“BLESSED IS HE WHO HAS FOUND HIS WORK;
LET HIM ASK NO OTHER BLESSEDNESS.
Thomas Carlyle
I just had a call about Rex Bugbee. I had not met him yet. I may have seen him in the tire store or at the feed store or at the cattleman’s association, but I have his number around here somewhere. I just had not called him yet. But he had been busy lately. I was going to have him restore my great uncles high back saddle. But he was in the middle of the rodeo season. Rex was a pick up man. He was the pick up man that pick up men judge themselves by. He was just written about in the Emporia Gazette and the Gyp Hills Premiere, plus there is a great You Tube video about him.
Last week while working a Bronc event he crashed with the other pick up man and was critically injured. The whole community of Barber County as well as the rodeo world, (they prayed for him at the Lazy E Arena this weekend at the Championship Ranch Rodeo), have been praying for him.
Rex was 60. He passed away from his injuries. We all feel bad and pray for his family. But how blessed is it to die while doing what you love so much. It is too soon, but how many die in conditions that are not what any of us choose to.
One of Rex’s favorite horses originated with the Dale Chain’s Futurity. He was trained by a young man that I consider the son I never had. He commented not long ago about selling the horse to Rex. Amazing how connections happen.
When this is all over someday, maybe, his sons will work on my saddle. Time will tell.
It is certain that a new pick up man is working the Heaven Bronc Riders Event.
