CROCKETT, Texas (KTRE) – Houston County residents gathered to dedicate a memorial honoring five custom cowboys who served the community for decades.
The memorial, located outside the Crockett Ag-Arena, was funded entirely by community donations.
It honors the late Billy Crowson, Johny Harrison, James Ashley, Billy Christian and L.D. Patton.
“Just because he’s gone doesn’t mean that his legacy had to die as well, and I feel like this is the start of something I’ve wanted to see for so very long,” said LaKira Patton, L.D Patton’s daughter.
Custom cowboys responded to ranchers needing guidance and cattle escaping into the community.
“He was a great man, he did a lot of great things for the community and it’s just an honor to see all of this come back in full circle,” Patton said.
Clyde Black, a member of the Lions Club who helped organize the event, said custom cowboys had a significant impact on the agricultural success of Houston County.
“We call them first responders for all of us in the county including law enforcement and we thought, ‘hey lets honor own people,’” Black said.
Black said organizers plan to add more names to the memorial when other custom cowboys pass on. He said they hope it educates a new generation on cowboys’ impact in Deep East Texas.
“I’m very impressed, I’m very touched frankly by the number of people who did show up. I think it means a lot to the people of the community,” Black said.
Julouis Lockhart, L.D. Patton’s grandson, said his grandfather dedicated his life to helping others, and helped shape him into the man he is today.
“That was everything, that was his life, he didn’t know nothing else other than just that,” Lockhart said.
And another family member, LaVonda Wilson shared his Patton’s influence in her life, sharing how important his role in the community was.
“He’s been legendary to me. I’ve never seen a man ride a horse like him. I’ve never seen a man cut cows like he was cutting cows, and there’s so many memories,” Wilson said.
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