Pat Elder honored with tree naming

Pat Elder honored with tree naming

By Anna Noel

The Cuero Record

The sixth tree naming took place on Friday, Nov. 5. Family, friends, and the tree board gathered at the trees to be named at 10 a.m. and Jason Elder, a member of the tree board, began the event by introducing the tree board and city officials present. He then introduced Patrick Elder, who the tree is named for. Jason, Patrick Elder’s nephew, then told a bit about Pat.

“A lot can be said about Pat Elder. He grew up on a stock farm and always had the dream to come back to one of his own. After college, five years in the Air Force, and a short career is a stockbroker in Montana, he moved back to Texas to work in an oil tool company with his brother. After 10 or so years as a city dweller, he moved with his wife, Karyn, and two children, Eric Elder and Kimberly Roberts, to the country and then to his very own stock farm, The Cowbuddy Ranch.

“Upon the sale of the oil company he was with, he founded two oil field service companies, one local and one international. He started a self-storage business, Security Storage, about 28 years ago all the time raising and developing cattle and cultivating a love for trees, planting 50 trees when he was 50, 60 trees when he was 60, and says he is still working on the 70 trees. He has served in many capacities over the years such as:

-Appraisal district board, current board member

-Cuero Tree board

-Habitat for Humanity co-founder of local unit-raised money

-Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum, early board member during construction

-Lindenau Rifle Club board

-CISD school board

-Education Foundation board

-DeWitt Medical Foundation

-Dedication of Women’s Center CCH

-Director of medical education from Bell Terry Elder fund

-Church officer for most of 35 years

But he says being a grandfather is by far the best job he’s ever had.”