Friday, October 31, 1997

Cattlemen's Round-Up for fall series reaches $266,000

By J.T. SMITH Farm Editor

STAMFORD -- With a boost from folks gathered at Stamford Farmers and Ranchers Livestock Auction Thursday, the 1997 Cattlemen's Round-Up for Rehab reached a fall total of $266,170 to date.

The special Stamford sale, the last in a series of fall Round-Up sales, raised $5,056.50 to benefit the West Texas Rehabilitation Center (WTRC).

Besides cattle, specialty items ranged from a pair of bantam chickens to a German chocolate ckae.

Jim Pethis, WTRC president, thanked auction barn operators Andy and Tanya Holloway for their generosity and efforts in hosting the sale at their new barn, expressing appreciation to the donors, buyers and many volunteers.

Other Jones County Round-Up chairmen instrumental in the success of the sale were Gary Mathis, John Berry, Rex Bland, Ed Ekdahl, John Ferguson, Jr., Cecil Sellers and Tommy Spraberry.

Rehab officials said that although Thursday's auction was the last livestock sale in the '97 fall Round-Up, cash donations are still coming in. They expect the Round-Up will approach at least $275,000 when all donations are finally tallied.

The 1996 Cattlemen's Round-Up raised $270,137.

The Rehab Center gratefully acknowledged this year's major corporate underwriters for the fall Round-Up in the Texas Production Credit Association and the Federal Land Bank Association, and also the underwriting support from Wrangler.

Now in its 44th year of operation, the WTRC -- with campuses in Abilene and San Angelo -- serves more than 17,000 individuals annually from the Southwest who are admitted on referral by a physician, approved agency or institution. No one is denied service because of their lack of ability to pay. Over the years, that has been the trademark of the Rehab Center, which has gained national admiration.

For 38 of those years, the fall Cattlemen's Round-Up has been vital to the growth of the Center's services.

The Center provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, audiology, orthotics, industrial rehabilitation and numerous support services.