James Rector Cusenbary

James R. (Jim) Cusenbary died Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, at his home in San Angelo, Texas. In his 82 years, he never met a stranger nor a man he didn't like. It is fitting that Mr. Cusenbary was born in the Gateway to the West, Fort Worth, Texas, because his life exemplified the very best qualities of a West Texas rancher. His parents, Ben H. and Dorothy (Mims) Cusenbary introduced him to ranching life as soon as he and his Border Collie "Boots" could toddle behind his dad. He began speaking English and Spanish at the same time and, as a kid, only mixed up the two languages when he was really excited. His mother home-schooled him and his older brother, Jo Ben, until Jo Ben's death. He began his public school education in third grade in Sonora and was delighted the first time he had to stay after school until his mother explained to him that it was because he was in trouble! Continuing his interest in ranching, he was awarded a BS in Animal Husbandry at Texas Tech in 1950. 1950 was a big year for him, as he married his wife, Joan Frenzel Cusenbary from Galveston on Aug. 25 of that year. They met in high school and shared 62 years together, delighting in their two daughters, Susen and Kelley, their four granddaughters, Courtney, Whitney, Kristin, and Kaegan, their three great-granddaughters, Cate, Emily, and Aurora, and finally, when he was 72 years old, he got his boys, great-grandsons Mason and Brett! Through the years, he and Joan enjoyed working, golfing and traveling together, from Alaska to St. Petersburg and many placed in between. Mr. Cusenbary served as a county agent in Kerrville, Balinger, and then Brady through 1960. He found great delight in being the only Tech graduate among all of the other Aggie agents in the state. While enjoying his work with ranchers, his great love was helping his 4-H kids learn life lessons through raising livestock. For the next two decades he traveled Texas, making friends wherever he went as a land appraiser for the Texas Veterans Land Board, and, later, a veterinary supply salesman for V.A. Snell Company. In 1969, he served as a representative for the State Department of Agriculture where he went to Equador to broker a cattle deal. He returned to Sonora in 1973, and managed the store at Sonora Wool and Mohair. Upon "retirement," he opened his own business, Sonora Cool Air Engine Repair, which he ran for 10 years. Throughout his life, he continued to ranch with his father, and, in 1979, upon his father's death, he became the third generation to run the D.B. Cusenbary ranch, established in 1888. He took his stewardship seriously, saying many times that he was determined to leave the land in better shape than when he took over. As a part of his land management program, until he was 80 years old, anyone driving out Cusenbary Road could see him on his green tractor, digging mesquite in the flats. He was also the third generation to support the work of helping ranchers through the Rocksprings-Sonora Experiment Station, and he delighted in each conversation he got to have with everyone at last spring's barbeque. "If anyone needed help, all they had to do was call Jim Cusenbary." His many friends have reiterated this sentiment again and again. As further testament to his service, he received the Grand Cross of Colors from Rainbow Grand Assembly in 1969 for his work on the board for the Rainbow girls of Hondo Assembly #258. In 2006, he was honored to receive the Golden Trowel Award from the Sonora Masonic Lodge #715. He was also a member of Sonora Lions Club for many years. In his last decade he served on the Sutton County Underground Water Conservation District, San Angelo Area Weather Modification Board, the finance committee of Hillcrest Baptist Church, and ranch consultant extraordinaire to his daughter Susen and her husband, Dale Dixon, helping them as they assumed their role as the fourth generational stewards of the family ranch. "To measure the man, measure his heart." Memorials may be sent to Hillcrest Baptist Church, 2600 Chestnut Street, San Angelo, Texas, 76901.