Bob Lemmons for Western Wednesday...

Very few cowboys lived as long as ol' Bob did, that much is certain

Bob Lemmons had a very interesting life. He made quite a name for himself, both in his ranching and in his later generosity toward the less fortunate. Here is a bit of his story.

Bob Lemmons

Bob Lemmons was known for his extraordinary skill at capturing wild mustangs. After growing up a slave, he gained his freedom and moved to an area of West Texas overrun with the wild horses. He became a cowboy for a local rancher named Duncan Lammons, who gave Bob his surname, which changed spelling slightly over the years. Bob farmed and herded cattle for Duncan. Most importantly, he learned about horses from the experienced rancher.

At the time, mustangs were highly prized steeds and no one could equal Bob’s skill at capturing them. His unique approach involved gaining the herd’s trust over a period of time. Whereas a large group of people might have spooked the herd, Bob always worked alone, until he was able to infiltrate the herd without alarming the horses. Then he would mount and break the leading horse. Once the leader was conquered, the rest of the herd would follow it back to the ranch.

This was lucrative work and Bob was able to save up a significant amount of money. He eventually bought his own ranch and built up large herds of horses and cattle. He and his wife Barbara later became known for their generosity during the hard times of the Great Depression. He died in 1947, just one year short of his 100th birthday.

It's always nice to hear that someone from the old west lived a good life after giving up the wild times of the early days. For them to be remembered as generous is just icing on the cake, so to speak.

Coffee out on the patio again this morning. Gotta just love this weather!