FEBRUARY 2017 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
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Garren Still
Garren is a renowned artist known as “ The LeatherChief ,” because of his unique leather work .
PCT : How long have you been in Parker County ? GS : Thirty-five years . I was born and raised here ; and my mother was born and raised here , as well .
PCT : What ’ s the coolest thing that you have ever done in your life ? GS : When I was 18 or 19 , I was chosen as one of the top level young ropers by a Christian-based group called the Young Pro Tour Team that offered me an opportunity for six months travel in the U . S . and Canada putting on roping schools . They were basically a ministry . They went around to all the ropings and put on the church services there . It was about your talent as a roper , but also about whether you were a good human when you weren ’ t roping .
PCT : What ’ s your secret talent ? GS : Helping people might be my best thing . I think God has put that in my heart , and I really think that is my spot on earth , just to help people . Really , just to love people . I find myself , as I ’ m getting older paying more attention to the people coming in and out of my life .
PCT : What is your definition of the
best day ever ? GS : I ’ d say today . Because we ’ re not guaranteed tomorrow .
PCT : What piece of advice has defined your life up till now ? GS : It ’ s from my mother , actually . I have a strong worry in my heart all the time , because you know I ’ m always worried about something . She always told me , even as young as I can remember , “ They can ’ t eat you , son .”
PCT : If you could have another career , what would it be and why ? GS : Professional roper . I am where I want to be and doing what I want to do , but I would be a pro roper . But to go up and down that road it takes lots of money .
Larry Walden
Larry is the Parker County Commissioner in Precinct # 3
PCT : How long have you been in Parker County ? LW : I have been fortunate enough to live in Parker County my entire life . My great-great-grandfather came here after the Civil War ; he was here on the 1870 census . That makes me a fifth-generation Parker County resident . Additionally , I have been fortunate enough to work in Parker County my entire career . I was a Parker County educator for 30 years , retiring in 2010 . With my brother Jerry , I own businesses here —
Walden Farm & Ranch Supply , Inc . — and I am beginning my second term as county commissioner .
PCT : What ’ s the coolest thing that you have ever done in your life ? LW : I think one of the coolest things was running for public office . It was a challenge that I accepted the risk for and the campaign and runoff were very rewarding .
PCT : What ’ s your secret talent ? LW : I have been known to weld metal sculptures from scrap iron .
PCT : What is your definition of the best day ever ? LW : Deer hunt in the morning , feed cows during the day , and hunt again in the evening .
PCT : What piece of advice has defined your life up till now ? LW : Always do the right thing , from my mother , Lillie Cowley Walden .
PCT : What is the best thing about your job ? LW : Working with the best people that one could imagine , all working together with a common goal , to make the best use of taxpayer dollars , and to make the roads as good as possible with the money we are provided . The second part is working for the citizens of our county , to make county government accessible , transparent and friendly .
PCT : If you could have another career , what would it be and why ? LW : I don ’ t ponder on another career that much because I have had the opportunity to do several different things in my life . I have been a teacher , a school administrator , a small business owner , an elected official as well as a farmer and a rancher .
PCT : What do you want to be remembered for ? LW : Someone who wasn ’ t afraid to take a challenge , and someone who always did his best .
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