Buster Welch Day This Saturday

Buster Welch in 1965. (Photo from Western Horseman magazine)

This Saturday, the City of Roscoe will honor Buster Welch, one of the greatest cowboys and horse trainers of the twentieth century, who will celebrate his 90th birthday on May 23. 

He is a member of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame, and the NCHA (National Cutting Horse Association) Hall of Fame. He won the NCHA World Championship four times and the NCHA World Championship Futurity five times. He also trained several famous cutting horses, among them Chickasha Mike, Marion’s Girl, Money’s Glo, Rey Jay’s Pete, Dry Doc, Peppy San Badger, and Mr. San Peppy.

In 2012 he received the National Golden Spur Award for his “outstanding contributions to the ranching and livestock industry.” He has also been honored with several other national awards over the years, such as the Western Horseman Award, the American Cowboy Culture Working Cowboy Award, and others.

He was born in 1928 near Sterling City and grew up in Midland. He became a full-time cowboy when he was 13 and worked on many ranches including the 6666, Pitchfork, Long X, and King Ranch. His career as a horse trainer took off when he won cutting horse competitions with Chickasha Mike, a horse he bought for $125. Then in 1954 and 1956, he won the NCHA World Championships with Marion’s Girl. In 1962, he and others established the NCHA Futurity at the Nolan County Coliseum in Sweetwater, a competition he went on to win five times.

He also became a rancher and cattleman and at one time leased or owned over 60,000 acres of land in this area, including the 18 Ranch, north of Roscoe. His four children, Ken, Ruth Ann, Greg, and Georgia, all went to Roscoe schools and graduated from Roscoe High.

Roscoe retailers will be open for the celebration from noon to 7pm, and the Roscoe Express will carry patrons from location to location free of charge. The museum will be open, and the Lumberyard will host what should be another great day of country music with the Jamie Richards Band opening around 6:00pm.

The reading and awarding of the proclamation to Buster Welch will take place at the Lumberyard at about 8:30pm.

Johnny Bush

It will then be followed by a performance by country great Johnny Bush and his Bandoleros.

A member of the Texas Country Hall of Fame since 2003, Bush has been playing Texas venues for over half a century. Originally from Houston, he began his career in the fifties in San Antonio and in 1963 joined Ray Price’s band, the Cherokee Cowboys, along with Willie Nelson and Darrell McCall. His association with Price led him to Nashville, and with Willie Nelson’s financial backing he recorded his first album in 1967.

He continues to tour to this day and has often performed with Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. In 2007, he released his autobiography, Whiskey River (Take My Mind): The True Story of Texas Honky-Tonk.

Over his long career, he has produced 23 albums. Songs he is best known for include “Undo the Right,” (Click title for YouTube video) “Whiskey River,” “Each Time,” “You Gave Me a Mountain,” “I’ll Be There,” “There Stands the Glass,” and “Green Snakes on the Ceiling.”

For reservations and more information, contact the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.

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TWENTY-THREE RCHS SENIORS GRADUATE FROM WTC WITH ASSOCIATE'S DEGREES

RCHS WTC graduates.

Graduation ceremonies at Western Texas College in Snyder were held yesterday, and twenty-three Roscoe seniors were among those who received their Associate's Degrees. 

These included the following: Thea Abeita, Allison Acebedo, Clemente Aguayo, Camden Boren, Morgan Bowers, John Castillo, Jose Chavira, Tait Fullwood, Francisco Garcia, Cade Garrett, Diego Garza, Iris Gonzalez, Arizona Guevara, Ivy Jolley, Kayla Justiss, AbiGail Meadows, Ainsleigh Nelson, Paul Pantoja, Braxton Parrott, Parker Payne, Mariann Rainey, Zach Rangel, and Nolan Reeves.

Congratulations to you all!

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CITY COUNCIL APPROVES GRANT APPLICATION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING ON ROSCOE'S NORTH SIDE

At its monthly meeting in City Hall yesterday evening the City Council approved engaging the professional services of A & J Howco Services, Inc., in applying for a Texas Capital Fund grant to provide infrastructure for a possible travel center next to the intersection of US 84 and FM 608 on the City’s north side. It also approved the conducting of an environmental review of that location to assure its suitability as a site for such a project.

The Texas Capital Fund provides funds for infrastructure projects that promote local economic development, and the construction of a travel center would do just that. Kay Howard of A & J Howco Services explained to the Council that their contract with the City will be written so that they charge for their services only if the grant is awarded, so the City will not owe them anything if the grant application fails. The City’s only expense is the environmental review. If the grant is successful, the owners of the new business provide a 1:1 match of funds in the construction of the business.

The Council approved sending a resolution to the Texas Department of Transportation to increase the length of the entrance and exit ramps on I-20 from both the east and west service roads on the City’s south side. It also approved the results of the City election to reauthorize the local sales tax at the rate of ¼ of 1% for maintenance of repair by City streets.

City Manager Cody Thompson reported on recent City activity. He said fireworks have been ordered for the Independence Day Celebration on June 30. He then outlined the events taking place on Buster Welch Day on Saturday.

City workers will begin spraying and taking other precautionary measures against mosquitoes as soon as supplies arrive, and some streets will be patched and bladed in coming weeks.

The power pole at the northside lift station, taken out by a tractor/trailer rig a week ago, has been repaired.

