On Saturday, November 2, some 40 Saddle Tramps ventured three miles south of Tahoka, Texas to attend the skeet shoot and cookout hosted by the HAZZARD (Spring 1981) pledge class. Actually, this year’s skeet shoot was cancelled because of the first rain storm to hit the South Plains in three months. The event has been hosted the last three years by members of the HAZZARD pledge class, one of whom, Paul Ruiz, is now a Saddle Tramp Advisor. Other members of the pledge class who sponsor the event are Cal Huffaker (at whose farm/ranch the event is held), Steve Daniels, Perry Cole, and Michael Riojas. David Counts (Spring 1980 – Double Dozen Gang DDGs) and Gary C. White (Spring 1979 – Razrs) were financial sponsors of the event. When asked about the genesis of the event, Paul explained that, after he became a Saddle Tramp Advisor, he, Cal, Steve, and Perry came up with the idea of hosting a skeet shoot and cookout as a way to provide something fun for Tramps to do in an informal setting.
Although the event officially began at 5 p.m., Saddle Tramps arrived as early as 3 p.m. to shoot skeet. However, since the skeet shooting was cancelled due to rain, Tramps gathered in Cal’s bunkhouse to watch the Texas Tech-Iowa State game. Tramps spontaneously broke out in the Matador Song when Tech’s 23 – 22 victory was assured. The alumni who attended brought their bells, manuals, pledge shirts, sweaters, windbreakers, and other Tramp paraphernalia for current Tramps to view. Paul even brought two old La Ventana yearbooks for current Tramps to see photos of the now-Tramp alumni in action “back in the day.”
At around 7 p.m., Cal led the group in a short prayer, and dinner was served. The meal, prepared by the alumni, consisted of grilled steak, “beer butt chicken,” mashed potato casserole, green beans, dinner rolls, and, of course, banana pudding, all washed down with Jarritos sodas. After the meal, everyone gathered in the living room of Cal’s bunkhouse, and Cal and Rio encouraged each Tramp alumnus and active to introduce themselves. Alumni in attendance were asked to share a story from their time in Tramps, and current Trams were asked to share their post-graduation goals and why they joined Tramps. The event came to a close by 9 p.m., and Tramps carefully made their way through the rain back to a soaked Lubbock.
The HAZZARD pledge class invites alumni who are interested in attending the event next year to contact Paul Ruiz at paul.ruiz@ttu.edu.
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