A Texas Legend

by Bennett Owen

Everything’s big in Texas and their heroes seem larger than life as well, spanning the gamut from Davy Crockett to Lance Armstrong. And now a Hollywood legend ranks among them as well…the mighty…the immortal…Robert Duvall.

Dave Rossman /For the Chronicle: Bob Schieffer and Robert Duvall with Lester and Sue Smith, chairs of "An Evening with Legend Robert Duvall and a Tribute to the Texas Epic Lonesome Dove"

He was the guest of honor Thursday evening (Feb. 23) as a part of the annual fundraising dinner to benefit the Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston.

Duvall is a native Californian but considers himself an honorary Texan based on his love of Tex Mex cooking.  But Texans revere him for his portrayal of crusty Texas Ranger Augustus McCrae in the western epic, Lonesome Dove.  Austin native, and CBS News personality Bob Schiefer interviewed Duvall, whose money quote for the evening was…”Let the English play Hamlet. I’ll play Augustus McCrae.”

Here’s a compilation of past honorees in the Texas Legends event…

More than 800 people attended this year…tables were going for up to $75,000 and the dress code was “Cowboy Chic”.  The fund raising drive netted nearly $9 million for the Children’s Cancer Center. 

This also allows me the opportunity to show my favorite scene from Lonesome Dove…the smirk of satisfaction on Duvall’s face at 1:38 is positively priceless.



Why They Do It

by Bennett Owen

“If a rancher doesn’t have a near-death experience about every two years, he’s doing something wrong.”

            Uncle Robert       

The last time I visited Uncle Robert he was out in the barnyard butchering cows to keep his family fed for the winter. Not 12 hours earlier, one of those beasts had bolted in a loading chute, dislocating my Uncle’s shoulder. As he skinned the animal he’d wince and chuckle about “how good revenge would taste all winter long.” Robert’s closing in on 75 years old and embodies the Code of the West.

The art, the movies, the lifestyle, the celebrations…the landscape, the history…these and so many other things are what we love about the west and it’s all well and good.  But at this very moment, as I muse over a cup of coffee and stare out over rooftops, my Uncles are out on horseback a three-day cattle drive, bringing the herd down for calving. As I write this, the temperature in Polaris, Montana is four degrees.  There is no mystique in bone-chilling cold like that.

But a very rare form of freedom is their rich reward. The Mannix Ranch, courtesy the Montana Stockgrowers Association.  Check out the bull at the 4:50 mark. Nobody’s going to be climbing on to that monster’s back.

The Code of the West

by Bennett Owen

This is a code you don’t need a Rosetta stone to crack. It’s as plain and simple as the 10 Commandments, never codified, always unspoken and yet chiseled into the granite character of all those who dared venture into the untamed west:

... Ride for the brand

... Talk less, say more

... Always finish what you start

... Live each day with courage

... Remember that some things aren’t for sale

And five others that, taken together, form a foundation for a well-lived life.  Last year, Wyoming made the Code of the West part of its official state ethos.  Now, Montana’s legislature is following suit.  See a written report and video, courtesy of KTVQ in Billings here.

The move is not without controversy though. Read the Chicago Tribune article here: 

Fox News has picked up on the story as well:

The Code of the West movement was sparked by former Wall Street maven James P. Owen (no relation…at least not that we know of…). For the past six years he’s been touting it as a way to imbue ethics into troubled high school students.  And his volunteer work appears to be bearing fruit.  Check out his website: Cowboyethics.org.

Of course the Code of the West is not to be confused with Cowboy Wit and Wisdom, such as:

• There are two ways of arguing with a woman. Neither one works.
• Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
• Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from any direction.
• Never miss a good chance to shut up.

Which is what we will do now.

Super Bowl Sunday’s Greatest Hits

by Bennett Owen

It’s being played in Cowboys Stadium,

Dallas Cowboys Stadium, site of Super Bowl XLV. Photo courtesy of Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News.

deep in the heart of Texas, reason enough to merit a post in My-West. And like many fans, we’ll be eagerly looking for some eye-popping hits…especially during the commercial time-outs. My personal pre-game favorite… Cowboys & Aliens, guaranteed to be a classic.

But it’s also appropriate to look back on the stars of yesteryear, the hall of famers that have stood the test of time. And when it comes to advertisements Budweiser stands head and shoulders above the rest.  We’ve selected a couple of our favorites with a distinctively western flavor. Check out the hits on these, it appears we’re not alone!

Budweiser Lamb Streaker:

Budweiser Rocky Horse:

Original Budweiser Clydesdales:

Also check out these other Budweiser commercials: Horse Love and Donkey.

PS:  Not that we’re choosing favorites, but…GREEN BAY ALL THE WAY, GREEN BAY ALL THE WAY!  

Photo courtesy of cdw9.

Snow Job

by Bennett Owen

A post for boys of all ages…

The snow is blowing sideways in Oklahoma, and much of the Midwest is in white out mode with a winter storm watch affecting 100 million people. Time to curl up next to a cozy fire with a hot cup of cocoa and a good book … unless you haven’t shoveled your walks … or the widow’s next door … and your car isn't in the garage – ‘cause it’s going to be mighty cold tomorrow ...