Don Hedgpeth, left, on the Cowboy Artists of America trail ride with singer and songwriter Red Steagall.
The Western art world lost one of its key scholars and authors, Don Hedgpeth, on June 25 after a decadeslong battle with leukemia. The famous writer and storyteller lived much of his life in Texas, and would often speak and write of its beauty. He died in San Antonio at the age of 77.
The author of 21 books—including important and popular books on Joe Beeler, Robert Lougheed, Grant Speed and a 50-year history of the American Quarter Horse Association—Hedgpeth published his first book, Spurs Were a-Jinglin’, in 1975, though his first article, about South Texas brushpoppers, was purchased for $35 in 1966. He later became director at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and Whitney Gallery of Western Art in Cody, Wyoming, in 1971. After a move back to Texas, he became the director of the Museum of the Southwest, then the founding director of the Haley Memorial Library.
Known as a voracious reader and deep thinker, Hedgpeth was widely respected in Western art circles, both for his knowledge of Western art and his friendship with many of the artists, dealers and collectors. “Don Hedgpeth was my hero. I’m not sure how many heroes we can have, but I sure have had a few,” says Claggett/Rey Gallery owner Bill Rey, who first met the author in 1989. “His hat size was 73/8, but it should have been 15¼ with all the amazing knowledge he had in there.”
Hedgpeth was also an honorary member of the Cowboy Artists of American and attended many CA trail rides. He could command great attention with his writing and often advocated for art that he felt was important. “Jim Reynolds was someone he always championed. Don always felt that Jim was the first to truly bring fine art to the [CAA],” Rey says. “Later he really championed the work of John Moyers and Terri Kelly Moyers, and also Paul Moore. He also thought bits and spurs were as important as painting and sculptures. He knew what he liked.” —
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