True Cowboy Stories (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781461099147)

Travis Herring was born during the Great Depression as the third generation on a large cattle ranch in Central Texas Hill and Brush Country. His idol and grandfather lived just across the dirt road and helped shape his life with stories of his experiences on the Chisholm Trail. Neighbor Jess Pickett, a black cowboy that his grandfather met on the cattle drive and made a life long friend, also contributed many stories. These stories built a foundation for a desire to learn more about the early life of the cowboy and their adventures, fun and hardships. Shortly after college and army, while working with the Agricultural Extension Service in West Texas, he met a San Angelo news paper reporter, Elmer Kelton. Since they both had similar interest in stories of cowboys and early Texas, They became "Livestock Show Friends" (ranch animal competitions for youth) while Travis was working with 4-H kids. Elmer Kelton went on to become a famous Western Fiction writer, winning many awards and having movies made from some of his books, and Travis Herring went back to the ranch.