Stockyards Icon Killed in Crash

Randy Rostetter, a Fort Worth Stockyards icon, died after he was struck in a suspected drunken-driving crash Sunday. He was 57. Rostetter was a fixture around the Stockyards for the last 20 years. He spent the last decade roaming East Exchange Street with his longhorn steer, Lone Star, taking pictures with tourists for tip money. "And the first thing they see is a guy standing in the middle of the street with a longhorn steer," Steve Murrin said. "And they think 'OK, this is Texas. This is what I was expecting to see.'" Murrin allowed Rostetter to house Lone Star at his River Ranch facility just east of the Stockyards. He also gave him other opportunities to work on his private ranch in town. Hub Baker, general manager of the Cowtown Coliseum, also helped Rostetter out over the years by letting him show off Lone Star on his property. "Streets are lot emptier with Randy not around," Baker said. "He always spoke to everybody, he was always in a great mood, and he did a great job for us while he was here." Baker described Rostetter as being a sincere man. But for all of his goodwill to those visiting the Stockyards, Rostetter lived a hard life. Both Baker and Murrin said Rostetter served as the president of one of the local beef or cattle associations 25 to 30 years ago. His life changed following a car crash in which he suffered a head injury. They said he went through numerous struggles on a personal and professional basis. Despite the ups and downs, he kept moving on, the said...more