2017 Cowboy Hall of Fame Banquet

Silver Concho Award - Congressman Steve Pearce
Outstanding Ranchers - Jeff & Jenna Decker

Working Cowboy - Chance Gainer

Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame Inductees

• Bennett Jackson Caudill (b. February 2, 1890 – d. April 1, 1972)

Born in Monkstown, Texas, Bennett Jackson “B.J.” Caudill moved to Lea County in 1930 where he established and operated the first feed store in Hobbs, the Derrick Feed Store (a subsidiary of Red Chain Feed in Ft. Worth).  B.J. and his wife, Etta Dee Phillips Caudill had six daughters:  Katherine Brothers, Geraldine Kersey, Mildred Carter, Daphna Williams, Gladys Jelinek, and Bennetta Holdridge.  From these six daughters came numerous grandchildren, one of which is the conductor of the Southwest Symphony, Mark Jelinek.  

The Caudill’s were devout members of the First Baptist Church in Hobbs.  Ben served as deacon and taught teenage boys in his Sunday school class. Having no sons, he unofficially “adopted” some of his students.  A few notable examples are William Brock, Dr. Williams Stone, and Kenny Shelton.  B. J. served on the Hobbs City Council for 8 years.  His appointment to the Buildings Committee yielded such prominent structures as the Hobbs City Hall (current police station) and the Hobbs Public Library. B.J. was also a proud member of the Masons.

            Caudilll contributed greatly to the ranching industry in Lea County through his livestock feed service.  When he arrived in Hobbs, there were no feed stores, and ranchers had to travel great distances (Midland, Clovis, and Seagraves) to procure livestock provisions. This created a substantial overhead for Lea County ranchers, not to mention the travel time involved.  B.J. would drive to Seagraves, Texas and bring back feed, delivering it directly to the ranches.  This service saved area ranchers a great deal of money and time.  Many of the ranchers (many are Hall of Fame inductees) were able to establish successful ranches, and many became the most prominent names in Lea County ranching.  Eventually, he did open a feed store in Hobbs after securing a building.  

B.J.’s ranching career was born by his generous payment terms that he offered area residents.  Some of them even paid with cattle, horses, eggs, and other miscellaneous items.  B.J.  had a secret shoebox (hidden from Etta Dee) of I. O. U’s.  Many of the prominent ranchers and 4H students had slips in the box – some paid and some did not. He said he never lost money with this generous system.

            

B.J. established several ranches in Lea County as a result of accepting livestock as payment as well as his own purchases.  A couple of them are still in existence. One is located near the Texas state line (Seminole Highway) and is still occupied by family members.  Another one of his prominent ranches, the 7K Ranch, is located south of Hobbs near the Prairie Haven Cemetery.  Part of the Hobbs Army Air Base belonged to B.J.  He also had a ranch near Monument.

                        

After retiring from Lea County ranching in 1941, B.J. became bored and volunteered to refuel B-17s at the Hobbs Army Air Base at night.  Eventually, B.J. moved to Odessa in 1947 and opened yet another Red Chain Feed Store and operated it until his final retirement in 1962.  B.J. returned to Hobbs in 1970 until his death in 1972.  B.J. and his family were always grateful for the opportunities Lea County offered them and for the many friends they made here through the years. 

• Jerry B. Clayton (b. March 3, 1901 - d. July 9, 1984)

Jerry B. Clayton was born March 3, 1901 in Lubbock, TX to R.M. and Josephine Roy Clayton.  He moved with his family to the Muleshoe Ranch in Borden Co., TX at the age of 12.  R.M. along with his partner, W.D. Johnson, acquired the Borden Co. ranch in 1913.  Jerry lived there until he was 19 at which time he became a cowboy at the U Bar Ranch at Hachita, NM.  He became wagon boss on that ranch at 21.

