Thomas Bailey
Saunders , IV October 21 , 1934- February 1 , 2018
Farewell to a True Trailblazer Thomas Bailey Saunders , IV WEATHERFORD - Tom B . Saunders IV , a fifth-generation rancher in Parker County , passed away Thursday , Feb . 1 , 2018 , at home after a brief time in the hospital .
Tom continued a long legacy as a major contributor to the development of the cattle industry , and over the years , operated over 60,000 acres . His place : of choice was his Parker County Ranch . In addition , he was an avid historian and author who enjoyed sharing his tales of the Texas Cattle Trails . He was born in Fort Worth on Oct . 21 , 1934 , where he went to school at Arlington Heights , and on to Oklahoma State University where he graduated in 1957 with a degree in animal husbandry . He was a member of their national judging teams , the Block and Bridle , and Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity . Tom B . was also a director of the Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association , chairman of the Parker County Livestock Improvement Association , vice president of the Parker County Farm Bureau , and 11 year chairman of the Parker County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service committee , He was also county chairman of the Screwworm Eradication Program , an honorary Vice President and director of the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show and active in the Parker County Sheriffs Posse . The Parker County Chamber of Commerce honored him with the county beef award in August 2011 ; he was awarded the Texas Ranch Roundup Trailblazer Award at the Texas Ranch Roundup in Wichita Falls , an award that honors ranchers who have shaped the Texas cattle industry . Saunders was inducted into the Texas Trail Hall of Fame in October 2006 . He was the first curator of the Fort Worth Herd , where history still abounds on the Northside . His last efforts were concentrated on seeing that work on the Doss Heritage Log Cabin Park was in progress . He was happy to see three cabins recently moved and in place there in Weatherford . Tom lived with his wife , Ann on his Parker County ranch , along with his children and their families : Thomas V , his wife , Lynn , Ann Catherine and her husband , Perry , and Amy and her husband , Joel and grandchildren , Jordan Williams , Madalynn and Leslie Ann Saunders , Mamie Cate and Caroline Haydon . This ranching heritage continues through the efforts of Thomas V , Saunders & Saunders Cattle Company and his surviving family , plus numerous nieces and nephews , Dave Brian and family and Jim Calhoun , Jr . and family .
MARCH 2018 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
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