This year’s Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and fundraiser at Fort Worth’s Billy Bob’s Texas, presented by top sponsor Norris Foundation and JJ and Bobby Norris, was a true crowd-pleaser. In addition to legendary charro Tomas Garcilazo, sixth-generation cattleman Dave Scott III and rodeo world champion Fallon Taylor, there were two more inductees — different but equally impressive — who were honored by TCHOF, a Fort Worth-based non-profit, on Thursday evening, March 28.



Though both these distinctive gentlemen were white-haired and bearded, they were at opposite ends of the professional spectrum. One had built his career on raised stages, basking in the spotlight. The other had gained his success by blending in and putting others in the limelight.
The former was towering Asleep at the Wheel co-founder Ray Benson, who was sitting at one table down front at Billy Bob’s with his long whiskers, black coat and cowboy hat. At the next table over was a similarly weathered-looking fellow. Only his height wasn’t as tall and his whiskers weren’t as lengthy and his duds were beige, from his western hat to his newly purchased sport coat.






But with a table-full of his kids Katybeth Hagler, Kirbey Hagler and Casey Hagler and grandkids including Campbell Hagler, plus another table-full of friends Tracy and Gregg DeJarnett and elite journalism pals — like John Knaur and former Dallas Times Herald photographers Wayne Herdlicka, Mark Perlstein, Becky Skelton Dickman and her husband, 1983 Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Jay Dickman — the lack of inches in height and beard didn’t seem to matter. He was, after all, Times Herald vet, 1980 Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer — and 2024 Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee — Skeeter Hagler.


As Ray was chatting with Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Skeeter was bustling around greeting old friends, introducing his passel of kids to new friends and looking rather amazed at all the hoopla.
Just getting to Fort Worth for the induction had been a bit of a challenge. He and BlissWood Bed and Breakfast Ranch owner Carol Davis had had a time figuring out how they could both leave Carol’s 350-acre spread in Cat Spring, where Skeeter typically can be found wrangling buffalo, deer, Border Collies and other critters.
It was the Border Collies that were the main problem. Two of them could handle being babysat, but four eight others were another story. Since both Carol and Skeeter wanted to be on hand for the celebration, Carol came up with a perfect solution that made everyone happy: She rented an RV for the outing and the dogs came along, too.
While folks chowed down on a buffet supper including beef donated by Midland Meat Company, the evening’s formal program began with an appearance by emcees Dave Appleton and Pam Minick (with Ashlyn “Miss Rodeo North Texas” Williams assisting), an invocation by Red Steagall and “The Star-Spangled Banner” sung by Delayne Ann. Parker, the Cowtown mayor, then welcomed everyone, boasting that Fort Worth is the country’s fastest-growing city and that the Stockyards District — home to Billy Bob’s — hosts a whopping 9 million visitors per year.


Remarks from TCHOF Executive Director Andrea Ruby were followed by a live auction. Conducted by Joni Nash, the auction saw items like a Cody Johnson-signed guitar and Resistol hat go for $3,000, and a trip to the PBR World Finals rake in $5,000. Another packaging including a stay at the Blisswood, a photo shoot with Skeeter and one of his prints was snapped up by Gregg for $5,000. Then came the inductions and the awards.


Accepting his hardware, Tomas — a world-class roping and equine artist — said he was “deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent the Hispanic heritage on this esteemed platform.” Scott, who’s actively involved in various cattle associations and organizations, said, “I’m sure glad that y’all selected me. I’m really honored for everybody’s time and effort in getting out and attending this event. God bless you, and God bless Texas.” Fallon, a WPRA World Champion and an AQHA Barrel Racing World Champion, called rodeo “a place where you put in the hard work and you can see it pay off.”
Presented with a special Spirit of Texas Award, Asleep at the Wheel’s Benson recalled his group “playing most every major rodeo in the U.S.,” as well as his personal friendship with rodeo stars like Larry Mahan and Casey Tibbs. Then, accompanied by Fort Worth’s Katie Shore on fiddle, Ray broke into songs including… what else? … “Big Ball’s in Cowtown,” before finishing up, appropriately, with “Happy Trails (to You).”

A little earlier, it had come time for Skeeter to be inducted and to receive his award. Unfolding his notes, the Fort Worth native recalled that the secret to his Pulitzer Prize-winning photos — they showed real-life cowboys working a modern-day Texas cattle drive — was the fact that the subjects grew so accustomed to his constant presence, he could capture their lives and toil naturally, without his subjects being self-conscious.
He went on to pay tribute to the aged cowboy Thomas Blasingame, whose laughing face with a few missing front teeth had been part of Skeeter’s prize-winning photo collection. He told how he had spent three days living with Tom at his camp on the JA Ranch. Having no electricity, running water or indoor bathroom, “Tom and I got real acquainted,” Skeeter said. Known as the “oldest living cowboy in Texas,” Tom died at the age of 91 in 2002. Skeeter was flattered when Tom’s family asked him to come to the funeral at the Ranch and photograph it.
Afterward, Skeeter admitted that he had been so overwhelmed by the TCHOF crowd and the Billy Bob’s lights that he’d failed to talk about Pitchfork Ranch cowboy Sonny Edgar. Many people claimed that Skeeter’s photo of Sonny’s well-worn boot — with a little sticker burr firmly implanted on the bottom — was their favorite photo in Skeeter’s cowboy collection. Skeeter said that what he’d really wanted to say about Sonny was this:
“Sonny was a Cowboy, born a Cowboy, a Cowboy all his life, died a Cowboy. … I like to imagine that this boot was all new and shiny when Sonny married Loraine in 1965. I like to imagine that Sonny was wearing this boot when he held Shelby and Jeanie, his two baby daughters for the first time. I like to imagine all the seasons that this boot has seen, hundreds of them. Blizzard, droughts, dust storms, rainstorms, we are talking about the Texas Panhandle you know. Cattle drives, branding, fixing fences, got bloody doing a little cutting on some of the steers. Worn this boot to weddings, funerals, to church. This boot probably kicked a little ass when these young cowboys acted up. Stepped in a little cow and horse “shit” more than once. Maybe a little dancing. Sometime in the boots’ life Sonny had to patch it up, even the patches have patches. Heel is worn out, holes in the bottom, one lone little sticker burr on the bottom of the boot. Next to his family, this boot was probably Sonny’s most prized possession. Red (Steagall) could write a poem about this boot that would make you cry. Reba (McEntire) could write a song about the boot. Taylor Sheridan could make a movie about this boot. This boot symbolizes a Cowboy’s life.”
Skeeter also admitted that, during his talk, he skipped acknowledging how special it was to have his family, friends and Carol be a part of the stellar night at Billy Bob’s. He needn’t have worried, because they surely felt special being with him, too.