Jerry married the former Mary Dickinson in 1924.  It is said that shortly before the wedding Clayton sent Mary a wire saying: “Am shipping cattle; Stop; Will make wedding if can; Stop; Jerry.  He made it.  They bought their own place out of Silver City, NM in 1927 where they ranched until January 1938.  At that time, the Claytons moved to the Jornado del Muerte out of Las Cruces, NM.  In 1939, Mr. Clayton leased a ranch at Caprock, NM and moved his family to Rowell, NM.  Around 1943, Clayton bought the old McClure place at Lovington, NM.  After Mary’s death in 1956, Clayton married Daisy Chambers in 1959.  They ranched the old McClure place until Clayton’s death in 1984.

Clayton was an outstanding figure among the cattlemen and ranchers of New Mexico.  His greatest satisfaction came from improvements, whether in conservation, irrigation, or in the quality of his stock.  Clayton was a member of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association.  Clayton was honored for his outstanding achievements in the ranching industry in 1979 by being named the Cattleman of the Year.  He served on the Foreign Trade Commission of the New Mexico Association.  Clayton also served as a Director of the Liberty National Bank.

• Mathias Willhoit (b. December 30, 1863 - d. September 18, 1952)

Mathais Willhoit was born on December 30, 1863, in Floyd County, Texas, near what is now known as the town of Floydada.  Growing up on the plains of West Texas, Mathias spend his days helping his parents establish and expand their land holdings and fledgling cattle business.  He and Christian Elizabeth Yates were married and that union spanned a lifetime, surviving good times and bad, prosperity and destitution, joy and sorrow.  The union would produce eight children, seven of whom survived to adulthood.  Those surviving children were Van Otto, Frank, Floyd, Ky, Brownie, Gladys and Lottie.

In 1905, the Willhoit family set out to seek their fortune.  Loading up the family’s covered wagon with supplies, they struck out across the plains.  Christian drove the wagon, and Mathias followed, bringing along their two horses, a few head of cattle, and some very large dreams.  It was not an easy trip.  At one point the lack of food became a major concern. Supplies were low, but the hardy pioneer family survived by harvesting and cooking mesquite beans.  To combat the resulting “scours” (more commonly known as diarrhea), Mrs. Willhoit created a concoction of flour and water which worked to end the affliction.

Eventually crossing into New Mexico Territory, the family staked claim to 160 acres west of what is now the Knowles community.  As time passed, the ranching family holdings grew to encompass 16 sections of land and a large herd of cattle.  The rosy future was interrupted by the droughts of 1916, 1917 and the great blizzard of 1918.  As the Willhoit’s struggled to keep their ranch together, the family received word that Van Otto, Mathias’ and Christian’s eldest son was killed in France, only six days before the Armistice ending WWI.  He is buried in Flander’s Field in France.

Still the pioneer family carried on.  Battling the winds, the lack of water, numerous small and large-scale disasters, they endured.  Never losing their faith, holding on to the strong beliefs and family values that had sustained them thus far, they endured.  Then, in 1929, the final blow to the ranching dream fell.  As the Great Depression swept the nation, cattle prices were at an all-time low.  Bank loans were non-existent.  With very few cattle left and no bull for breeding, Mathias was forced to make a life-altering decision.  Having located a bull for sale in Carlsbad, he put his land up as collateral again the price of the bull, never dreaming the unthinkable disaster would strike.  The morning Mathias returned with the bull, a white-face Hereford, the future of the ranch, was found dead in the pasture.

And so, it was, after 20 years of ranching, the Willhoit family once again packed all they owned and headed out, this time the fates leading them to the small community of Lovington.  Mathias built the couple’s new home himself, following the self-imposed guideline of “lots and lots of nails.”  It was at this time Mathias entered his new career in law enforcement becoming a deputy to Sheriff Sam Cain. He would also take on the responsibility of being the local jailer.  Christian opened and ran a small café known as “The White Way,” also providing meals to the prisoners in her husband’s jail.

