One of the great things about this website is that we get to honor those special cowboys and cowgirls who have touched our lives in a meaningful way.

It seems tradition here in America to place a special significance on “completed decades,” and Tom has reached the end of his sixth. But the wisdom he’s gained and the compassion he gives reaches beyond those 60 years. Here’s my husband and daughter trying to glean a little wisdom from Tom at a branding.

Today I’m honoring a true cattleman. (Charlotte called her Dad a stockman…It’s the same term and describes someone who’s beyond a cowboy or a buckaroo. He’s a horseman, a boss, a patriarch, a businessman, a steward of the range…    A person earns that title through the dust, sweat, and tears of life, but mostly by the respect of others. Tom’s exemplifies that title.  (I love this photo:  Everyone else gets to ride…Tom gets the gates -and it’s his cows. That’s part of what I’m talking about when I give the title of cattleman.)

His sister Susan composed this great little rhyme for his invitation.

She knows him well by implying he wouldn’t want much of a big tadoo, but he was surprised at the party, and he was pleased, you could tell by the genuine smile on his face. Of course he was also two hours late, but that didn’t matter because everyone’s used to going on without him while he’s out checking a cow or mending a fence…on this day he was taking his grandson’s steer to the fair for weigh-in…(Always a good excuse.) In this photo he and his grandson, Blake, are branding a calf.

Tom’s buried under his grandkids there somewhere. They love their “Pops.”

I could write a book, and it wouldn’t do justice to Tom, so you’ll have to settle for a few small glimpses and a limited amount of words……Come to think about it, “a limited amount of words” might be the best way to describe him. (His wonderful wife, Marva, and anyone who has ever worked cows with him are all laughing hysterically as I write that comment. I know…I’ve heard the stories…and I’ve ridden with him.)

Happy Birthday, Tom    

“May the Lord bless thee and keep thee, May the Lord make his face to shine upon thee.”
From Sage, Aspen, Kathy & Rob and the rest of your fans here at Cowgirl Clippings