our traditions: SHERIFF’S POSSE
Good Guys in White Hats —
The Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Gives Back
SEPTEMBER 2015
PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY
BY MELISSA MOORMAN
A proud tradition was born when two local men named
J.Y. Crum and Roger Williams thought of an idea to
preserve the western traditions of Parker County. They
thought an organization was needed in the Parker County
community that would support and keep alive the traditions of the Old West while supporting the local sheriff.
So the two gathered a like-minded group of friends and
13 of them held their first meeting January 13, 1947. The
first captain of the posse was Aaron Crum and members
Thomas Saunders, III, and Jack Borden were appointed to
draft the bylaws and constitution for the new group. Reading through the Posse’s history is like reading a who’s who
of Parker County business and ranching leaders. Posse
members are not necessarily cowboys, but each new
Posse member does have to own a horse and ride with the
Posse. The group from its inception has included lawyers,
doctors, bankers and businessmen from all walks of life as
well as farmers, ranchers and cowboys. This broad base
gives them a great snapshot into what’s going on around
the county and they can be identified at parades and other
events with their crisp white western-style shirts, jeans,
black ties and white hats.
In the early years the group grew and prospered,
purchasing their 37-acre headquarters on Mineral Wells
Highway. Numerous improvements were made over the
years including enlarged barns, pens, concession stands,
seating, grandstands, and the group completed its new
event center and clubhouse in 2008. The group hosts two
rodeos a year, in June the Parker County Frontier Days
Celebration and rodeo, which was first held in 1948 and
is a PRCA recognized event, as well as the Ranch Rodeo
held in September every year.
In 1961, the group also began an annual trail ride to
Mineral Wells. The Posse has participated in other counties’ rodeos, Madison Square Garden in New York, the
Fort Worth Fat Stock Show and Rodeo and has even had
its own polo team.
From these early days, fast forward to this year when
Posse members were included in the Cheyenne Frontier
Days Rodeo, the granddaddy of all rodeos held each summer in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The group has accomplished
many things in its short lifespan, but what is interesting is
the group’s emphasis not only on upholding Western traditions, but on improving their community through their
philanthropic efforts. “One of the reasons they formed was
to help the community. When it was formed it was formed
for Western Heritage and Western Way. They try to help
where there is a need,” sa id Thomas Saunders, IV, whose
father was one of the founders. He grew up at the Posse
Grounds and was around “whenever they did anything. I
went with my dad and kind of witnessed everything,” he
said.
The group pitches in to help whenever they can and
many times goes above and beyond. For example, last
December the Sheriff’s Posse had the Snowball Express
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participants, 2,500 children and spouses of fallen military,
on their grounds and hosted for them a two-and-a-half
hour Wild West show. The western extravaganza was
complete with American Indians, buffalo, chuck wagons,
bucking horses and a stagecoach “robbery” all produced,
planned and organized by Posse members. Snowball
Express is a nearly all-volunteer nonprofit organization
established in 2006 with the mission of bringing hope and
new memories to the children of military heroes who have
died while on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001. On the
Snowball Express Facebook page, Posse Member Robert
Dyer said, “I’m proud of the Parker County Sheriff’s Posse
for sharing our Western Heritage with the kids. It was an
incredible moment as we were all lined up on our horses
at the entrance of the Posse grounds and 51 buses were
escorted in for the Western Show. PCSP, doing things that
matter.” The Posse was contacted by Snowball Express
volunteer Kevin Barker of Aledo. When asked about
working with the Posse, he said, “It was great. They bent
over backwards for the kids. We had a perfect day and
the weather was awesome. We had a great turnout. It was
their favorite part of their three days here. The Sheriff’s
Posse, it didn’t seem that they could do enough for us.”
Blaine Peacock is the current Posse Captain and Chairs
this year’s Ranch Rodeo Event.
“We do so much helping with the community,” Peacock said. Some examples he gave are the fundraising
softball game played every year against the rodeo cowboys, clowns and rodeo producers with the funds going
to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). The group
also requires an unwrapped toy be donated from each
participant of its mutton-busting event during their rodeos.
The toys are then given to local charities to distribute at
Christmas time.
Another group that benefits from partnering with the
Posse is Noon Weatherford Lion’s Club. The Noon Lion’s
Club runs the concessions at the June rodeo and uses
the profits to fund its philanthropic efforts throughout the
year. Brookes Worthington, outgoing Lions President and
longtime Posse member, said the Lion’s contribute to
worthwhile community organizations like Child Protective
Services, Meals-on-Wheels, area Angel Trees at Christmas time, the Pythian Home and a “vast array of civic
and non-profits from the money made at the rodeo. Our
(the Lion’s) motto is ‘to serve’ so if someone comes to our
meeting with an ongoing community need, and we think
they are deserving, we discuss it at our next board meeting. It’s just more than anything to give money back to the
community and our sole purpose is improving children’s
lives,” Worthington said.
The group has since its inception supported the Parker
County community because according to Peacock, “They
support us and we support them. In 1947 they wanted
to keep the Western Heritage alive, so we give back and
help people.” In its rodeo program the group lists other