Willhoit’s dedication to his job was legendary among the law enforcement community.  Once, when a Hobbs resident had been arrested and was accused of a heinous crime, Willhoit and Sheriff Cain transported the man to a place outside of Plains Texas before an angry lynch mob could gather at the jail.  While Mathias and the Sheriff moved the accused, Mrs. Willhoit was left to tend the jail.  When the mob, with torches and ropes, demanded justice, Mrs. Willhoit stood her ground, agreeing to allow three of the mob inside the jail to ascertain that the accused was indeed gone.  Her method of diffusing the situation was exemplary even by today’s standards and she stands tall as a strong and just helpmate for a strong and just man.  

Another incident involved two notorious cattle rustlers who shot at Willhoit and the sheriff, hitting the sheriff’s belt buckle but leaving both men unharmed.  Willhoit and Cain pursued the outlaws, with the lawmen in pursuit, the rustlers fled the region to avoid hanging and were never heard from again.

After a full, multi-faceted, and rewarding life, Mathias Willhoit died in 1952, at the age of 89.  Husband, father, rancher, lawman, he left behind a legacy of godliness, truthfulness, hard work, and dedication.

Last Weekend

Walk a Mile

June 22 - November 5, 2017

"Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes." This phrase reminds us not to judge others because no one knows the full story of another. We all have a story and, many times, our shoes have accompanied us through the chapters of our lives. This is exactly why we contacted many famous and infamous New Mexicans and asked to borrow their shoes. Sometimes shoes are just shoes, but sometimes they tell their own story or that of their owner.

As you wander the South Gallery you will see shoes from various walks of life:
Local Heroes
Athletes
Pageant Participants
An Astronaut
Writers
TV/Movie Jobs
Ranchers
And More

The Beauty in Energy

June 1 - November 5, 2017

Bob Callender recently came in and changed out some of the photos in his Beauty in Energy exhibit.  "He really gives you a feel for how beautiful an otherwise stark environment can be," said Curator, Erin Anderson.  If you enjoyed his previous photos, you won't want to miss these new ones and if you haven't seen them yet, you only have 3 weeks left!

The Texas and New Mexico landscape is filled with photogenic opportunities:  cowboys, bluebonnets and even cacti, but many wouldn't think of oil rigs.  Oil, gas and the men working the rigs keep this country that we love going.  Bob Callender captures the artistry of an oilfield landscape, the choreography of workers in motion and The Beauty in Energy.  The Beauty in Energy features a number of large-scale photographs on different mediums.

Beauty in Energy

The Beauty in Energy

June 1 - November 5, 2017

Bob Callender recently came in and changed out some of the photos in his Beauty in Energy exhibit.  "He really gives you a feel for how beautiful an otherwise stark environment can be," said Curator, Erin Anderson.  If you enjoyed his previous photos, you won't want to miss these new ones and if you haven't seen them yet, you only have 3 weeks left!

The Texas and New Mexico landscape is filled with photogenic opportunities:  cowboys, bluebonnets and even cacti, but many wouldn't think of oil rigs.  Oil, gas and the men working the rigs keep this country that we love going.  Bob Callender captures the artistry of an oilfield landscape, the choreography of workers in motion and The Beauty in Energy.  The Beauty in Energy features a number of large-scale photographs on different mediums.

Dr. Dirt Identify Caterpillars

Question:  I have photos of two different caterpillars. I would appreciate identification as well as what kind of butterfly and/or moth they turn into.

The one caterpillar is munching on Spanish Broom. The other is crossing our drive. The area is 15 miles east of Hagerman NM. Thank you! Marcia

Answer:  Good day to you…I have received your email about the two caterpillars you are asking questions about and identification.

1.       Known by two names the Broom Moth/Pyralid Moth are one and the same. It is also known as the Genista Moth because moth feeds on this genus/family of plants which your Spanish Broom belongs too.

These moths are not very attractive, they are not butterflies with lots of color. Broom moths are a golden medium brown on their outside wings with some darker spots. The inner wings are a brighter gold to yellow. They are a small moth and have a pointed snout with large brown to black beady eyes.

They are considered a pests, since they eat landscape plants and they do feed on other types of vegetation. You can find a few or by the thousands of caterpillars attacking a shrub or tree.

