"Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America"
Planning a trip to Fort Worth? Don't miss the "Texas Gold" monument. This magnificent work of art is the focal point of the two-acre TLBAA property at the corner of North Main and Stockyards Boulevard. A gift of artist and rancher T.D. Kelsey, and his wife, Sidni, to the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America, "Texas Gold" is one of the largest cast bronze statues in the world.
Seven Texas Longhorn steers and an outrider stretch across a base that measures 29 feet by 13.8 feet. Though roughly one-third larger than lifesize, each figure remains anatomically correct and true to scale. Eleven feet tall, the bronze weighs seven tons.
The cattle represent the seven "families" of Texas Longhorns: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (WR), Yates, Phillips, Marks, Butler, Wright, and Peeler. Each steer has a heart, just as the cattle themselves did.
Thirty-five studies 1/9 life-size, and seven 1/3 life-size studies, served as models for the monument. It took Kelsey four months to build just the armature for the 10-foot study, which required 20 hours for the patina process alone. The study took up over a ton of clay to sculpt.
For the final work, Kelsey built a track on which the armature could be moved out of the building, affording him the ability to stand back from a distance of two to three blocks to view the work in progress. The work took 18,000 pounds of clay to create. Because of its size and complexity, the bronze was cast in 900 pieces in Loveland, Colorado and later welded together. Following three months of sculpting and another six months to mold and cast, the "Texas Gold" was dedicated on December 8, 1984. It was declared Terry Kelsey Day in Tarrant County, and Kelsey was made an honorary citizen of the State of Texas.
Joining Terry and Sidni in the unveiling ceremonies that day were Texas Longhorn breeders TLBAA President Dr. Bill Clark; Cliff Teinert, who sang "The Cowboy Prayer"; and Dan W. Coates. They were joined by country-and-western star Larry Gatlin, Fort Worth Mayor Bob Bolen, Tarrant County Judge Mike Moncrief and other civic and business leaders from Fort Worth. The ceremony included a parade that featured a turn-of-the century calliope, horse-and Longhorn-drawn vehicles, a marching hand, rodeo clowns, gunfighters, representatives from several ethnic organizations which helped shape Fort Worth’s early history and a marching band from nearby North Side High School. Kelsey himself drove a six-up mule hitch owned by Longhorn breeder Watt Matthews of Albany, Texas. Ray Moore drove Sidni to the monument in a wagon pulled by a team of eight Texas Longhorn steers. He later used the steers to pull the tarp off to unveil the "Texas Gold".
"Fort Worth is the perfect place for 'Texas Gold'," Kelsey said at the ceremonies.."The city's Old West heritage and its history as the leading livestock area in Texas make it ideal for a monument to the values that made Texas and the West great. We hope that "Texas Gold" helps continue the revitalization of the Stockyards as an active livestock industry center and as a major entertainment and tourist attraction."
The area surrounding the monument was landscaped in July, 1989 by Pat O'Neal of Fort Worth in memory of her late husband, Phil P. O'Neal. O'Neal, an oilman and a rancher, was owner of Oley Beer Distributing, which Pat still runs. "I consider the 'Texas Gold' one of the most outstanding pieces in Fort Worth," says Mrs. O'Neal, "and felt that some landscaping could enhance the statue." At her own cost, Mrs. O'Neal developed a southwestern landscape with grass, rocks, and cactus, added a sprinkler system, lights and a low brick wall with seats. She also maintains the area.
Nine years following the dedication of the "Texas Gold", an estimated one million visitors a year have viewed the bronze, and the Fort Worth Convention & Tourist Bureau receives an average of two calls a day concerning the statue. Kelsey’s words have come true.
So when you're in Fort Worth, stop to see the "Texas Gold" - a magnificent memorial to the breed and the men who built the cattle industry - to those who nurtured the Longhorns' heritage when it had all but vanished - and a source of pride for every Texas Longhorn breeder.
2315 N. Main Ste. 402, Fort Worth, TX 76106
PHONE (817) 625-6241 FAX (817) 625-1388
E-mail: tlbaa@tlbaa.org