Cattle Raisers Mourn the Loss of Gov. Dolph Briscoe

Gov. Dolph Briscoe (Source: Wikipedia.org)

I was saddened today to learn that Gov. Dolph Briscoe had passed away at the age of 87.  I remember meeting him several years ago at the TSCRA Convention & Tradeshow while I was working our tradeshow booth.

It wasn’t uncommon for attendees to walk by our booth and see an empty chair and sit down and rest for a few minutes.  I remember an older gentleman walked up and asked if he could sit down for a few minutes and I of course obliged.

Never one to meet a stranger, I shook the gentleman’s hand and introduced myself. He said “Hi, I’m Dolph Briscoe and I’m from Uvalde“.  I couldn’t believe such an important person to Texas and cattle ranching was at my booth.  The only thing I could think of to say was “Oh yes sir, I know who you are.  I read about you in my Texas History books when I was a kid.”  We had a nice chat for a few minutes and then he left for a meeting.

CATTLE RAISERS MOURN THE LOSS OF GOV. DOLPH BRISCOE Fort Worth, Texas - “Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) is saddened by the loss of Gov. Dolph Briscoe. The cattle industry benefited from Gov. Briscoe’s leadership and we will miss him greatly,” said Dave Scott, rancher and TSCRA president. Briscoe was elected to the TSCRA board of directors in 1950 and served as TSCRA president from 1960 to 1962. Among numerous accomplishments as president of TSCRA, Briscoe headed a group in 1960 that raised more than $3 million in voluntary contributions to encourage the federal and state government to launch a screwworm eradication program in Texas and the southwest. The success of this program is considered by cattle raisers to be one of the most important and beneficial developments in the history of the cattle industry and has saved cattle raisers millions of dollars each year. The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 133-year-old trade organization. As the largest and oldest livestock association in Texas, TSCRA represents more than 15,000 beef cattle producers, ranching families and businesses who manage approximately 4 million head of cattle on 51.5 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma. TSCRA provides law enforcement and livestock inspection services, legislative and regulatory advocacy, industry news and information, insurance services and educational opportunities for its members and the industry.

TSCRA-67-2010