2.       The other large caterpillar is known as the (tomato) Hornworm. They can be found in shades of green, to pinkish and a flesh tone depending on the host plants they are feeding on, the other color is a camouflage. They are easily identified with the signature horn on their rear-in. Vegetables are a main food source and there are several rangeland native plants they will be found munching on in the wild. This caterpillar does turn into the Sphinx Moth, and is also known as the Hawk or Hummingbird moth as they do mimic the flights and patterns of hummingbirds feeding

       The adult moth can have a wing span of 3 inches, they are a moth that has color and designs on its body instead of a normal brown to dull grays on other moths. The Sphinx Moth is an excellent evening to night-time pollinator. For control on veggies pick them off and put them on large leafed-plants in the rangeland such as jimson weed another plant they will eat. I personally enjoy this moth during the summer months to fall, a lot of folks mistake this moth as a hummer.

Voting for CHOF Inductees

It is time, once again, to vote for individuals who have been nominated to be inducted into the Lea County Cowboy Cowboy Hall of Fame.

The by-laws of the Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame require nominations for induction into the Hall of Fame to be solicited by the Board from the general membership of the Museum.  That process is complete. The Directors then established a committee to formulate a ballot.  The by-laws require that the membership of the Museum then votes for the election of the Hall of Fame using the ballot established by the committee.

Please note: Individual members automatically have been sent ONE ballot, Family Memberships have been sent TWO (Family memberships with additional ADULT family members living at home may request additional ballots for those additional members by calling me at 575-492-2676).  Ballots must be received at the Museum no later than 5 p.m., October 16.

Honorees selected for induction into the Cowboy Hall of Fame will be recognized at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet and Membership meeting on November 3, 2017.

Biography for 2017 Bronze Cowboy Nominee Bennett Jackson Caudill

Bennett Jackson Caudill (b. February 2, 1890 – d. April 1, 1972)

Born in Monkstown, Texas, Bennett Jackson “B.J.” Caudill moved to Lea County in 1930 where he established and operated the first feed store in Hobbs, the Derrick Feed Store (a subsidiary of Red Chain Feed in Ft. Worth).  B.J. and his wife, Etta Dee Phillips Caudill had six daughters:  Katherine Brothers, Geraldine Kersey, Mildred Carter, Daphna Williams, Gladys Jelinek, and Bennetta Holdridge.  From these six daughters came numerous grandchildren, one of which is the conductor of the Southwest Symphony, Mark Jelinek. 

The Caudill’s were devout members of the First Baptist Church in Hobbs.  Ben served as deacon and taught teenage boys in his Sunday school class. Having no sons, he unofficially “adopted” some of his students.  A few notable examples are William Brock, Dr. Williams Stone, and Kenny Shelton.  B. J. served on the Hobbs City Council for 8 years.  His appointment to the Buildings Committee yielded such prominent structures as the Hobbs City Hall (current police station) and the Hobbs Public Library. B.J. was also a proud member of the Masons.

            Caudilll contributed greatly to the ranching industry in Lea County through his livestock feed service.  When he arrived in Hobbs, there were no feed stores, and ranchers had to travel great distances (Midland, Clovis, and Seagraves) to procure livestock provisions. This created a substantial overhead for Lea County ranchers, not to mention the travel time involved.  B.J. would drive to Seagraves, Texas and bring back feed, delivering it directly to the ranches.  This service saved area ranchers a great deal of money and time.  Many of the ranchers (many are Hall of Fame inductees) were able to establish successful ranches, and many became the most prominent names in Lea County ranching.  Eventually, he did open a feed store in Hobbs after securing a building. 

B.J.’s ranching career was born by his generous payment terms that he offered area residents.  Some of them even paid with cattle, horses, eggs, and other miscellaneous items.  B.J.  had a secret shoebox (hidden from Etta Dee) of I. O. U’s.  Many of the prominent ranchers and 4H students had slips in the box – some paid and some did not. He said he never lost money with this generous system.

