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