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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
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Top Stories

Monday, July 6, 1998

Brazile captures top honor again


By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer
Before Trevor Brazile made a name for himself on the
Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association tour, he had staked
out a place in the record books at the West of the Pecos
Rodeo.

The Decatur, Tx., cowboy was just a month out of high
school back in 1995 when he won the all around title at the
113th edition of the West of the Pecos Rodeo. Last week when
Brazile returned to Pecos, he was ranked second to Ty Murray
in the world standings for all-around cowboy, and on
Saturday he helped out his cause by again claiming the
all-around title at the West of the Pecos Rodeo.

Brazile pocketed over $8,000 by placing in all three
go-arounds in steer roping and fourth in the average with
J.P. Wickett in team roping.

"It's been a lot better this year. The Lord's really
blessed me this year," said Brazile, who - like many other
cowboys - competed in several rodeos over the July 4 weekend.

"I didn't do as real good anywhere else. I won a little
here and there," he said. "But Pecos has been good to me.
I've won money here every year."

Brazile finished fifth in the first go-round of steer
roping on June 29, then placed third the following day under
muddy conditions in the second go. Saturday night, his 13.1
time again was fourth, and the combined three round time of
36.3 seconds was good enough to give him second place
overall, behind 12-time world's champion Guy Allen.

"It was a lot easier (Saturday)," Brazile said of the arena
conditions, while adding, "The ground soaked it up pretty
fast, so it wasn't really that bad."

"The committee does good work and Mack (Altizer, Bad
Company Rodeo producer) does a good job putting this
together every year. It's a real enjoyable experience to
come here."

In team roping, Brazile and Wickett moved up to third in
the average by winning Saturday's short go with a 7.7 second
time. It gave them a combined 30.3 time for their three
rides. Rowdy Reiken and Shawn Darnell, the first go-round
winners, also won the average with a 23.9 time, and placed
second on Saturday at 8.3 seconds. The win was worth
$4,772.07 to each cowboy.

Meanwhile, Allen followed up his sixth place finish last
Monday in steer roping by winning the second go-round on
Tuesday. He then took second behind Abilene's Jim Davis in
the final go Saturday night, and his combined 35.7 second
time was a new record for the Buck Jackson Rodeo Arena.

Allen and Brazile were among a number of familiar names to
come away winners in the roping competition.

Tee Woolman placed second in the all-around competition,
earning $3,361.67 in steer roping and team roping. He tied
for second in the first go-round of steer roping and then
was sixth in the second go, before running into problems on
Saturday night. Earlier, he and partner Tyler Mangus were
fifth overall in team roping at 34.3 seconds, and were third
in Saturday's competition, with a 9.1 time.

Former world champions Jake Barnes and Clay O'Brien Cooper
were second in the average, at 25.6 seconds, and finished
fourth on Saturday, with a 9.2 second effort.

Last year's all-around champion at the West of the Pecos
Rodeo, Rope Myers, actually earned nearly $2,000 more at
this year's rodeo. Myers didn't qualify for the all around
in any roping events this year, but he won both the first go
round and the average in steer wrestling, and picked up
$5,673.29.

Myers 13.1 overall time beat out Bryan Fields of Rosharon,
who finished at 14 second flat. Myers following up his win
in the first go with a fourth place effort in the second go,
and on Saturday the Van, Tx., native was fifth, at 4.8
seconds.

Norm Bates of Crownpoint, N.M., won on Saturday with a 4.3
time, while Frank Davis was .3 seconds behind in second
place, and Fields was third, at 4.7 seconds. Brent Arnold of
Coleman had the fastest time of the rodeo, winning the
second go in an even four seconds.

Like Myers, Reiken and Darnell, Chad Hagan followed up his
first go win with a victory in the average in calf roping.
The Leesville, La., cowboy was second to Shawn Felton on
Saturday with an 11.1 second time, and his combined 33.4
time beat out Stran Smith of Tell, La., who had a 35.4 time.
Hagan collected $5,499.70 for his efforts in Pecos.