           

B.J. established several ranches in Lea County as a result of accepting livestock as payment as well as his own purchases.  A couple of them are still in existence. One is located near the Texas state line (Seminole Highway) and is still occupied by family members.  Another one of his prominent ranches, the 7K Ranch, is located south of Hobbs near the Prairie Haven Cemetery.  Part of the Hobbs Army Air Base belonged to B.J.  He also had a ranch near Monument.

                       

After retiring from Lea County ranching in 1941, B.J. became bored and volunteered to refuel B-17s at the Hobbs Army Air Base at night.  Eventually, B.J. moved to Odessa in 1947 and opened yet another Red Chain Feed Store and operated it until his final retirement in 1962.  B.J. returned to Hobbs in 1970 until his death in 1972.  B.J. and his family were always grateful for the opportunities Lea County offered them and for the many friends they made here through the years.

Biography for 2017 Bronze Cowboy Nominee Neil Love

Herbert Neil Love (b. June 2, 1932 - d. August 31, 2014)

Herbert Neil Love was born in Cottonwood, Texas and grew up in Spur Texas, son of boot makers, Herbert and Donnie Lee Love. He admired the cowboys from the surrounding ranches and when they came into the boot shop, he enjoyed listing to their stories. At a very young age, he developed a passion and love of horses and rodeo. His folks knew that Neil was happiest when he was on a horse and they encouraged him to realize his dream.

As a teenager, working in the family business, Neil began tying up ropes to sell and for his own use. He entered junior rodeos and in 1950, at the age of 18, Neil won “All Around Cowboy” at the Southwestern Championship Junior Rodeo in Post, Texas, the first of many titles over a forty-year span.

His family moved to Lovington, New Mexico in 1953 just as Neil was drafted into the Army. Neil served in Korea, and upon discharge came to make Lovington his home, learning the boot making craft from his parents. He attended Texas Tech University and was a member of the rodeo team. In 1955, Neil and his teammates captured the National Collegiate Rodeo Association title.

Neil joined the Rodeo Cowboys Association and enjoyed a highly successful career on the rodeo circuit, making the National Finals six of the first seven years that they were held. He won such prestigious events as steer wrestling at Cheyenne in 1963 and calf roping at the Cow Palace in San Francisco in 1964. He also won “All Around Cowboy” at the 1968 Lea County Rodeo.

In 1968 Neil started “Neil Love Ropes.” Neil designed and built a vertical rope twisting machine still in use today at the rope factory. He operated his rope factory for many years and at the same time kept his horses ready to go. He turned to team roping in later years, and always looked forward to saddling up for another roping. After a crippling stroke in 1995, he no longer competed.

In 1970 Franklin Daines, a cowboy and western wear owner from Alberta, Canada invited Neil to his home to conduct a roping school. During instruction time Neil would tell about some of his rodeo experiences. He reminded the students often of how commitment and regular practice would allow the accomplished cowboy to “hang out their shingle someday.” The last evening of the school, the students presented Neil with a shingle of his own which read, “Neil Love – Cowboy.”  Neil passed away in August, 2014.

  

Biography for 2017 Bronze Cowboy Nominee Tommy Charles Price

Tommy Charles Price (b. September 19, 1934 – d. April 22, 2005)

Tommy Charles Price was born in the family home north of Tatum, NM and was a life-long Lea County rancher.  He and Peggy J. Sullins were married on November 16, 1954 and were married until his death in 2005.  Tommy and Peggy had three sons: Charley, Sid, and Sterling Price.

Tommy was a National Champion High School Bull Rider, a National Champion High School Calf Roper, and the All-Around Cowboy runner-up for the National High School Rodeo Association.  Known for his love of helping area children, Tommy served numerous Lea County organizations throughout his life including serving as the President of the National High School Rodeo Association, the New Mexico High School Association, a member of the Tatum NM school board, and the Liberty National Bank Board (now Western Commerce Bank).  He was also a member of the Lea County Electric Cooperative Board and the NM Livestock Association.

A successful, lifetime rancher and roper, Tommy enjoyed helping young people learn the art of roping, riding, and cowboy work on the ranch.  He passed away on April 22, 2005 and is buried in the Tatum cemetery.

