I met Ruth about a year and a half ago in the lobby of the Flying L Guest Ranch. She was dressed real classy, wore silver and turquoise and was as spry as a twenty year old. She began to tell me a story that started out in a suburb of Chicago and ended up in Bandera. She knew she had to head to Texas when she saw a professional cowgirl bronc rider out of Waco at a rodeo in Chicago.
As an eighteen year old the plan began to come together with a friend, Alice Michaelir. One of the hardest parts was convincing their parents it was a good idea to ride horseback to Texas. But with a little twisting of the arm and a dad that was a horseman they received their blessing to hit the road.The idea was to head to Waco and live a life as Texas cowgirls. So on September 2, 1949, they took off for Waco and arrived two months ten days later. It was a big fanfare for the gals that rode a horse and buggy all the way from Chicago to Waco.
By the way, they bought the buggy for $2.00 and the harnesses for $4.00.
The country around Waco had mostly dairy cattle; not the horse and cowboy country they had in mind. So, after talking to some folks at the Longhorn Club they realized the country they needed to be in was the Texas Hill Country and were told of a place called Bandera. As they came closer to Bandera, they were greeted by Frank Trautman from the Flying L Ranch who brought them a chicken dinner from a local restaurant. Later Frank hired Ruth to work at the ranch and she was at the ranch for two years.
The girls got to Bandera just in time to be in the parade sixty three years ago. Ruth was excited when I ask her to be Grand Marshal with us in the Memorial Day Parade, Saturday, May 26. She will be our special guest of honor at the parade and be our guest of honor at the Chuck Wagon Dinner held at the Flying L Ranch. She will be sharing stories, photos and maybe taking us back in time if only for a little while.So when you see Ruth in the Memorial Day Parade, I hope you will give her a big Bandera welcome. She will be in a buggy just like it use to be.
Please call the Flying L in advance if you would like to come to the Chuck Wagon Dinner.(800-292-5134)
Ruth from 1949 at the Flying L
