Bobbye Jo BJ von Rosenberg Culver

Bobbye Jo BJ von Rosenberg Culver, died peacefully on Tuesday, April 9, 2002, after a short illness. BJ was born in Runge, TX on January 8, 1926, and graduated from Runge High School where she was Valedictorian. She then graduated from Southwest Texas State Teacher's College now SWTSU with honors where she was editor of the student newspaper her senior year. She attended Columbia University School of Journalism to work on her Master's Degree, where she was active in Dwight Eisenhower's presidential campaign while working in advertising on Madison Avenue. She then returned to Texas, marrying rancher Eric Neil Culver of Matagorda, and teaching high school English in Bay City for several years. The Culvers were successful in ranching and horse racing, and soon relocated to New Mexico to oversee their horse racing interests, which ultimately included ownership of Ruidoso Downs and La Mesa Park race tracks. BJ was instrumental in the success of La Mesa as marketing director, and was best known for promoting the first $100K thoroughbred race in the southwest outside of California, the Land of Enchantment Stakes. BJ is also believed to be the first female member of the Turf Writers of America, and received numerous honors for her unique style of writing, which combined her journalistic skills with ad copy style. After a return to Texas in 1971, BJ started an ad agency which promoted such great AQHA stallions as Go Man Go and Easy Jet. She also became an active breeder of registered Hereford cattle along with quarter horses and thoroughbreds. BJ has been listed in Who's Who of American Women. An avid sports fan, she was devoted to her Aggies, Astros and Spurs, and was a great admirer of David Robinson. She was also known to be a fair handicapper of racehorses. Her varied other interests included real estate, photography, puzzles and Coors. She will be sorely missed by her friends and family, who regarded her as a pillar of wisdom and strength. She is preceded in death by her sister, Lorraine Urrutia. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, David Eric and Patricia Culver of Boerne; sister, Loretta Hammack of Kenedy, six loving nieces and one nephew, numerous cousins and friends. The family would like to thank Dr. David Gordon and staff, NCB Hospital Staff, particularly nurse Ben in ICU, for their caring and professional support.