Camp Wood Hardware & Auto Supply the American Rancher Has
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Thursday, May 21, 2020 THE TEXAS MOHAIR WEEKLY Page 3 The Idle American Friday night’s ‘production’ causes damage Friday night gave the A Book by a Back-Up… area quite a dramatic produc- University’s first-ever consensus tion of a storm. Before dark All-American football player to and in an instant the tempera- earn the honor in successive years ture cooled down 10+ degrees (1963 and 1964). and the wind started blowing It’s as much about “heart” as athletics, though. Elkins’ “tick- like never before. er” is as big as the expanse of the In Rocksprings, the pow- Old West, and his Texas drawl er went out for a little bit. For exceeds any the Marlboro man my family, we were in the could muster. middle of making supper so He was the product of an quickly switched from grilled asphalt-covered Central Elemen- cheese to a good old fashion tary playground, a hard-scrabble childhood and races to the dinner PB&J, by kerosene lantern. table to “avoid being last.” There This light pole and tree were nine other half-brothers and at the post office were blown sisters, and he was the young- over, and there are other re- est…. Ron Davis, track record- ports of trees and even a wind- ***** setter mill that were damaged due to Yep, he was, as they say, high wind speeds. Lawrence Elkins, high “all boy.” His mother, an ardent elevator--was big-eyed. On the front page you see school four-sport star church-goer, regularly dragged But Lawrence’s mom re- him to the Pentecostal Church minded him of his commitment the rain reports. I’m over here “No one is an idol to his of God, stationing him on the to Baylor, and off to college he thinking that Mother Nature valet.” Historian/writer Thomas first pew. went. made a big deal out of just a Carlyle so contended two centu- Once, a lady seated next to There, he set several re- little rain! ries ago. him accidentally blackened his cords (none of them academic, he In one case dating back 60+ eye with an errant elbow. jokes), and fans still speak of him years, Carlyle would have been “Momma let me sit on the in reverent tones…. “dead wrong” about a couple of second pew for a few Sundays, ***** Brownwood High School athletes. and called me a ‘little heathen’ Upon graduation, he signed Lawrence Elkins--the “idol”-- less often,” he mused, admit- with the Houston Oilers for re-wrote dozens of records in ting he was “somewhat inatten- $170,000, kidded a year later by four sports, dazzled at Baylor in tive.”... Texas Tech’s Donnie Anderson, football and might have re-written ***** who signed with Green Bay for Photo by Brenna Bissett National Football League stats if Everyone knew he was $944,000. “The Oilers’ offer injuries hadn’t “done him in.” destined to greatness, this young- included the gift of a Phillips His “valet”--a year behind ster who balanced on handlebars 66 service station, which Elkins him--subbed for Elkins on the of bicycles ridden by siblings claimed upon retirement. With a The American Rancher has 1960 AAA State Championship and friends. Besides re-writing chunk of his bonus, he remodeled football team. Ron Davis, also high school football, basketball his folks’ home, bought them a 76, is best known for church and track records, he was an ace new car and deposited $2,500 always been a critical worker music ministry. Now, he’s also pitcher on amateur teams each in their bank account. He also BY ROBERT E. MCKNIGHT, home orders, many were greeted to feed American families, the an author…. summer. funded central heating and cool- JR., PRESIDENT, TEXAS AND with empty shelves and meat cases. manufacturers of highly processed ***** Football was king. When ing for his mom’s church. SOUTHWESTERN CATTLE Fortunately, this is due to the lo- meat substitutes are continuing to A friend claims that about the late Gordon Wood came to The 76-year-old Elkins-- RAISERS ASSOCIATION gistics of getting things where they push a profit-driven agenda that is need to go, not an actual supply dependent on their ability to mislead one of every 100 people who men- town in 1960, the Lions had with “creaks in his get-along”-- There’s no question COVID- tion writing a book does so, and beaten Breckenridge only once, lives in Clifton with wife Becky. shortage. Nonetheless, millions of consumers. They may have gravely 19 has had an enormous impact on Americans faced the prospect of overestimated the naivety of Ameri- of that number, only a handful get back in 1941. Elkins helped the Elkins and Davis are “co- our country. We will continue to feel around to publishing. limited food options for the first can