J.B.(Budge) Goodwin

J.B. “Budge” Goodwin, 89, passed away Saturday night, November 28, 2009 at home. He was born in his home in Gonzales April 6, 1920 to Clarence Phillip, Sr. and Bessie Thornton Goodwin. As a young man, he was an avid roper, and rodeoed for years, owning many roping, racing and cutting horses. He loved to hunt and fish on his ranches and in Colorado. Preceded by her death, Budge was married to Lucille Steen for 48 years. They stayed busy entertaining at their ranch in Dilworth and on Lake Wood, going on the trail ride from Altair to San Antonio every year, and going to square dances, which he called. As a founding member of the Gonzales Elks Lodge, he and Lucille were regulars at the lodge, celebrating the good life with many friends. As a lifelong resident of Gonzales, he knew many of the locals and they knew him to be a good storyteller and spinner of tales. He was always ready with a good story of the days past. Mr. Goodwin attended school in Dilworth and Gonzales, and was one of 19 recruits to the Texas A&M Game Warden School in College Station. He was Game Warden for Gonzales, Fayette and Lavaca Counties in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He was a founding member and Past Exalted Ruler of the Gonzales Elks Lodge, member of the Gonzales Masonic Lodge for over 60 years, a Son of the Republic of Texas, a founder and member of the board of trustees of the Texas Trail Riders and past Trail Boss, founding member of the American National Bank, member of the American Quarter Horse Association, and member of the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association and the Independent Cattleman’s Association. As a rancher, he was always on the road checking his ranches and continued to do so until the day he died.