Eagle Scout recognized by state VFW
Casper ready to roll at NFR in Vegas
By Ted Harbin, TwisTed Rodeo
Clarendon College alumnus Wyatt Casper learned a valuable lesson through the course of ProRodeo’s 2022 regular season: Don’t try to rush back from an injury.
Casper is a saddle bronc rider who makes a living riding dynamite in the form of bucking horses. In early July, he suffered a partially torn right hamstring. He tried to ride through it, but that just didn’t work. He took two weeks off, returned, then spent two more weeks back on the injured list before trying it again.
He found his way back to the game by the end of that month and rode through the next two weeks, picking up checks along the way. In Heber City, Utah, though, he tore the muscle completely and had to finish out the season on injured reserve. It was back home to the Texas Panhandle to recuperate and hang out with his wife, Lesley, and their two children, Cooper, 4, and Cheyenne, who will be 3 in December.
“With one negative, there’s a positive, and that was being able to come home and hang with the wife and kids and doing stuff I don’t normally get to do,” said Casper, 26, of Miami. “I don’t know what they’re going to do when I’m out rodeoing again.”
Since that day in early August, Casper has been going through rehabilitation and getting himself prepared. His season isn’t over. He’s earned his third straight qualification to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale that takes place Dec. 1-10 in Las Vegas. He finished his campaign with $123,802 and will enter the competition in the Nevada desert as the 11th-ranked bronc rider in the world standings.
“It’s been a pretty cool year,” he said. “I would take every year like this if I could have a good start to the year like I did and still make the NFR even missing the last two months of the season.
“I’m still rehabbing my hamstring, slowly getting it ready for the finals. Shawn Scott (with the Justin Sportsmedicine team) and I got together, and he wanted me to give it 60 days off without getting on any broncs. We’ve been doing regular stuff, stretching it, band work and light lifting. I’m just trying ot get it 100 percent again. It feels really good.”
That bodes well for the Texas cowboy, who was raised on a place near Balko, Okla., and moved to Texas to attend Clarendon College; he remained in the Texas Panhandle upon getting married in 2017. He finished the 2020 season as the reserve world champion to titlist Ryder Wright, then closed out the 2021 season eighth in the world standings.
There were plenty of bright spots through his latest campaign. One doesn’t miss a good portion of the final three months of the regular season and still make the NFR without that. Only the top 15 contestants on the money list advance to the sport’s grand championship, and doing it three times in a row is quite an accomplishment.
“I don’t feel like I changed anything from what I’ve been doing that last couple of years,” Casper said. “I just kept a positive attitude and had good traveling partners.”
That’s helpful. He made his way along the ProRodeo trail with fellow bronc busters Jake Clark, Brody Cress and Lefty Holman. Cress and Holman will join Casper in Las Vegas.
“To be a good bronc rider, you’ve got to surround yourself with other good bronc riders,” said Casper, who is sponsored by Priefert, Superior Livestock, Resistol, Cinch, TD Angus, MVP Exceed 6 Way and Western Hauler. “We’re all a little different in our own ways, but at the end of the day, we all feed off each other and always try to have a positive attitude. If one guy’s down, we try to pick him up.
“Being able to qualify for the NFR three times consecutively is a feat in itself. The group of bronc riders you have to ride against day in and day out are the best in the world. To be able to say you’ve made it three times is pretty darn cool.”
A half-dozen years ago, Casper brought home the most cherished prize in college rodeo while attending school at Clarendon. He became the college’s first national champion and has built upon that since arriving in ProRodeo.
In a typical year when he’s not away from home, he rides and trains horses at his place near Miami. The injury put a damper on that a bit this year, but he’s been back at it and working himself into a frenzy to get back in the bronc saddle again. His body feels good.
“I haven’t been on a bronc since August, so I don’t have a lot of bumps and bruises,” he said. “I’m just ready to get out there and battle for 10 days.”
It’s a rugged schedule once he arrives in Sin City. There are bucking horses for 10 straight nights, and there are appearances and obligations when he’s not spurring an 1,100-pound bronc. He’s been part of it before, and each experience has offered him a bit of on-the-job training.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned is you need to ride all your horses,” Casper said. “I’ve been there two times, and I have yet to get them all rode. I’m going through the preparation, and I’m trying to get that all figured out before the NFR. I’m also trying to figure out how to take care of myself at the NFR.
