Freedom OK - 2009 Honored Old Cowhand

The 2009 honored old cowhand of Freedom, Oklahoma is Phillip Schultz. Schultz is a dedicated, hardworking, top-notch cattleman. He has been a familiar face at the Freedom Rodeo since it began in 1938. At the age of 75, Phillip says, "He is Flattered to be part of its legacy."

Phillip Schultz was born on October 25, 1933 to Ben and Edith Schultz in Coldwater, Kansas. His sister, Phyllis Sherman, is one year older. He was raised on a ranch 25 miles northwest of Freedom. As a young boy, Phillip thought his dad to be an impatient man. But he also remembers that he went everywhere with his dad, whether Ben wanted him to or not. Phillip fed cattle with him, rode the tractor with him, and harvested the fields with him. Phillip says he was always under his dad's feet. And because of this, he now realizes that Ben was actually the most patient man he has ever known.

Phillip's cowherd got an early start when his grandfather, Boss Parker, gave him and his sister a bottle calf. Although Boss passed on when Phillip was only 11, fond memories of him remain. One of the skills Boss taught Phillip was how to use a rope. Phillip learned quickly, and he remembers one particular day at the age of 7 when he really wanted to rope something that moved. There just happened to be that something nearby, and he roped himself a rascal of a hog! After a grueling struggle, he swallowed his pride, located his grandpa, and asked for some help in getting his rope back from that stubborn critter. To this day, he remembers Boss Parker's advice, "Never put a rope on an animal unless you know how you're gonna get it off."

Phillip attended Mound Ridge School through all of its eight grades. Phillip went to live with his grandmother in Coldwater, Kansas to attend high school. AFter one year of the 'city life," he moved back home, attended Freedom High School, and graduated with the class of 1951. He was a member of the Freedom FFA, owned 15 cows, and received the Junior Master Farmer Award. It was at Freedom High that he met Carol Jo McCammon, daughter of the late Willard and Margaret McCammon. They dated for one year and to this day, Phillip remains convinced that he skimmed the cream of the crop when he and Carol Jo were married on January 20, 1952.

Past honored Old cowhands:
* 1956 - Lucy Welty Snapp
* 1957 - Ed Mahoney
* 1958 - Green Selman
* 1959 - Ed Coles
* 1960 - Doc Olmey
* 1961 - Rudy Eden
* 1962 - Simpson Walker, Sr.
* 1963 - Lena Selman
* 1964 - Jim Bliss
* 1965 - Bob Litton
* 1966 - Brad Shaull
* 1967 - John D. Hinton
* 1968 - Walter Blevins
* 1969 - Bill Romjue
* 1970 - Ray McMoran
* 1971 - George Annis
* 1972 - Earl Armantrout
* 1973 - Jim Wardrop
* 1974 - Sinah Welty
* 1975 - L. C. Mulnix
* 1976 - Harley Wares
* 1977 - Exra Blackman
* 1978 - Vernie Burkhart
* 1979 - M. A. Gibson
* 1980 - Ed Gaskill
* 1981 - Hugh Robinson, Sr.
* 1982 - Wilbur Olson
* 1983 - Ottis Bickford
* 1984 - Walt Bishop
* 1985 - Paul Hepner
* 1986 - Jim Powers
* 1987 - Gene Earnest
* 1988 - Mart Fulson
* 1989 - Cecil Nixon
* 1990 - Bill Daughhetee
* 1991 - Tom Schroeder
* 1992 - Lloyd Rockhold
* 1993 - Oscar Hughes
* 1994 - Thomas "Pod" Welty
* 1995 - Simpson Walker, Jr.
* 1996 - Lewis Kamas
* 1997 - Orval Lee Darr
* 1998 - Vernie Hackney
* 1999 - Wesley Nixon
* 2000 - Chet Dauphin
* 2001 - Foy Wardrop
* 2002 - Lynton Gerloff
* 2003 - Arlo Darr
* 2004 - Helen London
* 2005 - Vernon Bliss
* 2006 - Edwin "Smiley" Olson
* 2007 - DeWayne Hodgson
* 2008 - Dean Wilson
* 2009 - Phillip Schultz
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