Northern Rancher said:
I see they are making a miniseries based on the book 'The Englishman's Boy' by Guy Vanderhaegge -it's a real good book set in the Canadian west. I got to sit with Guy on a plane from Calgary one time-pretty intertesting guy. Seems our Dads had crossed paths behind the tracks at some chuckwagonn races years before.
This is a bit off the topic, but it does have to do with meeting someone on an airplane. I apologize in advance.
Don Roth grew up in Nebraska, but in the late 1960's was the manager of the registered Hereford herd on the Tejon Ranch in California. He was traveling somewhere on an airliner. As cowboy types tend to gravitate towards each other, he struck up a conversation with Waldo Haythorn from Nebraska. The two were able to sit next to each other on the airplane and enjoyed a nice visit, even though they'd never known each other before.
Fast forward twenty some years. In 1983, the Nebraska Stockgrowers put on the first team penning ever held in our state. It was held in Ogallala. Don Roth was visiting his son, Dave, who was ranching with his uncle, Jim Gray, and they were neighbors of ours. Don and I had done a little team penning together in California in 1972, when I was in basic training in Fort Ord. I asked him if he'd like to be on a team with Peach Blossom and me, if I furnished him a good horse. He gladly accepted.
We arrived in Ogallala and unloaded our horses. Waldo Haythorn was there to cheer on his ranch team. Don went over to rekindle their acquaintanceship, and to introduce his son Dave to Waldo. Don is of small stature and has always stayed slim and trim. Even now in 2006, he is in his upper eighties and stays quite active. His son, Dave, is quite a bit taller and broader. Dave is a great neighbor. He usually wears a big hat and tucks his pants into his boots. At the penning, Waldo looked Dave up and down, then commented to Don, "Looks like you sure outbred yourself." :wink:
It was pretty funny at the time, and still brings a smile to my face thinking back on the deal.
Don Roth did some wonderful rawhide braiding. He also made very attractive and functional cowboy gear from parachute cord. Don has been retired for quite a few years. He lives in Gordon with his wife, Delaine. He loved to rope calves at branding time after he retired. For several years, I would throw on an extra horse when we traveled to the area brandings. Don and my old Tom Cat horse made a good team. The pair of them dragged lots of calves to the branding fires.