Mark Ivy of Mountain Home and No. 2 all-time money winner
Joe Beaver of Hunstville tied for first place in the second
go-round, at 9.8 second, while all-time money leader Roy
Cooper was third overall ion the average, with a 35.7 time,
and Cliff Kirkpatrick of Post was third in the short go on
Saturday, at 11.7 seconds.

Kirkpatrick's wife, Dena, saw her 17.24 second ride on the
first full night of the rodeo held up through the final
three nights to win the ladies barrel race and a first prize
of $2,236.56. Kirkpatrick of Post, was a quarter-second
better than Fort Stockton's Courtney Bowman, who took over
second on Saturday with a 17.49 time. Vicki Reinhart's 17.78
time was third.

The riding events were also one-attempt scores, and none of
the leaders after the first three nights of competition were
displaced on Saturday.

Eli Thompson of Seagoville had the biggest single payout of
the rodeo, $6,201.90 for winning the bull riding
competition. His 85-point ride on board `Doctor Doctor' on
Friday edged Chris Littlejohn, who scored 83 points on the
rodeo's opening night. Eric Bogany also rode on Friday and
placed third, with an 81 point effort on `Unbelievable'

Bud Longbrake's 79-point ride aboard `Smoke' during
Wednesday's first performance did hold up. He collected
$5,052.64 for first, one point ahead of Red Lemmel and Tom
Reeves. Both scored 78 points on Friday, Lemmel scored his
total on board `Maria' while Reeves rode `Shake It Up' and
both picked up $3,368.29.

Jason Wiley won the bareback riding competition with an
82-point score Thursday night on `No Satisfaction.' He beat
out William Pittman, who rode the same horse for 81 points a
night earlier, while Troy Thompson earned third, with 79
points on `White Lightning' Wiley's ride was worth $4,572.30.

In the two local events, Clay Taylor and Espy Howard won
the wild cow milking competition, while in the wild horse
race, Jason Owen, Jay Fowlkes and Don Alligood took first
place Saturday night.

Saturday's rodeo was a full house at the Buck Jackson Rodeo
Arena, after about a three-quarter full arena on Friday
night and smaller crowds the first two nights. The total
payout of $218,425.25 was slightly above 1997's total, when
the West of the Pecos Rodeo placed among the Top 15 for
rodeos in the United States and Canada.
For daily results see Rodeo Results

Ricochet attracts 1,300 to Civic Center


By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
About 1,300 people were on hand to welcome back former Pecos
residents and rising country music stars Jeff and Junior
Bryant, who were in Pecos along with their band, Ricochet,
for a Fourth of July performance at the Reeves County Civic
Center.

"It went really well, we had a good turnout and everybody
had a great time," said West of the Pecos Rodeo Committee
President Ray Owen, who added that the group played
exceptionally well and provided a good show.

The band members were on hand following the performance late
Saturday night to sign autographs and have their picture
taken.

"We're happy to be back in our hometown even though we don't
have that much time to visit," said Jeff Bryant.

Bryant said the two brothers were coming home with "mixed
emotions."

"We're just glad we go to see so many friends," said Bryant.

The two were also accompanied by their father, Jimmy Bryant,
who first got them started in the show business.

Jimmy Bryant started "The Lariat Band," in the 1980s. Both
brothers were members, and performed at many rodeo events
over they ears.

They've been members of Ricochet for the past five years, in
which Jeff plays the drums while Junior plays the fiddle.
Both are accomplished singers.

The group are winners of the Country Music's and Country
Weekly Magazine's Top New Vocal Group of the Year Awards in
1996.

A smashing debut garnered the newcomer's "Group of the Year"
raves in the Radio and Records Reader's Poll, and found them
registered by SoundScan as the #1-selling group in country
music for 19 straight weeks.

With a number one record, "Daddy's Money," and three top-10
singles under their belt, Ricochet is set to release a third
disc in early fall of 1998.

This six-member band is made up Heath Wright, lead vocals
and guitar; Eddie Kilgallon, keyboards; Jr. Bryant, fiddle;
Jeff Bryant, drums; Teddy Carr, steel guitar and Greg Cook,
bass guitar.

The groups newest effort will be out July 20 in the form of
a new CD. Their single, "Honky Tonk Baby," is already being
played by several radio stations around the country.

