A Salute to a Good Man

I am unexpectedly back in West Texas today.  I drove the 8 1/2 hours over here yesterday and am going back to Houston tomorrow.  I'm here for the funeral of a good man.  I know most of you didn't know King Terry but the beauty of this venue is that I can write about whatever I want and today I want to remember King.

I received a copy of his obituary in an email a couple of days ago and I'm reprinting it here as it expresses his life so well.  

On Friday, May 20, 2011 King Terry, Jr. passed away peacefully at home surrounded by people he loved.

King was born in Alpine, Texas on May 30, 1924 to King and Lady Terry.  After graduating from Alpine High School, King attended Texas A&M University and later graduated from Rutgers University.

Following graduation, King served his country during World War II in the European Theater with the Army’s 104^th Division.  King received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, expert rifleman medal and was awarded the WWII Veteran Honor and Remembrance Medallion by the Non-commissioned Officer Association.

After his military service, King returned to West Texas to ranch in Sterling, Schleicher and Brewster counties.  He raised registered Hereford cattle, Rambouillet sheep and Angora goats.

King served as Director and Honorable Director of the Texas and Southwestern Cattleraisers, Chairman of the Agriculture Stabilization Commission (ASC) for Terrell and Brewster counties, Honorable Director of the Highland Hereford Association, and was an honorable lifetime member of the Texas Cattlewomen.

Like the West Texas mountains he loved, there was a timeless quality to King Terry.  His character and his principles were true and did not bend.  He had a sense of right and wrong that guided him through his relationships, his business and the way he lived his life each day.  King had a spark in his eye and a wicked sense of humor.  He had a way of telling a story that was wonderful and very uniquely his own.  He kept history alive, and colorful, and very real for all those who knew him.

For all his ruggedness, he had a most unexpected soft spot for all the creatures who graced the Terry home.  From a multitude of very lucky cats to one rambunctious little raccoon named Socrates.

King married Becky Bird Terry on May 23, 1949.  For 62 years, King and Becky faced all that life brought to them side by side.  There were easy years of abundance, good health and rain.  And there were lean years when the obstacles were many.  Through all that life brought to their door, Becky and King laughed, loved and persevered.  Through that process, they found friends far and wide who brought joy and richness to their lives.

King was an amazing man, a real West Texas rancher and something of a legend in our part of the country.  His wife Becky is a dear friend and one of the most gracious women it's been my honor to know.  Generous and kind, they stepped up to help so many people over the years, myself amongst them.

Although I knew there would be hundreds of people at this funeral I needed to come and pay my respects.  There are only a few of his generation left out here and we mourn the loss of each of them.  I know King was ready to go but I'm sad that I'll have no more conversations with him in this world.  Here's to you King Terry, I'll miss you.