“There’s a lot that goes into it, but I’m ready for it.”
Lady Broncos beat Dumas, 65-41
The Lady Broncos did not hesitate in their 65-41 win over the Dumas Demonettes at home November 15. They took charge early and left their opponent helpless to stop them.
The Lady Broncos shot 73 percent from the bonus line and were on fire from the arc as they hit 12 three-pointers between six players. Senior Finley Cunningham led the way with five long shots.
Taking a 16-6 lead after eight minutes, the Lady Broncos played consistent and took advantage of several open shots. At the end of three, Clarendon led by 26 points to secure the win. Cunningham and Bailey Gabel finished in double figures with 15 and 13 respectively.
The ladies were not only on their game on the offensive end, their hustle defense earned them several turnovers that they were able to convert into points. Along with hustle comes fouls, but they managed to stay out of foul trouble. Dumas attempted 29 shots from the free throw line, but only made less than half of those shots.
Adding to the point total was Makenna Shadle with nine, Gracie Smith hit eight from under the basket, and Hayden Elam posted seven. Courtlyn Conkin put in five, Berkley Moore had five and Kennadie Cummins, Tandie Cummins, and Kenidee Hayes had one each.
Local cities receive higher sales tax revenues
All three Donley County municipalities showed gains for sales tax revenues when Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar distributed monthly allocations for November.
Clarendon received $51,628.89 for the month, up 1.9 percent from the same period one year ago. The city’s calendar year-to-date total is now up 4.47 percent at $466,997.49.
Hedley saw a gain of 17.06 percent with an allocation of $1,877.60, but that city is still down 5.71 percent for the year-to-date at $11,600.66.
Howardwick’s November allocation was $2,389.92, up 18.59 percent compared to one year ago. The lakeside city is now 10.07 percent ahead for 2022 with sales tax revenues of $20,507.37.
Statewide, Hegar sent $1.1 billion in local sales tax allocations for November, 7.1 percent more than in November 2021.
These allocations are based on sales made in September by businesses that report tax monthly, and on sales made in July, August and September by quarterly filers.
Edward Wayne Ledbetter
Edward Wayne Ledbetter, 85, of Lubbock formerly of Clarendon died Sunday, November 20, 2022 in Lubbock.
Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 28, 2022, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
Arrangements are under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Edward was born March 22, 1937, in Holdenville, Okla., to Edward Richard and Nora Jewel Hulsey Ledbetter. He had been a longtime resident of Clarendon before moving to Lubbock three years ago. Edward was an old school maker of many things. He loved working on cars and motorcycles, welding, and working with cattle and horses. He enjoyed fishing, watching westerns, Nascar, eating peanut butter and drinking mini Pepsi. He also loved listening to Church on Sundays on the radio. He fiercely protected his children and his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a son, Larry Curtis Ledbetter.
He is survived by his sons, Arlie Wayne Ledbetter and wife Angie of Otis, Oregon, Terry Waymon Ledbetter and wife Melissa of Brownwood, and John Ledbetter and wife Shannon of Lubbock; his sister, Linda Anderson of San Antonio; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Memorials can be sent to Donley County Senior Citizens.
John Wesley Thomas, Jr.
John Wesley Thomas, Jr. went home to be with the Lord on November 19, 2022.
Wesley was a man who was dedicated to the Lord and his family. Services for Wesley will be on Tuesday November 22, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Cox-Rowley funeral home chapel. There will be a viewing on Monday November 21, 2022, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Wesley was born June 10, 1926, in Hunter, Okla., to John Thomas and Clara Moxley.
Wesley was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Betty Sue Thomas; sons Jim Travis and Lightnin McDuff; and a daughter, Debra Reece and her husband Rick Reece.