Saturday's performance at the Reeves County Civic Center
began following the final performance of the West of the
Pecos Rodeo at the adjacent Buck Jackson Rodeo Arena.

Candidate says state farmers threatened


By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
The Democratic candidate for Texas Agriculture Commissioner
believes that if the agriculture commission will do what
their supposed to do, it will have a better effect on
economy in Texas.

Pete Patterson was in Pecos during the Fourth of July
festivities and said he planned to meet with area farmers
and ranchers.

"Texas farmers need crops that will provide their families
with a good living," said Patterson. "If we don't start
attracting more people in the agriculture business, there
will be more people out of work."

Patterson has served seven years on West Lamar School Board,
four years as Lamar County Commissioner and 11 terms in the
Texas House of Representatives. During that time, he has
always been on the Agriculture and Livestock Committee and
is currently serving his fourth term as chairman the
committee.

Patterson still farms and ranches at his farm near Paris,
Tx., northeast of Dallas.

"I'm very interested in agriculture and feel that we need to
support products that will eventually benefit all of Texas,"
he said.

"From day one, farming has been a very, very important part
of the economy of Texas," said Patterson, who will face
Republican John Cornyn in the November general election.

Patterson said that when John White was agriculture
commissioner in the early 1980s, he and his administration
did a very, very good job in representing agriculture and
that it has gone downhill since then. "I hope to see this
happen again, where agriculture plays a major role in Texas
economy," he said.

Patterson wants to provide a positive economic growth in
rural and urban Texas, open new markets for food and fiber
crops grown in Texas and provide for a livable future for
young people in Texas agriculture.

Patterson said he is working to help Texas farmers take
advantage of the latest in farm crop developments and
agro-technology, and recently, part of his farmland was used
to produce an alternative crop called kenaf. The United
States Department of Agriculture is researching several new
crops that can grow in Texas as well as utilize the crops
for more ecologically friendly industries.

Patterson added that a lot of fruits and vegetables that
have found their way to the tables of Texas households have
not been inspected properly. "I will establish a food safety
lab that will be FDA certified, where we can do adequate
testing," he said.

"We can produce anything we need to in this state and we
need everyone's total support of products including cotton,
and organic products," he said.

Taylor set for college after Golden Girl


By CLAUDE W. PORTER
Contributing Writer
She stands five-foot-ten and medium-cut, golden-brown hair
peeps from under her big black Stetson. Her dark brown eyes
smile, and without a word, she says, "I'm your friend."

Gail Taylor was crowned "Golden Girl of the Old West" at
Pecos in June, 1997. As she passed the crown to her
successor,17-year-old Erin Joslyn Dominguez, on June 26,
1998, an era came to an end. The Pecos Rotary Club sponsored
the Golden Girl pageant for 35 years. The 1997 performance
was the last. The Women's Division of the Pecos Chamber of
Commerce sponsored the 1998 pageant.

What does a vibrant, out-going young lady do after serving
her tenure as "Golden Girl of the Old West?"

After spending a year in which she represented Pecos at many
functions, Taylor says it's time to move on to the next
challenge.

"The pageant competition was fun," says Taylor. "I've
thoroughly enjoyed meeting and representing the fine people
of Pecos. The Water Carnival at Fort Stockton was fun.
Participating in the community 'Christmas Open House' was
great. It was a real opportunity to visit the civic clubs of
the community and attend the Chamber of Commerce Banquet."

Serving as Golden Girl of the Old West came natural to
Taylor. She began riding horses as a baby cradled in the
arms of her father, Gary. Her insatiable love for horses has
remained since early childhood. Big Six, a seven-year-old
bay Thoroughbred gelding is currently her horse.

Since sixth grade, along with her love for horses, Gail has
been driven to become an anesthesiologist. Now at that
crossroads which all young people must traverse, she is not
sure.

"I'm torn between anesthesiology and the stage," she says.
"I'm a people person. I like to interact with people."

In high school Gail participated in Mu Alpha Theta Math
Club, and Latin Club. Her sport of record was volleyball.
High school honors included being numbered in the top
fifteen per cent of the 1998 graduating class of Pecos High,
and a listing in Who's Who Among American High School
Students. She plans to enter Southwest Texas State
University at San Marcos this fall.

