CROCKETT, Texas (KTRE) – Houston County residents gathered to dedicate a memorial honoring five custom cowboys who served the community for decades.<\/p>\n
The memorial, located outside the Crockett Ag-Arena, was funded entirely by community donations. <\/p>\n
It honors the late Billy Crowson, Johny Harrison, James Ashley, Billy Christian and L.D. Patton.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust because he\u2019s gone doesn\u2019t mean that his legacy had to die as well, and I feel like this is the start of something I\u2019ve wanted to see for so very long,\u201d said LaKira Patton, L.D Patton\u2019s daughter.<\/p>\n
Custom cowboys responded to ranchers needing guidance and cattle escaping into the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a great man, he did a lot of great things for the community and it\u2019s just an honor to see all of this come back in full circle,\u201d Patton said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe call them first responders for all of us in the county including law enforcement and we thought, \u2018hey lets honor own people,\u2019\u201d Black said.<\/p>\n
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\u2019 impact in Deep East Texas.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very impressed, I\u2019m very touched frankly by the number of people who did show up. I think it means a lot to the people of the community,\u201d Black said.<\/p>\n
Julouis Lockhart, L.D. Patton\u2019s grandson, said his grandfather dedicated his life to helping others, and helped shape him into the man he is today. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat was everything, that was his life, he didn\u2019t know nothing else other than just that,\u201d Lockhart said.<\/p>\n
And another family member, LaVonda Wilson shared his Patton\u2019s influence in her life, sharing how important his role in the community was. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been legendary to me. I\u2019ve never seen a man ride a horse like him. I\u2019ve never seen a man cut cows like he was cutting cows, and there\u2019s so many memories,\u201d Wilson said. <\/p>\n
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