NATIONAL DAY OF THE AMERICAN COWBOY

Congress has designated July 26 as the National Day of the American Cowboy. Go here to find out more about this annual celebration, and here is a sample of articles about events held this year:

Cowboys add punch to museum festival
Proud Cowboys Still Tall in the Saddle
Okeechobee Co. Holds National Day Of American Cowboy
Cowboy heritage to be celebrated in Bisbee
Wyo celebrates National Day of the American Cowboy

This is the first year this event has been celebrated in Dona Ana County, and I was honored to be the first person this day was dedicated to by the Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce. You can see a poster of this event by going here(pdf).

And for those of you who have asked for more information about me, and for those who know me and have asked that I share more of my personal story, here is what was presented during the ceremony:

Frank DuBois is a descendant of a family who has ranched in the Corona, New Mexico area for over one hundred years. The town site of Corona was part of his Great Grandfather’s homestead, and his Grandfather homesteaded at what is now Claunch, New Mexico. Frank worked on the ranch during the summer and attended school in Albuquerque until 1965, when he moved to Las Cruces to attend college.

While a student at NMSU, and as a result of his timid demeanor, studious ways and impeccable behavior, Frank picked up the nickname of “Mad Dog”. Frank roped calves, steer wrestled, and also managed to earn bachelors and masters degrees.

Upon graduation, Frank worked as an inspector for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture for a year, and then joined the Washington DC staff of U.S. Senator Pete Domenici. For the next five years DuBois handled agriculture and natural resource issues for the Senator.

In 1981 DuBois was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior for Land & Water Resources by President Reagan. There he worked on issues involving the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Office of Water Policy.

In 1983 DuBois returned to New Mexico as the Assistant Director of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and in 1987 was appointed New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture, a position he held for over 15 years. During those years Frank worked closely with agricultural producers to represent their interests in New Mexico and on the national level. DuBois also served as President of the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association and the Western Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and served on the board of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Frank also founded the “Rounders Award” which annually recognized individuals who “lived, promoted or articulated the western way of life.”

Honors received by Secretary DuBois were: The New Mexico Cattle Growers “Cattleman Of The Year”, the New Farm & Livestock Bureau’s “Distinguished Service To Agriculture”, Progressive Farmer Magazine’s “Southwest Man Of The Year”, and the New Mexico CowBelle’s “Man Of The Year”. In December 2000 in Washington, D.C., DuBois was presented the DreamMaker Award. The award was presented by the Going the Distance for MS Research Foundation for “. . . inspiring us all to live full, productive, and happy lives no matter what our circumstances.”

Frank stepped out from behind his desk in 1989 and decided to be a cowboy again. He joined the Riff Raff Roping Club to team rope. However, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1990. This didn’t stop DuBois, who went on to win 4 saddles, 7 buckles and a hay barn. The exploits of Frank and his horse Buster were recognized in an article in the Western Horseman magazine.

DuBois ran his last steer in May of 1998. Like many, Frank had been critical of NMSU for their lack of support for rodeo athletes and he decided to do something about it. He founded the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship in the Fall of 2000 and awarded the first scholarships in the Fall of 2001. Frank then lobbied the legislature for money to hire a rodeo coach, and then the following year he lobbied for money for practice stock and additional scholarships.

And the result? Under the guidance of coach Jim Dewey Brown, the NMSU rodeo team has brought home 10 team regional championships, 37 individual event regional championships and 5 individual event national championships. The rodeo program has also produced 9 Academic All-Americans and is now the third largest program in the nation.

Most recently, DuBois has received national attention, including that of Fox News, for his weblog, “The Westerner”, where he covers issues of importance to westerners, including water rights, property rights, western agriculture and the sport of rodeo.

DuBois lives south of Las Cruces with his wife, Sharon. They have two grown children, Sevon Nicole and Frank Austin, and six grandchildren.