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SHAUNDRA PARKER GETS SUCCESSFUL DOUBLE-LUNG TRANSPLANT

Shaundra Parker

Shaundra Parker, who’s had Cystic Fibrosis most of her life, finally got a double-lung transplant in Houston this past week, and after some complications, the latest word is that her bronchoscopy showed beautiful pink lungs with no mucous and her chest has been closed. She will be on a ventilator a couple more days, but the operation has apparently been successful.

Congratulations to Shaundra and to the doctors who performed the operation! This is the outcome everyone was hoping for. Let’s now hope for her continued progress to a healthier life!  

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BLACKLAND DRONE RACES ARE FRONT-PAGE NEWS IN ABILENE REPORTER-NEWS

Drones were flying at Plowboy field Friday.

The first-ever Blackland Drone Races were held Friday at Plowboy Field and the Edu-Drone building on Broadway with three schools participating: RCHS, Christoval, and Abilene’s ATEMS (Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math and Science).

Abilene Reporter-News reporter Ronald Erdrich covered the event and wrote a nice article that appeared on the front page of Monday’s newspaper. The article is also available online and can be accessed by clicking here.

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NICK PANTOJA WINS ABILENE DEMOLITION DERBY

Nick Pantoja, center, and friends celebrate his victory in Abilene.

Roscoe’s Nick Pantoja, manager of VP Tire & Service, was the winner of the seven-car demolition derby at the Abilene Speedway on Saturday, April 28. First Place Prize was $1000. Bo Oleson of Sweetwater finished second ($300), Caleb Dean of Roscoe third ($100), and Nathan Evans of Snyder fourth.

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WEATHER REPORT: SUMMERLIKE HEAT ARRIVES

Eastern sky in late afternoon.

May has arrived and with it, days are getting longer and the temperatures are steadily rising. Although last weekend was mild with highs in the seventies and eighties, Sunday’s high was 90°F, and since then the afternoon temperatures have been in the low to mid-nineties, and the heat will continue through the weekend. Saturday’s high is predicted to hit 100°, and if it does, it will be our first triple-digit day this year. Nights have also been warmer with lows of around 60°. Last Wednesday between a quarter and a half-inch of rain fell with the official total in town .40", but it’s been dry since then.

Last Wednesday and Thursday were windy with gusts up to 46 and 54mph respectively, but breezes were calmer through the weekend, that is, up until yesterday when they picked up again. The south wind will continue to be strong until Sunday, when it should slow a little.

At this time, the meteorologists are giving us a 40% chance of rain on Sunday.

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† WILLIAM EDWARD PERRY, JR

Mr. William Edward Perry, Jr., 84, of Leesburg, Georgia, passed away on his birthday, May 4, at his home in Leesburg.

Eddie was born on May 4, 1934. He grew up in Roscoe and graduated from RHS in 1952. He spent most of his adult life as a school administrator in LaBelle, Florida. His wife, Pat, preceded him in death, and he is survived by his daughter, Lisa, and son, Scott.

Arrangements for his memorial service will be announced later by Joseph W. Jones Funeral Home of Leesburg, Georgia. 229-814-1415. Tributes can be made by clicking here.

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† DANIEL ANZALDUA

A Celebration of Life for Daniel Anzaldua, 63, will be held at St. Albert’s Catholic Church in Roscoe on Saturday, May 12, at 11:00am. A gathering at the Roscoe Community Center will follow the service. He passed away peacefully in Bastrop on Saturday, April 28, surrounded by family and loved ones.

Born on August 3, 1954, to Amado and Petra Anzaldua, Daniel attended Roscoe High School, where he graduated in 1973. Throughout his high school days, he was a successful competitive athlete. He played Plowboy football #85, wide receiver. He qualified for State in track several times and broke many records, including some of his own. His younger brothers looked up to him and followed right behind him. He was also voted class favorite.

For a time, he worked alongside his family in the cotton fields to help out his father and mother. Afterwards, he served in the United States Army before making San Angelo his home. He worked at the San Angelo State School for many years. After retiring, he moved to Bastrop to be near his son Bryan and his wife Lauri, but especially his grandbabies, Kailei and Ashlyn. Daniel remained in Bastrop until his passing. His generosity and kindness touched everyone who knew him. His final wish was to return to his beloved Roscoe.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Amado and Petra Anzaldua; wife, Jane Anzaldua; brothers, Luis and Omar Anzaldua; sister, Maria Hernandez; and great-nephew, Christopher Vasquez.

He is survived by his son, Bryan Anzaldua and his wife, Lauri; granddaughters, Kailei and Ashlyn; stepdaughter, Rocky; grandchildren, Will, TJ, Jordan, and Ivry; brothers, Homer Anzaldua (Molly) of Fresno, California; David Anzaldua (Vickie) of Fort Worth; Joel Anzaldua (Gloria) of Fort Worth; Gilbert Anzaldua (Veronica) of Geronimo, Oklahoma; Adam Anzaldua (Paulina) of Fort Worth; sisters, Odilia Uriarte (Guillermo) of Selma, California; Linda Constantino (Pablo) of Fort Worth; and Gloria Anzaldua (Nickey) of Fort Worth; a very dear aunt, Eluteria Calderon (Raul) of Fort Worth; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephew, and numerous extended family, friends, and loved ones.
 

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