Anderson is classic ranch leader, cowboy

Everything about Dave Anderson reflects the classic gruff old Cowboy. Having worked on and managed LX Ranch just north of Amarillo for nearly 40 years, he’s a rancher for life. He talks in a rough, raspy voice — like what you’d expect from a tenured cowboy in a movie. But there’s a story behind that tough western drawl — a story that further portrays Anderson as an American Cowboy in the purest form. As a young man, he served in the Marine Corps and fought in Vietnam in 1969. While fighting in the jungle, he was shot in the throat. He could have died or lost all speaking ability, but for Anderson, that simply wasn’t in the cards. He survived and fully regained his talking abilities, although now with a more hoarse tone to his voice. Not long after returning to the U.S., he took to work on LX and has been there since. The LX Ranch is owned by Miles Bivins Childers, but as manager, Anderson is the man in control of day-to-day operations. Under his guidance, the ranch has thrived, and at the Coors Cowboy Club Ranch Rodeo, LX loves to show off its skills. Anderson’s team, a multi-time champion at the rodeo, once again found itself in the lead with 57 points after day one this year. “It always feels good to win,” Anderson said. ‘We have a lot of fun with it, and there’s a lot of pride in being able to say you won.”...more