Posted on January 14, 2009 - by Russell

The Passing of a Legend

Joyce & Eddie Wood

On December 25, 2008 Col. Eddie Wood passed away. When I received the news of his death I began to reflect on some of the many times that our paths had crossed in my years of raising Longhorn cattle. I soon realized that my past 28 years in the Longhorn business is filled with wonderful memories of a Legendary Auctioneer and Longhorn Breeder. One of those times being in 1980 when I purchased my first Longhorns at auction in Taylor, Texas, it was Col. Eddie that called the sale. Then when I sold my first Longhorn at auction in 1982 at Nacogdoches, Texas, Col. Eddie Wood was the auctioneer. One can’t help but to stop and wonder just how any other breeders purchased and sold their first cattle with Col. Eddie Wood on the block. If I were to guess I would say thousands.

There have been several over the last few years that have wanted to take credit for our Longhorn market. Have you ever stopped and thought about our Longhorn Sales. Without the foresight and driving force of Col. Wood and a few other dedicated Longhorn breeders back in the late ’60 we would have no market today, we would have no cattle for that matter.

When I sat at my first Longhorn Sale I was amazed to hear the call of the auctioneer because it was so different from the sale barn auctioneers that I had grown up listening to. I would have never guessed at that time that I would someday have the honor and privilege of sitting beside that auctioneer reading pedigrees as he sold cattle. I have learned so much from working with him and his wife, Joyce. I feel truly blessed to have been able to get to know the Colonel over the years. I will miss him but I will cherish my memories of Col. Eddie Wood for the rest of my life.