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Darrell Gayle Leffew

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On November 22, 2022, for Darrell Gayle Leffew, 80, the long dark night has ended as the Angels came to escorted him into his Eternal Home.
Darrell Gayle Leffew

There will be a memorial service at Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo, Tx on Monday, November 28, at the Paramount Baptist Chapel, 3801 South Western St., officiated by Bunk Skelton and Stan Leffew.  He will be laid to rest at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.

On December 21, 1941, Darrell was born to Willis Leary Leffew and Claris (Rich) Leffew in Santa Maria, Calif.  His family moved to Clarendon in 1949, and Darrell graduated from Clarendon High School in 1959.  On June 3, 1961, he married his sweetheart, Wilma Elliott in Clarendon.  They made their home in Lubbock, where he worked for Hancock Equipment Co, the original inventors of elevating scrapers.  Darrell loved everything about moving dirt and heavy equipment, especially scrapers.  In 1971, Darrell and Wilma moved their family back to Clarendon where Darrell established Clarendon Manufacturing.  He would go on to design, manufacture and service elevating scrapers for the next 51 years.
He served as a School Board member in Clarendon for nine years.  He was a thirty-year member of the Clarendon Lions Club.  He was a deacon at First Baptist Church in Clarendon, and a charter member and Deacon at Community Fellowship Church.  In his later years, he was a member of the Arena of Life Cowboy Church in Clarendon.  Darrell and Wilma had recently moved to Amarillo where they became members at Paramount Baptist Church.  Darrell was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed snow skiing.
Darrell was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Othel and Veda Elliott (whom he dearly loved); his two brothers, Doyle Leffew and Larry “Corky” Leffew; his sister, Rava Rose McKinney; his two brothers-in-law, Buddy Brunson and Harold Elliott; and his grandson Tyler White.
Those who are left behind to celebrate his life are his wife Wilma of Amarillo, a son Stan and wife Lori Leffew of Clarendon, and a daughter Terri and husband Wade Carroll of Amarillo.  He will be dearly missed by his grandchildren, Nathan Estes and McKayla Carroll of Amarillo, McKenzie Carroll, Alec Estes, and Ashton Estes of Lubbock, Lauryn Sackett of Colorado Springs, Jessica English of Clarendon, Amanda Atamah of Plano, and Matt McCabe of Amarillo; eleven great grandchildren; and two great, great grandchildren along with numerous nephews and nieces.
Suggested memorials can be made to the Alzheimers Foundation, Arena of Life Cowboy Church, or Paramount Baptist Church.

Family fun, savings set for holiday weekend

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Family fun and local savings abound as Donley County gets ready to celebrate the Thanksgiving weekend with the Chamber of Commerce promoting Small Business Saturday, the ninth annual lighting of the Donley County Courthouse, and the annual Polar Express event at the Mulkey Theatre.

“Shop Small Big Christmas” is the promotion from the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce this holiday season that will put a grand total of $550 in Chamber Christmas Cash in the hands of lucky winners who shop with local merchants.

Sign-ups begin Saturday for drawings that will be held for $100 on December 2, 9, and 16; and the big $250 giveaway will be held December 23.

Participating merchants include Amanda’s Country Soaps, Country Bloomer’s Flowers & Gifts, Every Nook & Cranny, Henson’s, J&W Lumber, Mike’s Pharmacy, Rambling Ranch Boutique, Saye’s Flying A Tack, Whistle-Stop, and Wicked Fast Attire

To enter, shoppers will fill out an entry at local participating merchants. The Chamber will gather them up each Friday morning, and hold the drawings live on the Chamber’s Facebook. Enter as many times as you shop locally, so shop often. Entries stay in the hopper each week, so those who enter will have multiple chances to win.

See the Chamber ad below this article to see which merchants have special events planned for this Saturday.

A Donley County Craft Show will also be held at the EDC Building at 118 S. Kearney on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The fun continues Saturday evening at the Donley County Courthouse at 5 p.m. The official Courthouse Lighting includes visits with Santa Claus, music, hot cocoa from the Lions Club, and the lighting of the courthouse square.

The Christmas celebration continues Sunday evening with a special showing of The Polar Express at the Mulkey Theatre.
Admission will be a donation to the Donley County Community Fund, and attendees are encouraged to get into the spirit of the movie by wearing their pajamas to the show, which starts at 6 p.m.

Local merchants are ready to help you find something for everyone on your Christmas list with specials this holiday season. Details on local sales are printed in the Holiday Gift Guide included in this week’s Clarendon Enterprise and also available at ClarendonLive.com.

