Honoring the cowboy way of life

17th annual Legends and Legacies to honor new Hall of Fame inductees

Roots run deep in cowboy history around Howard County.

Once again, Legends and Legacies – by the Heritage Museum – will be hosting the annual fundraiser on June 18 at 6 p.m. The event will once again take place at the Rodeo Arena Fair Barn.

Partnered with the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo, the Heritage Museum kicks off rodeo week activities with a fundraiser that started 17 years ago.

“Every year Legends and Legacies – Cowboy/cowgirl Hall of Fame gains momentum,” Tammy Schrecengost, Museum Director, said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to honor, as well as explore, the roots of Big Spring's Western heritage.”

The event includes dinner – fish/chicken fry – door prizes and an auction. This year, the auction will include a basket auction and historic shadow box along with a drawing for cash. Several local merchants have contributed to the stock of door prizes.

“Through this recognition, the Heritage Museum seeks to memorialize those men and women who have, through their exemplary lives, careers and achievements, embodied and perpetuated the heritage of the Cowboy/cowgirl,” she said. “Each inductee will be honored for their contributions that make up the past, present and future of Howard County.

This year, inductees will include: Martin Fryar, R.G. & Cheryl Click, Terry Himes, Jack Buchanan, and Kenny Thompson. This year's Cowboy Legend is Joseph Weir Barnett.

“A committee meets at the first of the year and selects six men and women who fulfill the criteria. This year we have added a seventh name to be selected as the Cowboy Legend. The Cowboy Legend is someone who was a pioneer as well as a Cowboy/girl of Howard County,” she said.

She continued, “While the Howard/glasscock Old Settlers Reunion no longer exists, the Legends and Legacies event is an opportunity for the community to come together and visit each other in a new form of reunion and fundraiser supporting the Heritage Museum.”

Tickets can be purchased as the Heritage Museum and are $50 per person. For those with small children, a meal ticket can be purchased for $8 per child.

For more information, call the Heritage Museum at 432-267-8255

Amanda Duforat is the managing editor at the Big Spring Herald. To contact her, email editor@ bigspringherald.com or call 432263-7331.