consumers. While meat was Lions beat the Buckaroos 18-14, champions” in one category, that its effects for a long time and, in time in their lives. flying off supermarket shelves, fake At one of Lawrence’s eight en route to the 1960 AAA cham- being for their absolute mod- some respects, it will likely have a The saying goes: A nation meat products remained idly in their hall of fame inductions several pionship. esty. Read the Amazon book, and permanent impact on our nation. with an abundant, affordable food display cases. years ago, Ron told Lawrence Immediately, Wood was you’ll understand why. They’re Despite the tremendous toll supply has many problems, but a I am proud to be part of an we have paid to combat the virus, he’d like to write a book about the THE town favorite, so viewed both champions…. nation without an abundant, af- industry that works tirelessly to care Brownwood sports legend. I do see reasons for hope and opti- fordable food supply has only one for the people, livestock and land until his death in 2003. After all, ***** mism. For one, it has brought our Elkins answered, “Go for he won seven BHS state football Newbury is a former edu- problem. of this country, not just in times of country and communities closer It’s unfortunate, but I think a need, but every day. Cattle produc- it.”… titles…. cator who writes weekly and together as we fight for a common ***** lot of people got a glimpse at this tion is an essential part of our daily *****. is a longtime public speaker. cause. This isn’t an uncommon truth because of the COVID-19 lives. So much so, that agricultural For the past few years, he The Elkins’ word was their Comments/speaking inquiries phenomenon after disasters. Politics has conducted interviews, visited pandemic. Many now understand producers were not only exempted bond. After a baseball tournament to: [email protected]. and personal differences are put what we have always known – cattle from stay-at-home orders but re- sports luminaries and researched in 1961, a scout offered Lawrence Phone: 817-447-3872. Web site: aside as communities pull together producers are essential to our sur- quired to continue to report to work vigorously. Published late last a $25,000 signing bonus. Law- www.speakerdoc.com Twitter: to help their own on the road to vival, both as individuals and as a during the COVID-19 crisis. year, his book includes many sto- rence’s dad--a big baseball fan @donnewbury. Facebook: don recovery. nation. My fellow leaders and staff at ries and statistics. Elkins--a three- With non-essential busi- Every day, the Texas and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle who supported his family driving newbury nesses closed, and millions of sport star at BHS--was Baylor trucks and later operating a bank Southwestern Cattle Raisers As- Raisers Association have worked Americans ordered to stay at home, sociation stands up to fight activists diligently to ensure the beef supply many have seen their daily distrac- who want to do away with beef chain continues moving regardless tions fade. This means things are and put ranchers out of business. of the challenges presented by the moving a little slower, and people These individuals and groups use coronavirus. From the Desk of the Mayor have more time to focus on what misleading and flawed data to Maintaining the beef supply, really matters – faith, family and convince consumers that beef is so store shelves stay full, will con- BY LAWANDA GOLLER our fellow neighbors. bad for their health and bad for the tinue to be our first priority, but the I am sorry to announce the The budget for 2020-2021 will and wearing of masks when in There has also been a renewed environment. real credit goes to the cattle produc- not be worked until August and public. The wearing of masks is focus on agriculture, both within gov- The head of one prominent ers who make up our membership. resignation of Councilmember ernment and politics, and also among Brenna Bissett. She has been a September. to keep your neighbor safe as well fake meat manufacturer even said I hope everyone will join the general population. during the midst of the coronavirus me in thanking all of the American great asset to the Rocksprings City Covid-19 certainly has as yourself. I do not know about As consumers flocked to Council. With her resignation we messed with a lot of plans that your doctors but none of mine are outbreak that he wants to com- ranchers and agricultural workers grocery stores in preparation for pletely replace animals as food who continue to work so diligently will be needing a replacement, were made for the City but now seeing patients in their offices.