Small Business Saturday began in 2010 when it was founded by American Express to help small businesses get more exposure during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year.

According to small business advocates, every $100 spent in locally-owned stores returns $68 to the local community through taxes, payrolls, and other expenditures. That same money spent in another town or online returns nothing to your local community.

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State looking at new way to fund community colleges

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Texas must develop an innovative new model to fund community colleges that rewards colleges for awarding degrees, certificates, and other “credentials of value” that will soon be required in more than 60 percent of the state’s jobs.

Clarendon College president Tex Buckhaults says the proposal could lead to beneficial legislation for small community colleges.

“We put a lot of effort into these recommendations,” Buckhaults said, “and there’s the potential to greatly improve funding for Clarendon College and other community colleges.”

There are currently 11 community colleges with enrollments of less than 5,000 students, Buckhaults said, which could benefit from the new funding mechanism.

The Texas Commission on Community College Finance (TxCCCF) recommended these changes in a report submitted to state leaders in advance of the 88th legislative session, which commences Jan. 10. The commission – made up of 12 lawmakers, business leaders, and community college officials – was established by the Legislature last year through Senate Bill 1230 to help the state update its decades-old community college funding model to meet the changing needs of employers and the Texas economy.

TxCCCF offers three sets of recommendations for a new model that support the goals of Building a Talent Strong Texas, the state’s strategic plan for higher education: Reward community colleges for positive student outcomes; Increase affordability and financial aid, including for low-income students; and Increase capacity at colleges to meet changing workforce needs.

“We need a funding model for our 50 community college districts that is bold, strategic, and fully aligned with our emerging workforce needs,” said Woody Hunt, TxCCCF chairman. “Colleges must have the resources to help more Texas students enroll and earn credentials that will create new opportunities for their families and for the entire state.”

The TxCCCF recommendations tie funding to measurable student-focused outcomes. These include: The number of credentials of value awarded, including badges, certificates, and degrees, that position graduates for well-paying jobs. Credentials of value awarded in high-demand fields where employers are looking for skilled employees. Successful student transfers from community colleges to four-year universities. Completion of a sequence of dual credit courses, which are offered to high school students and can set them on early pathways to success.

Buckhaults said his only hesitation is language that “encourages” colleges to develop a system of shared services. He said Clarendon and other small colleges will be watching to make sure that remains a voluntary option and not a mandate so that small schools don’t have to worry about losing jobs.

“The accelerating pace of change in our economy requires bold new approaches to support our community colleges,” said Texas Higher Education Commissioner Harrison Keller. “The new funding model must empower community colleges across the state – from the largest urban colleges to small, rural-serving colleges – to educate many more students from all backgrounds so they can earn credentials of value in the Texas workforce of today and tomorrow.”

In addition to the focus on rewarding community colleges for positive outcomes, the TxCCCF recommends that the state make community colleges more affordable by increasing financial aid through Texas Educational Opportunity Grants (TEOG); providing more aid for dual credit courses for economically disadvantaged students; and supporting apprenticeships, work-study, internships, and other work-based learning opportunities.

If implemented, the recommendations would also increase capacity in community colleges by providing seed grants for programs in high-demand fields; supporting shared services and partnerships for colleges to become more efficient; and helping them provide high-quality, noncredit credentials that are convertible and stackable with credit-bearing programs.

Under Texas’s current community college funding model, most revenue is generated by tuition and property taxes, which are set and collected locally. Over the past decade, local property tax collections have increased significantly. The state also contributes funding through a formula that considers how colleges perform in relation to one another.

The system was developed to meet the needs of colleges when they were established in the early 20th century. It does not fully recognize the role community colleges play today.

Members of the TxCCCF will be available throughout the legislative session to provide guidance and support to lawmakers as they consider the recommended changes.

Franks ready for return to Vegas for NFR

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Cole Franks riding at the 2021 NFR. Courtesy Photo / Robby Freeman

By Ted Harbin, TwisTed Rodeo

Cole Franks made an impressive statement in 2021 during his inaugural season in ProRodeo: He’d claimed the collegiate all-around and bareback riding titles. He was named the Bareback Riding Resistol Rookie of the Year. He qualified for his first National Finals Rodeo and finished third in the world standings.

It was a remarkable beginning for the second-generation cowboy from Clarendon, and he bounded into his sophomore campaign during the 2022 season with plenty of confidence and talent. With that, he’ll make his return to the sport’s biggest stage, the NFR, set for December 1-10 in Las Vegas.

