INTRODUCTION

 In the summer of 1941, Tom Murrell, in his twenties, and I, about six years old, became acquainted. He was a grown-up who paid me some attention and made me feel much older than I was. 

Tom had a pinto gelding named Chief that he used for roping and for doing tricks, such as counting, smiling, lying down, and sitting up like a dog. I was really impressed with Tom and Chief. Tom was the first roper I knew. He did some trick-roping as well. Being very interested in roping, he bought me my first rope, a soft cotton rope, very much like over-sized window sash cord. Later, he gave me a second rope by cutting in two a Mexican lariat rope of about 60 feet that he had used for trick roping. It was smaller than a regular lariat rope, but it was perfect for me and I loved it. 

Tom taught me what he could about roping. I kept that little Mexican rope with me almost constantly, even took it to school at times and roped classmates. Later, Tom let our family keep Chief, which allowed me to rope our milk-lot calves for about three years. That was a great time in my life, and Tom made it possible. 

In 1943, a picture show came to our area, "King of the Cowboys" with Roy Rogers and his horse, Trigger, a Palomino, the first one I had seen. I was impressed. Shortly after seeing that show, my mother told me that Tom had left a Palomino stallion at our barn the night before. Naturally, my shirttail did not touch my rear until I could see Tom's Palomino stallion. That made Tom Murrell even more points ahead of whomever was second on my list. 

About 1945, Tom, his wife, Beth, his son Tim (Tom, Jr.) and his daughter, Avis, moved into our neighborhood about one-half mile from our place. He built a roping pen, where, for the next few years we had many good times. He taught all the interested neighbors how to rope. 

Whenever any livestock got out in our neighborhood, Tom was called to catch and bring it or them back. It later led to a position with the law enforcement agencies who called him day or night to catch anything. Apparently, he did not give much thought about what he was roping. His concern was to get it caught and to figure out what to do with it later. 

Tom had many professions over the years. When I first knew him, he was a fireman who raised rabbits in his spare time, not just a few, but hundreds. Later, about 1946, he went into the dairy business for a few years. After that he worked for a livestock auction, where he helped put on weekly sales. On other days he was working, hauling, or doctoring livestock. About 1952 a rodeo arena was built in our neighborhood, and a weekly rodeo was held in the summer months for a few years. Tom was pickup man who helped get the riders off the bucking horses and clear the arena. He was a contestant in calf roping and wild-cow milking. When the bull riding took place, it was his job to get the bulls out of the arena, which meant roping and dragging a bull out of the arena if the bull would not go out any other way. Tom could do whatever it took. 

Later, he became a partner in a rodeo of his own. There he produced the rodeo and performed all other duties, also. He was a busy man. Some time after that, Tom became manager of one of the largest cattle and farm operations in Louisiana at the time. He looked after what was probably the largest registered Angus herd in the state and managed a huge acreage of cotton and grain. Sometime in the 1960's, he started a boarding horse business that built up to a rather large business. His facility cared for about 150 head of horses. At the same time, he was running a rent horse business, which allowed one to rent a horse to ride for an hour or more. As if that were not enough to do, he also ran cattle. In addition, he was on call by the city and parish law enforcement personnel to catch and remove loose livestock to a holding facility. He had to be available 24 hours a day whenever he was needed. 

The property that contained his boarding business was sold to the city for a park. Next, Tom started Pony Land. He had a string of ponies with a pony ring for small children. 

In addition, he would haul his ponies to birthday parties where a "pony party" was held. In addition to all of the above, Tom has been a Justice of the Peace for about 20 years. He has performed weddings, held court, and I don't know what else. 

Through all these professions, unusual jobs, happenings, and hours, Tom Murrell has always maintained a good sense of humor. He can tell many interesting stories, some which you will read in this book. He likes to visit and to laugh, and he usually has a special joke. 

For almost 55 years, Tom Murrell has been my good friend.

D. R. Turbeville, DVM Shreveport, Louisiana February 1996