About the Author - Lindy Bell

 A project ten years in the making, "Fully Involved" is Lindy Bell’s debut novel and avidly reflects her admiration and love of the fire service. Thoroughly researched, the quest for accuracy for the book led Lindy to participate in the Plano Citizens Fire Academy, attend classes and accompany firefighters on ride outs. With a retired fire chief and a current paramedic/firefighter in the family, Lindy has witnessed firsthand the dedication and humbleness of first responders which fueled the impetus to convey the importance of the legendary fire service brotherhood and create cancer awareness and

its growing effect on the fire service. 

A project ten years in the making, "Fully Involved" is Lindy Bell’s debut novel and avidly reflects her admiration and love of the fire service. Thoroughly researched, the quest for accuracy for the book led Lindy to participate in the Plano Citizens Fire Academy, attend classes and accompany firefighters on ride outs. With a retired fire chief and a current paramedic/firefighter in the family, Lindy has witnessed firsthand the dedication and humbleness of first responders which fueled the impetus to convey the importance of the legendary fire service brotherhood and create cancer awareness and its growing effect on the fire service. 

Lindy’s first book, Jane Austen Celebrates~Holidays & Occasions Regency Style, showcases Regency Era holidays and their impact on modern holiday celebration traditions. A member of the Jane Austen Society of North America and Friends of Jane Austen, Lindy has spoken to a variety of groups and taught Continuing and Adult Professional Education courses at Southern Methodist University (SMU).

A graduate of Hobbs High School and Abilene Christian University, Lindy currently lives in Plano, TX and works from home for a municipal government executive recruitment and training firm. As hobbies, Lindy enjoys volunteering with Plano Fire Rescue Associates, writing, reading an engaging novel, calligraphy, and cross stitching.
Lindy’s first book, Jane Austen Celebrates~Holidays & Occasions Regency Style, showcases Regency Era holidays and their impact on modern holiday celebration traditions. A member of the Jane Austen Society of North America and Friends of Jane Austen, Lindy has spoken to a variety of groups and taught Continuing and Adult Professional Education courses at Southern Methodist University (SMU).

A graduate of Hobbs High School and Abilene Christian University, Lindy currently lives in Plano, TX and works from home for a municipal government executive recruitment and training firm. As hobbies, Lindy enjoys volunteering with Plano Fire Rescue Associates, writing, reading an engaging novel, calligraphy, and cross stitching.

Fully Involved - Book Signing

 

Inductee: Tommy Charles Price

 

Born:  September 19, 1934

Birthplace:  Mattie Price Ranch, Tatum, NM

Parents: Alvin and Mattie Price

Spouse:  Peggy J. Sullins

Children:  Charley, Sid, and Sterling

Died: April 22, 2005

Tommy Charles Price was born in the family home North of Tatum, NM. Being a grandson to Tatum pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. Russ Anderson, and was a life-long Lea County rancher. He took great pride in his home and ranch being in the family for over 100 years. He and Peggy J. Sullins were married on November 16, 1954.

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.  Tommy served numerous Lea County organizations throughout his life including President of the National High School Rodeo Association, the New Mexico High School Association, 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, Tommy ran about 5,000 head of yearlings and about 400 cows on owned and leased land around the Tatum area. From Crossroads to North of Hobbs and from Caprock to North of Bronco, at the height of his career. Tommy would eat, breathe and sleep cowboy-ing throughout his life. He was an artist at working any class of cattle quickly and efficiently. Tommy was considered by many to be one of the best draggers in New Mexico. He was not only known for wearing out flankers in the branding pen but his fun-loving personality and enthusiasm made the work fun for everyone. Tommy also loved anything related to the ranching lifestyle, like roping, sharing all his knowledge with anyone who wanted to learn. There were many people that grew up in town that never would have experience the lifestyle if it wasn’t for Tommy’s heart for the traditions and patience to teach. He had a soft spot for troubled youth and took in many young adults and kids over the years, teaching them how to rope, cowboy and work hard, so they could have a better chance in life. 

Tommy’s sentiment for Lea County’s Ranching Heritage and the role he and his family had in it was most prominent in his last brag: he spoke of how privileged he was to reach the end of his life on the original homestead, and with his bed in the same place, in the same bedroom, in the same house, that his granddaddy had.  

Inductee: Daniel C. Berry III

 

BORN

December 4, 1947

BIRTHPLACE

Lovington, NM

PARENTS

Dan and Wilma Berry

SPOUSE

Libby Berry

CHILDREN

Jessica Berry Hilton

Shaun

Jeff Hilton, Son-in-Law

Hannah, Luke and Dillon, grandchildren

Danny Berry was raised in Lea County by his parents, Dan and Wilma Berry on the family ranch west of Eunice.  Danny’s family moved to the Berry Ranch in 1932.  Growing up, he was the only child on the four to five ranches around his own, giving him experiences that made him the man he is today.  He Graduated from Eunice High School in 1966.  He was an active participant in LCJRA and AJRA as a youth.