According to Gail's Mother, Mrs. Gary (Debbie) Taylor, "Gail
entered the Golden Girl of the Old West competition through
her own initiative. Her thought was not so much winning, but
having something to do during the summer."

Ask about her aspirations for her daughter, Mrs. Taylor
said, "Choose wisely. There are so many off-roads in this
life that can bring unhappiness to a young person. It's not
so much the choice of a vocation as it is the choice of a
vocation where one can contribute and be happy."

Gail's father is proud of his daughter's accomplishments.
"I'm Gail's biggest fan and supporter," says Mr. Taylor.

"Being the 'Golden Girl of the Old West' helped Gail get to
know a lot more people, get to know her community better,
and to know how to present herself to the public," stated
Taylor. "It has equipped her to meet challenges in the
future. Gail and all the girls who were in competition with
her for the title are all winners. There are no losers."

Gail Taylor has ridden in 16 Pecos Rodeo Parades, and rode
the winning float the first night of the 1997 Pecos Rodeo.

"I'm a proud papa," says her father, anticipating the trip
to San Marcos. "I plan to be there and carry her suit bags
up the stairs for her when she moves into the dorm."

On Tuesday, June 30th, Gail left for San Marcos to become a
freshman student at Southwest Texas State University.

Gail has an older brother, Kasey, who is stationed at Fort
Bragg, North Carolina, serving with the United States Army.

Teens caught in Fort Stockton


By GREG HARMAN
Staff Writer
Two Florida teens arrested in Fort Stockton on Thursday
could face the death penalty in their home state, while a
the daughter of their alleged victim could face life in
jail, Florida law enforcement officials said.

A trail of credit card purchases by the teens - who were
being sought at the time in the disappearance of a Tampa,
Fla., woman - led authorities across Interstate 10 from
Florida to West Texas, where Pecos County deputies abruptly
ended the chase by shooting out the fleeing Nissan minivan's
four tires after it ran a roadblock there.

Valessa Robinson, 15, was placed under arrest by Pecos
County sheriff's deputies just past 1 p.m. along with her
19-year-old boyfriend, Adam Davis, also known as
"Rattlesnake," and Jon Michael Whispel, also 19.

Initially arrested on charges on grand theft, grand theft
auto and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, both Whispel
and Davis were taken to Pecos County Jail. Robinson, a
minor, was transferred to the Ector County juvenile
detention in Odessa, where she is said to confessed to her
part in the murder of her 49-year-old mother, Vicki Robinson.

Allegedly murdered inside of her home, the single mother was
reported missing on Monday, June 29. Her body was discovered
on Friday following the confession. It was located, along
with a knife and a syringe said to be used in the murder,
more than six miles from her home next to a canal.

According to authorities, all three teenagers were anxious
to talk about the crime.

Valessa Robinson, who is now being held at the W.T. Edwards
Juvenile Detention Center in Tampa, Fla., was charged with
first degree murder on Saturday morning by Circuit Judge
Jack Espinosa, Jr.

According to a report in the <ital>Tampa Tribune, a
spokesman for the Florida attorney general's office said
Robinson will be tried as an adult, but will face a maximum
penalty of life in prison because of her age. Both Davis and
Whispel, if convicted in the murder, may face the death
penalty.

Both boys will be transported to Florida by the middle of
next week.

Holiday deaths include two near Toyah


By GREG HARMAN
Staff Writer
A one-vehicle rollover on Interstate 20 near Toyah which
left a mother and son dead early Friday morning was among
the first of 38 highway fatalities in Texas this Fourth of
July weekend.

According to Department of Public Safety Cpl. Emmit Moore,
who responded to the accident, the driver of the Ford
Aerostar van, Clarence Edward Boyd, 56, of Richmond, Va.,
fell asleep at the wheel while traveling westbound on I-20
near mile marker 11 early Friday morning.

"He ran off the road, overcorrected, lost control, crossed
over the highway and rolled one and a half times," Moore
said.

