voice and an energetic hand close to its heart and western heritage." Find an obituary here.

A few years ago, Mike sold his part of a ranch shared with his brother so that he could do what he said he always wanted to do: "Just cowboy." And, he enjoyed doing just that.

Mike was the author of a number of poetry collections, had a solo CD recording and was included in other audio collaborations. He performed at many events and gatherings, and was invited to the Western Folklife Center's National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 2010.

Mike was one of the first poets with work at CowboyPoetry.com, and shared many of his syndicated weekly "Meadow Muffins." See many poems by Mike Puhallo and more about him in our feature here.

Updated 6/29

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Woody Woodward 1933-2011

Jane Morton sent the sad news of the death of Woody Woodward, on June 5, 2011, in Arizona. Woody and poet Byrd Woodward were married for 52 years.

An moving obituary here tells, "...His Grandpa Sherrill had taught Woody to cowboy on the family ranch in northern Idaho, and though he was a working cowboy for only a few years, he lived his life the cowboy way filled with love and joy, hard work and honesty. He was good with all animals but especially so with horses and dogs. He loved telling stories ..."

Posted 6/14

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Find previous postings and links to earlier postings on Page two.

 

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