“This year was a little more challenging in a way,” said Franks, 21, who won the intercollegiate title while competing for Clarendon Colleges. “It was a lot different. They changed the rule to where we couldn’t double up on rodeos on the same day. It was easier in that sense, because we didn’t have to decide between two rodeos, but it made it a little harder.

“When we were rodeoing, because of that rule, everyone else was in the same places we were. It made it to where sometimes it was so crammed full of people that it was a lot harder to win.”

He found his way to the winner’s circle anyway, proving talent and a powerful mindset can go a long way. Through the course of the campaign, he picked up 10 victories and earned $116,426; he heads to Las Vegas No. 10 in the world standings and will have a chance to battle for the coveted world championship.

“I honestly think the key was staying at it, making every horse count,” said Franks, who credits much of his success to his sponsors, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, Cinch, Western Legacy Co. and 287 Ag. “You want to do the best you can with what horse you’ve drawn. If you don’t have one you can typically win on, then you’ve got to flash it up and do what you can.”

It takes a combination of key victories and making the most of one’s rides count in order to qualify for the NFR. He is $45,500 behind the leader, Wyoming cowboy Cole Reiner, but that deficit can be surpassed in just two rounds in Vegas, where go-round winners pocket just shy of $29,000 each night.

Just a few years ago, round winners were making $10,000 less. It’s a good trend in a sport where there are no guarantees. Unlike other professional sports where athletes have surefire contracts that pay them whether they’re in the game or not, rodeo cowboys make their livings eight seconds at a time. They don’t get paid unless they score better than most others in the field.

The rise in payouts is a boon for the men and women who are part of the rodeo trail as a business.

“We do this because we love it, but it does make it a lot more fun to have a shot at that much more money every day,” he said. “Every rodeo I went to this past year, they just keep raising the stakes. That’s what keeps you wanting to go more.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been ready to go home; I like staying out on the road. You may get worn out a little bit, but you know there’s all that money out there you can get.”

Money is vital in rodeo. It’s not only how the contestants pay their bills, but it’s also how points are tallied. Only the top 15 on the money list in each event advance to the NFR. The contestants in each event who conclude the season with the most earnings will be crowned world champions.

Last year, Franks earned more than $150,000 over 10 December nights in the Nevada desert, finishing the season with more than $225,000. He’ll need a similar showing this season if he hopes to earn the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle.

“I’d say I improved quite a bit,” said Franks, whose father, Bret, was a three-time NFR qualifier in saddle bronc riding and whose brother, Clint, is a PRCA bronc rider. “Mainly, I’d say, I’ve gotten better at being able to handle those big, strong bucking horses, the ones that everybody wants and the ones you can win on.

“Last year, I dropped the ball sometimes on those kinds of horses. I feel like I’ve gotten better at keeping the ball in my court on those horses while being able to flash up on the weaker end of horses and making them look better.”

It’s a formula that has worked quite well. He made his second straight NFR even though a broken wrist in May and a damaged finger on free hand in July put him on injured reserve for nearly two months. The latter injury was actually scarier and happened at one of the largest regular-season rodeos in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

“One thing I realized was that you don’t take your good draw as a sure sign you’ll win,” he said. “At Cheyenne, I knew I had it in the bag based on paper. That went out the window a bit during the short round. The horse flipped all the way upside down on top of me, and I was laying in the bottom of the chute. I don’t know for sure what happened, but it ripped my finger open.”

He rebounded well, built up some style points and closed out his campaign in fine fashion by winning his last rodeo of the regular season in Stephenville, Texas. A week later, he won the first rodeo of the 2023 season in Hempstead, Texas.
He’s been doing the things he needs to stay in shape. He’s been riding some practice horses to prepare his body for the rigorous week and a half in Las Vegas, which will pit the best 15 bareback riders of the year against 100 of the greatest bucking horses in 2022.

“This is why I do this,” Franks said. “I love it, and to have a chance to compete at that level just makes it that much better.”

Eagle Scout recognized by state VFW

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Eagle Scout Steven Mills was recognized last week by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Texas as being the runner-up for the State Scout of the Year for 2022. Mills was presented the honor by members of the VFW last Tuesday at the First Christian Church. He is a member of Scouts BSA Troop 433 in Clarendon. Enterprise Photo

Casper ready to roll at NFR in Vegas

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Wyatt Casper riding at the NFR in 2021. Courtesy Photo / Robby Freeman

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

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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.

Lady Bronco Hayden Elam looks for an open teammate last week against Dumas. Courtesy Photo / Adelita Elam

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

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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

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Edward Wayne Ledbetter, 85, of Lubbock formerly of Clarendon died Sunday, November 20, 2022 in Lubbock.

Edward Wayne Ledbetter

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.

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