Wesley was survived by his son, John Wesley Thomas III, and his wife, Beckey Thomas; and daughter-in-law Debby Carey; grandchildren J.W. Thomas, Jessica Thomas, Karlee Thomas, Jacob Thomas, Dylan Reece, Matt Thomas, April Carey, Jamie Chafin, and Josh Arnett; 15 great grandchildren; and eight great-great grandchildren whom he loved dearly.
Wesley was known and loved by so many. He met many people during his years at Pantex as a tool and die maker. Now if you asked his grandkids what he did for a living, they would have told you he made toilet paper. They always wondered why that was such a high demand job. Pantex was the job Wesley pursued mainly during the years when his children were growing up.
Along with working at Pantex, Wesley shoed horses, something he learned and did for a source of income since he was a teenager. In fact, he went on to teach horse shoeing classes at TSTI. It wasn’t unusual to go by his house on Hastings and see several horses lined up waiting to be shoed before he went to work at Pantex. Wesley had shoeing down to an art. He could look at a horse and tell you exactly what needed to be done do to fix their feet.
After retiring from Pantex, Wesley and Betty moved to Clarendon where they purchased a ranch and made a home. Wesley spent most of his retirement years running cattle, training horses, and living out the cowboy dream. After Betty passed in 2012 Wesley move back to Amarillo to be closer to family. Wesley never missed a chance to go to a family reunion, he always cherished his family. He also loved playing music. He never missed a chance to pay in a jamboree. He loved getting together with friends and entertaining others. He knew how to play the guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, or anything with strings. He never turned up an opportunity to use his talent in church as well. He performed for praise and worship as often as he could. Wesley wasn’t only known for his musical talents but his ability to create them. He built many guitars and violins for himself and others.
One of Wesley’s favorite stories to tell was the day he was born. His life here on earth has been a miracle since day one. When Wesley was born, let’s just say the doctor wasn’t completely sober and presumed he was not alive. The doctor sat him off in a window seal to tend to his mother Clara. Wesley’s oldest sister Leon didn’t give up on him so easily. She picked him up, wrapped him in a blanket rubbing him and stimulating him. That is when Wesley whimpered out a cry that forever changed the path of his life.
Wesley loved the holidays. Yes, he loved the significance of them but what touched his heart the most was the family time. Nothing touched him more than for everyone to come together. He would always look at all his family with such a sense of humbled pride. He was grateful for the legacy that he has created.
Our hearts are both filled with sorrow knowing we will not see him again here on earth but joy that he is home with the Lord, his wife, and his children in heaven. If ever there were a person who left a legacy behind to be remembered by, it’s Wesley and the love he had for life which he spoke of frequently with fulfillment and joy, his family that he poured so much love into, and the Lord whom he dedicated his life to. We rejoice in the knowledge that this is not goodbye, but we will see you later when we enter the gates of heaven, and you are there to greet us with your handsome smile and loving arms.
Broncos to play New Home for Regional title
The Clarendon Broncos are advancing in the playoffs after they defeated Ralls last Friday night in Tulia to claim the Area Championship.
Playing in below freezing temperatures, the Broncos fended off the Jack Rabbits and secured a 48-14 victory.
Clarendon will now play New Home for the Regional Championship on Friday, November 25, in Floydada. Game time will be 2 p.m., and tickets will be $5 at the gate. Clarendon will be the visitor.
Follow us at Facebook.com/TheEnterprise for live updates from the game.
Angel Tree applications available at Burton Library
Applications for the Angel Tree are available now at Burton Memorial Library.
Children ages 12 & under who live in Donley County are eligible. Applications must be completed by a parent/guardian and returned to the library by December 1.
Those wishing to select angels from the tree may stop by the library between November 7 and December 2.
Gifts will be due back to the library by December 14 and will be distributed to families on December 20
Organizers would like to thank the Donley County community for generously supporting the Angel Tree for over 15 years.
CC Rodeo to hold NFR send-off party Nov. 19
A National Finals Rodeo send-off party for Cole Franks and Wyatt Casper will be held at the Bairfield Activity Center on November 19 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $100 and include the prime rib dinner for two and entry in the $1,000 cash drawing. All proceeds will benefit the Clarendon College Rodeo team. For tickets and information, contact Bret Franks at 806-440-1366.
Six Scouts earn Eagle rank
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