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Keiser Cowboy

February 19, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner 21 Comments

GBE 2: Blog On – Writing Prompt #92 – Gusto!
My hometown looked like every other small southern town with a looming water tower, a cafe serving homemade chocolate pies, and a two pump gas station where hometown boys gathered, telling tall tales and waving to those who slowed at the four-way stop. 
But Keiser was different.
Each day between Gryner wall and Keiser Junior High, the town bore witness to a Wild, Wild West re-enactment provided by her own resident, Howard Ray Dawson.

Howard Ray Dawson

Howard Ray, a grown man who never aged, served as the town’s mascot. Each day no matter the weather, he galloped in on his beloved Trigger through a cloud of dust to the middle of Main Street. 

Howard Ray’s daily western show often stopped traffic and school children, all who were friends, all who cheered his zest for life. 
When Trigger was hit by a car and Howard Ray ended up in the hospital, the town rallied. The Graham family paid extra for him to have a television in his hospital room. Someone bought him a new horse. Everyone visited him in the hospital.

Abraham Lincoln said, “Whatever you are, be the best one.” Howard Ray was special in many ways. And he was the best cowboy to ever come out of Keiser, Arkansas. His enthusiastic spirit still lingers. 

talya
Musical Pairing:
The Good The Bad The Ugly

Filed Under: Arkansas, Family Tagged With: Keiser, Northeast Arkansas

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Comments

  1. Colene says

    February 19, 2013 at 10:34 am

    Love it! So many “special” characters all across the country.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 19, 2013 at 8:12 pm

      So true Colene:)

      Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    February 19, 2013 at 2:47 pm

    Winner!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 19, 2013 at 8:12 pm

      :))

      Reply
  3. Mark says

    February 19, 2013 at 7:01 pm

    Excellent Talya! I hadn’t thought about Howard Ray in many years. Thanks for the memory.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 19, 2013 at 8:11 pm

      Thanks Mark!

      Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    February 20, 2013 at 6:26 am

    I loved it! My brother Pete Horton loved Howard Ray and he loved him too. Pete loved messing with him! Both are gone but never forgotten!

    Reply
  5. Patricia A. Laster says

    February 20, 2013 at 6:30 am

    Howard Ray’s horse looks sort of like my first one. But, oh, I loved that thing. Good job.

    Reply
  6. Dorothy Latimer Johnson says

    February 20, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    Enjoyed that! Howard Ray was fortunate to be loved and looked after. Searcy had two men-boys who never grew up in that same sense. Shirley had a badge and gave out tickets. The other, David Carol, zoomed along, arms extended in his airplane sound effects and all.

    Reply
  7. TimH says

    February 20, 2013 at 10:03 pm

    Howard Ray will be remembered for many years in Keiser, and thanks Talya for sharing him with your readers. There are so many stories about him that you could write an epic novel on his life.=) Though he was mentally handicapped, he was a blessing on the small town of Keiser…Also, I wonder how his cowboy antics on school property would be dealt with in today’s hyper-sensitive and paranoid society where school children are expelled from school for shooting their classmates with their pretend-finger-guns. I think he would still be well received in Keiser, but then again, I could be wrong. Anyway, thank you again for rejuvenating fond memories of the past.=)

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 22, 2013 at 2:47 pm

      You are right, we live in a different time. I don’t think he would be allowed to wander around on the playground…

      Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    February 21, 2013 at 7:03 pm

    He was quite the ladies man too, if I remember correctly!!!!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 22, 2013 at 2:46 pm

      Yes he was!

      Reply
  9. Susan ~ Today's Working Woman says

    February 22, 2013 at 3:31 pm

    Thank you for sharing a little bit about your hometown!

    Susan
    http://todaysworkingwoman25.blogspot.com

    Reply
  10. Jo says

    February 23, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    What a great character! Loved your memory of him!

    Reply
  11. Steven E Son says

    March 2, 2013 at 7:09 am

    Talya, I also grew up in Keiser. (Gracie Perry) was my aunt at the yellow jacket. I was very close friends with gary Dawson jr so I have many stories of Howard ray. I was a young squirt but I would remember the older guys talking about the two blonds with matching yellow muscle cars. Lol. Here are some of my memories. Gerald Graham flying way to early on Saturday mornings with his loud crop duster. The yellow jackets hamburgers and home made pies. Harlem white cotton sitting on puckers sidewalk using a magnify glass to read his wristwatch to tell time. Harold Senter and Bobby Swan with their daily walks. Kids walking by and sounding the Keiser fire alarm off in front of puckets. Kenny Perkins to lazy to exit the garbage truck to help load garbage and bill amous upset because he wouldn’t help and slinging the garbage. Lol I’m laughing hard at that!! The big tree outside of Keiser were the older group would go have a drink and a little toke! Lol. Howard Rsy walking the streets at 9:00 pm with a weak flashlight singing cowboy songs. Seeing Joe Hillard not miss a beat on coming to his house everyday for lunch from Wilson at 12:00 sharp. Having summer recreation at the Keiser school. The Keiser fire department riding the fire truck around every year passing out fruit. George Cunningham asleep at the Keiser four way in the old cop car while supposed to be watching the town. I could go on and on. I’m sure my friends and family get tired of me talking about the past! But Keiser was special and it will always be special to me. Good day,

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 2, 2013 at 7:46 am

      Awww thank you for sharing your Keiser memories. I remember much of those same things and I loved the Yellowjacket Cafe. Miss those days! T.

      Reply
  12. Jessie says

    June 19, 2018 at 2:47 pm

    Keiser was the best place to grow up it was a world of it own I remember howard ray when we was barely teenagers sitting on steps at the store he always had a pat on the back for u donโ€™t ever remember him being anything but full of life my dad would walk an when me an my friends would see him he would give us the money for a soda an candy bar he would ask howard if he wanted a soda howard always tell him no thank u but dad would get him one an say this is for keeping us safe howard would smile an say i watch them that what a good guy dose he was truly a good guy

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      June 20, 2018 at 2:37 pm

      Thank you for sharing your memories of Howard Ray. He was such a part of Keiser!

      Reply
  13. Sandra M. Smith says

    June 24, 2018 at 12:30 pm

    Howard Ray would come to our house every Saturday morning to polish Mikeโ€™s boots. He always had to ask about Morgan, then he would tell the town gossip and sing until he finished the boots.

    Reply
  14. Edwina Nash Graham says

    June 25, 2018 at 12:29 pm

    Thank you for the memories, this picture of Howard Ray was taken on our back porch. He never missed a party at this house, especially Christmas when Santa would be there. We were on our way to the Rio Grand Valley when we stopped by to visit with him in the hospital in Memphis and he was upset because he didnโ€™t have a tv so therefore he couldnโ€™t watch wrestling on Saturday morning so Gerald and I went to the desk and got him a tv for the duration of his hospital stay. Everybody in our town loved this fella. ?โค๏ธ?

    Reply

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Talya Tate Boerner


Hi! I'm Talya. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

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