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It’s been an amazing week for me; the only downside is that I haven’t been able to keep up with everything. Since I wrote my last column, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting two of Texas’ living legends (Ray Price and Red Steagall), re-meeting columnist John Kelso (who got me started in this business 14 years ago) and visiting with several of the inductees of the Frontier Times Museum’s “Texas Heroes Hall of Honor” and quite a few members of the Spoiled Doves western entertainers and event planners, who all were delighted to see their pictures in the latest issue of Texas Hill Country magazine (even Red Steagall complimented my magazine; I was feeling pretty good last Saturday!) I got back to Llano just in time to visit with a bunch of glider enthusiasts, including a group from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, who are holding their Region 10 Soaring Competition at the Llano Municipal Airport.

In writing that first paragraph, I’ve reminded myself of two things that can’t be considered good news. First, I got so stressed last week that I completely neglected to mention the Fault Line Flyers (the group hosting this week’s soaring competition) even after manager Kelly Butler sent me a thank you note last week for the little article I had done in the magazine. Getting a ride in their glider this spring was one of the highlights of my year, and they really deserved a little better treatment than what I have given them (I’ll try to make it up to them this week and next). Second, my friend Rudy Robbins was in the hospital last Saturday, and was not able to come to his induction at the National Day of the American Cowboy. Rudy has appeared in quite a few movies, including several with John Wayne; he has also been very active in Bandera’s campaign to “keep Texas Texan.” He’s a genuine Texas Hero, and I hope he’ll be back on his feet soon!

Getting back to the soaring competition, I want to thank Region 10 Reporter Elizabeth Quintanilla for cheerfully sharing her pictures of the gliders (you’ll see one on the front page, and others on page 5). I also wanted to let everyone know that several of the glider pilots have commented to me about how welcoming everyone has been and well they have been treated here in Llano. Thanks to all of you who helped create that impression; this is a wonderful group, and we’d love to have them back again and again!

I also want to thank Glenda Brumley, who was at the Cowboy Day ceremony in Bandera, and had the presence of mind to suggest that I have my picture taken with Ray Price. He graciously consented, and she snapped the picture; it is now among my treasured souvenirs.

I do not want to forget the amazing picture of the Llano River prospectors; even though it was a week ago, and so much has happened since then, It was a real adventure to accompany Frank Rowell, Tony Griffith and Earl Theiss to a secluded spot on the north bank of the river, where Mayor Mike Reagor and I took pictures that (except for the bridge in the background) looked like they could have been taken in 1849. The three men were dressed as prospectors, and Eugene Long helped tremendously by bringing two of Billy Bell’s miniature donkeys to play the part of burros in the picture. I really enjoyed the whole experience (which was staged to help publicize the Gem and Mineral Rendezvous scheduled for this September; we’ll have more on that later), and I was delighted with the resulting pictures. I’ll definitely have at least one in my next magazine.

I was very much impressed by the attendance and the enthusiasm at last year’s “Friends of NRA” banquet. This year’s event is scheduled for August 7, and organizers assure me that it will be bigger and better. I had the pleasure of visiting with Bob and Lynda Gammage during a chance meeting in Marble Falls last week, and they tell me that TxDOT is accepting comment forms this week to see what projects should be highest priority. The Gammages (and County Judge Wayne Brascom, among others, are eager to see TxDOT complete the shoulder project on the section of Highway 71 just east of Llano. The property has been purchased and surveyed; TxDOT just hasn’t done the actual paving on a stretch of narrow and winding road that really needs shoulders. If you agree with us on this issue, you could get a comment form from Judge Brascom’s office at the courthouse. While Friday is the official deadline, Lynda believes that sending in more comments later won’t hurt at all.

I had more to write, but I’ve probably already used up my space for this week. I’ll try to fill in some of the blanks (and tell you more about John Kelso) in future issues of The Llano News.