They don't make men like this anymore

[ringo1597]

Found this today on Traces of Texas.

Thought it was interesting.

Legendary Panhandle cowboy Tom Blasingame, who was born in Waxahachie in 1898. He rode his first horse at the age of six. At ninety-one, he was still on the job at the JA Ranch south of Amarillo. Two days after Christmas in 1989, he dismounted his horse, Ruidosa, stretched out on the grass, folded his arms across his chest, and died.
Photo courtesy the JA Ranch, where Tom worked for 73 years.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Do what you like, and you will never work a day in your life! We should all be so lucky. Ivan

 

[bamabiker]

Died with his boots on, doing what he loved. Way to go Tom.

 

[Bat Guano]

Thought the name was familiar--I'm an Ian Tyson fan:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2awE437UXI[/ame]

 

[rwsmith]

Wow.....

A REAL, old time, cowboy. He was even born in the 1800s. If there is a good way to die, that's it.

 

[30-30remchester]

I was lucky enough to grow up in rural Colorado before the liberal politics turned it into a suburb of California. I knew many old timers like Tom. Sadly all but one are gone now. The last remaining TRUE cowhand I know lives in my town. Johnny is a wild one. At 70 yo a horse rolled over on him and inserted his testicles back inside his body. He remounted his horse and road back to cow camp. He ended up in the hospital for a few days till everything went back to their original position. The nurses that had to give him a sponge bath received combat pay. The old cuss is still feeding cattle in the winter and riding range in the summer.

Did anyone notice anything interesting thing in Tom's photo?
Unlike Hollywood, Tom isn't wearing a six shooter. My friend Johnny said he never carried a gun, just a stockman's pocket knife.

 

[Roadtrash]

When you're that tough all you need is a knife.

 

[GatorFarmer]

You will still find grizzled old timers in Wyoming. There is one old man I have seen around town, there seems to be an ongoing struggle between him and the places he shops to get him to say more than "yep" and "nope". He has a wife that I have seen him with. Maybe long years of marriage instilled that habit.

 

[Acebow]

My brother lives in a small town that is still legitimately 'rural'. The local American Legion does the annual July 4th parade, with eager participation from almost everybody. They have an old guy, WW2 vet, in his mid-90's, who has carried the American flag in the parade every year since he came back from the War. He and his old horse look to be about the same age. I think last year they had an 'honor guard' walk on either side of him, as he's getting a bit feeble (but don't tell him that!).

I wish somebody would get his story down, before it's too late. Sounds like he would have gotten along with old Tom. Acebow

 

[the ringo kid]

Thanks for mentioning him Ringo. About twenty years agoone ofmy brothers lived in Waxahatche. We drove by where he had lived. I found it strange though that--there was almost still nothing when he lived--and still almost nothing there now. I also remember that when we were there-they had a tornado hit--which thankfully--hit nothing but a farmers field.