His report said Boyd's son, Jared M. Chambers, 21, was
thrown from the vehicle during the rollover, while his wife,
Shirley Ann Boyd, 57, appeared to have gotten out of the
vehicle following the accident, but then collapsed.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene at 4:15 a.m. Neither
had been wearing seat belts, Moore said.

The driver, who was wearing his seat belt, was transported
to Reeves County Hospital where he was treated and released.

Department of Public Safety spokesman Mike Cox said 38
people had been killed on Texas highways by 3 p.m. Sunday.
That is eight higher than the DPS predicted.

DPS officials in Midland confirmed that as the final number
for the weekend.

Thirty-four died during the July Fourth weekend last year.

The worst July Fourth holiday ever on Texas roads was 1994,
when 69 people were killed during the 78 hours. That
included 46 people killed on July 3, 1994, the deadliest day
ever on state highways.

OBITUARIES

Mary Eleanor Estes


Mary Eleanor Estes, 91, died in Aztec, N.M. on Thursday,
July 2, 1998. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 9,
in Allen-Korzenewski Funeral Home in Abilene, with burial in
Elmwood Memorial Gardens.

She was born April 30, 1907, in Barstow to pioneer physician
Wilmer DeWitt Black and Lizzie Y. Black. She graduated from
Simmons University in Abilene and taught in both high school
and elementary grades until retirement in 1972. She was a
member of the Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include one daughter, Bettie G. Taylor of Aztec,
N.M.; one sister, Elizabeth Bingham of Abilene; and one
brother, W. DeWitt Black of Colorado Springs; three
grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one
great-great-grandson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the
Aztec Presbyterian Church, 205 N. Church St., Aztec, N.M.
87410.

Wilfredo Garcia


Wilfredo "Willie" Garcia, 62, of Pecos, died Saturday, July
4, 1998 at Odessa Medical Center Hospital.

Mass was held at 2 p.m., today at Santa Rosa Catholic
Church, with burial in Mount Evergreen Cemetery.

He was born May 19, 1936, in Toyah, was a lifetime Pecos
resident and a Catholic.

Survivors include one brother, Jesus Garcia of Harlingen;
four sisters, Lydia Levario, Maria Villescas, Eloisa Leyva
and Judy Rodriguez of Pecos.

Martinez Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Robert Hulsey


Robert Hulsey, 79, died Sunday, July 5, 1998, in Hemet,
Calif. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Friday, July 10,
in Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, Calif.

He was born Aug. 28, 1918 in Texas and was a pipefitter in
Los Angeles, Calif. for 33 years. He was a World War II
veteran of the Marines, member of the Elks Lodge, and an
avid golfer and fisherman.

Survivors include his wife, Valeta Hulsey, of Homeland,
Calif; one son, Darnell Hulsey of Santa Ana, Calif.; three
brothers, Billy Doyle of Bishop, Calif., Lester Hulsey of
Hemet, Calif. and Phil Hulsey of Reno, Nev.; one sister,
Mona Miller of Vista, Calif.; three grandchildren, three
great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Doveta Pope


Evelyn Doveta Hunt Pope, 82, of San Angelo, died Tuesday,
June 30, 1998, at her residence after a brief illness.

Funeral service was held at 3 p.m., Wednesday, July 1, at
the Second Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Butts
officiating. Graveside service was held at 4 p.m., Thursday,
July 2, in Rest Lawn Memorial Park in El Paso with the Rev.
Levi Price officiating.

She was born May 26, 1916, in Durant, Okla., had taught at
Pecos High School in the home economic department, retired
as a schoolteacher after 33 years of service in public
education, was an active member in numerous civic and church
affairs.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Pope.

Survivors include one daughter, Evelyn Eileen Harris of
Stephenville; one son, Doug Hunt of Clinton, N.C.; two
step-daughters, Jeannie Harrell of College Station and Pat
Pope of Annapolis, Md.; eight grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Second
Baptist Church Building Fund, 2833 College Hills, San
Angelo, Tx., 76903.

WEATHER


High Sunday 105 degrees. The low this morning was 77
degrees. Forecast for tonight: Partly cloudy with a 30
percent chance of evening thunderstorms. Lows in the mid
70s. Tuesday, partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of
rain. Highs in the upper 90s to near 100.



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