Biography for 2017 Bronze Cowboy Nominee Mathias Willhoit

Mathias Willhoit (b. December 30, 1863 - d. September 18, 1952)

Mathais Willhoit was born on December 30, 1863, in Floyd County, Texas, near what is now known as the town of Floydada.  Growing up on the plains of West Texas, Mathias spend his days helping his parents establish and expand their land holdings and fledgling cattle business.  He and Christian Elizabeth Yates were married and that union spanned a lifetime, surviving good times and bad, prosperity and destitution, joy and sorrow.  The union would produce eight children, seven of whom survived to adulthood.  Those surviving children were Van Otto, Frank, Floyd, Ky, Brownie, Gladys and Lottie.

In 1905, the Willhoit family set out to seek their fortune.  Loading up the family’s covered wagon with supplies, they struck out across the plains.  Christian drove the wagon, and Mathias followed, bringing along their two horses, a few head of cattle, and some very large dreams.  It was not an easy trip.  At one point the lack of food became a major concern. Supplies were low, but the hardy pioneer family survived by harvesting and cooking mesquite beans.  To combat the resulting “scours” (more commonly known as diarrhea), Mrs. Willhoit created a concoction of flour and water which worked to end the affliction.

Eventually crossing into New Mexico Territory, the family staked claim to 160 acres west of what is now the Knowles community.  As time passed, the ranching family holdings grew to encompass 16 sections of land and a large herd of cattle.  The rosy future was interrupted by the droughts of 1916, 1917 and the great blizzard of 1918.  As the Willhoit’s struggled to keep their ranch together, the family received word that Van Otto, Mathias’ and Christian’s eldest son was killed in France, only six days before the Armistice ending WWI.  He is buried in Flander’s Field in France.

Still the pioneer family carried on.  Battling the winds, the lack of water, numerous small and large-scale disasters, they endured.  Never losing their faith, holding on to the strong beliefs and family values that had sustained them thus far, they endured.  Then, in 1929, the final blow to the ranching dream fell.  As the Great Depression swept the nation, cattle prices were at an all-time low.  Bank loans were non-existent.  With very few cattle left and no bull for breeding, Mathias was forced to make a life-altering decision.  Having located a bull for sale in Carlsbad, he put his land up as collateral again the price of the bull, never dreaming the unthinkable disaster would strike.  The morning Mathias returned with the bull, a white-face Hereford, the future of the ranch, was found dead in the pasture.

And so, it was, after 20 years of ranching, the Willhoit family once again packed all they owned and headed out, this time the fates leading them to the small community of Lovington.  Mathias built the couple’s new home himself, following the self-imposed guideline of “lots and lots of nails.”  It was at this time Mathias entered his new career in law enforcement becoming a deputy to Sheriff Sam Cain. He would also take on the responsibility of being the local jailer.  Christian opened and ran a small café known as “The White Way,” also providing meals to the prisoners in her husband’s jail.

Willhoit’s dedication to his job was legendary among the law enforcement community.  Once, when a Hobbs resident had been arrested and was accused of a heinous crime, Willhoit and Sheriff Cain transported the man to a place outside of Plains Texas before an angry lynch mob could gather at the jail.  While Mathias and the Sheriff moved the accused, Mrs. Willhoit was left to tend the jail.  When the mob, with torches and ropes, demanded justice, Mrs. Willhoit stood her ground, agreeing to allow three of the mob inside the jail to ascertain that the accused was indeed gone.  Her method of diffusing the situation was exemplary even by today’s standards and she stands tall as a strong and just helpmate for a strong and just man. 

Another incident involved two notorious cattle rustlers who shot at Willhoit and the sheriff, hitting the sheriff’s belt buckle but leaving both men unharmed.  Willhoit and Cain pursued the outlaws, with the lawmen in pursuit, the rustlers fled the region to avoid hanging and were never heard from again.

After a full, multi-faceted, and rewarding life, Mathias Willhoit died in 1952, at the age of 89.  Husband, father, rancher, lawman, he left behind a legacy of godliness, truthfulness, hard work, and dedication.