While attending Sul Ross State University, Danny was on the rodeo team as a roper, and became president of the Sul Ross Rodeo Club.  He graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business.  Danny met his wife, Libby, at the many Wednesday night team ropings hosted by Libby’s dad, Giles Lee, on the Swamp Angel Ranch south of Lovington.  They were married in 1969.  An avid team roper, Danny won the Windy Ryon Team Roping in Fort Worth in 1979 and won the Lea County Team Roping Championship several times.  In 1982, Danny started competing in single steer roping.  He competed in the Invitational Steer Roper’s Association and won their year-end championship several times.  He went on to compete in the PRCA as a steer roper where he was the runner up for Rookie of the Year in 1985. Friends who steer roped with Danny say his horse JJ was one of the best.  They say you couldn’t ride JJ for anything else, but there was hardly a better horse to rope steers. 

Danny and his brother, Philip, bought the family ranch in 1977.  Danny now owns, operates, and lives at the Berry Ranch.  Besides raising Charolais and Hereford crossbred cattle, Danny has expanded into raising some straight bred Red Angus cattle.  He and Libby lease the Swamp Angel Ranch at Buckeye and are partners with Bill Sims in the B&S Partnership Ranch at Halfway.

Danny has served on the Lea County Fair Board including being Rodeo Chairman several years, as well as serving on the Lea County Road Advisory Board, and the Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame Board.  He served as an Adult Director for the Lea County Junior Rodeo Association.  He is a member of the New Mexico Cattle Grower’s Association and of Our Savior Lutheran Church.  In 2004, Danny was honored with the Young Rancher Award, now the Outstanding Rancher Award, for the Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame.  Danny feels ranching is his heritage and he is dedicated to conservation of the land.  He wants to see this good life continue with his family.

Silver Concho: Jim Davis

 

Outstanding Ranchers: Lynn and Katie Medlin

 

Working Cowboy: Mark Hicks

 

Megalomania

MEGALOMANIA

By Mary Lyle, Director of Education

The Megalodon has intrigued us for thousands of years, but the fascination with this ancient creature has increased in the past few years. It was featured in films like Shark Attack 3: Megalodon (2002) and The Meg (2018). Megalodon has also appeared in video games, comic books, and television shows. What accounts for the ancient shark’s popularity?

In 1988 The Discovery Channel created a series of programs entitled “Shark Week.” The idea was to stimulate public interest in shark conservation efforts. The documentary format featured on-camera experts who would explain the footage, dispelling misconceptions about sharks. Later on, however, the programs focused more on entertainment and less on science. In 2013 the network aired Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives, which turned out to be a fraud.

The Discovery Channel did include some disclaimers, but the emphasis was on sensation rather than the fact. There was a huge backlash and The Discovery Channel had to admit its part in perpetuating the fraud. The damage, however, was done. According to some sources, a large percentage of viewers of the program believed that they were watching a documentary with scientific content.

It reminds me of Orson Welles’ 1938 radio broadcast of War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells, which caused a panic.

Because many listeners did not hear the disclaimer at the beginning of the program, they did not realize that they were listening to a radio dramatization and not an actual news broadcast. As Christopher Klein writes, “Fear and anxiety had become a way of life in the 1930s, and it took little to rattle jittery Americans.” The listeners, who were accustomed to getting breaking news on the radio, were easily duped into believing that New Jersey had been attacked by Martians.

In much the same way, viewers, who were used to watching documentary programs on The Discovery Channel did not realize that much of the content, including the on-air “pseudo-experts” in Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives, was not real. There is a danger in mixing conjecture and dramatization with scientific content. Our exhibit contains a section that focuses on “Megalomania,” the cultural phenomenon. The exhibit features examples from popular culture —movies, magazines, books, jewelry, emblems, and motorcycle paraphernalia. Another section concentrates on “Megalodon Myths”— the urban myths that circulate, especially on the internet.

Megalodon: Largest Shark That Ever Lived was produced by the Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, with support from the National Science Foundation, and has a lot of factual material about this prehistoric creature. While the Museum is still closed to the public, we have been posting a lot of interesting information on our website and our YouTube channel, and on our Facebook page.

Klein, C. (2013, October 30). Inside "The War of the WORLDS" radio broadcast. Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://www.history.com/news/inside-the-war-of-the-worlds-broadcast

"Virtual" Classic Films

Black History Month

 

Valentine's Day