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Baxter Black

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Baxter Black
Baxter Black at National Western Stock Show (Denver, Colorado) - January 21, 2012
Black in 2012
Born(1945-01-10)January 10, 1945
Brooklyn Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 10, 2022(2022-06-10) (aged 77)
Benson, Arizona, U.S.
Occupation
EducationDoctor of Veterinary Medicine
Alma materColorado State University
GenreCowboy Poetry
SubjectCowboy and ranch life
Years active1965–2022
Notable works
  • On the Edge of Commonsense
  • Coyote Cowboy Poetry
  • Croutons on a Cowpie
SpouseCindy Lou
ChildrenJennifer and Guy
RelativesParents: Robert and Theodora Black
Website
baxterblack.com

Baxter Black (January 10, 1945 – June 10, 2022) was an American cowboy poet and veterinarian. He wrote over 30 books of poetry, fiction—both novels and children's literature—and commentary, selling over two million books, CDs, and DVDs.[1]

Biography

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Black was born in Brooklyn Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, but grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In high school, he became the Future Farmers of America (FFA) president, the senior class president, and lettered in wrestling one year. He began riding bulls in rodeos while in high school, and continued riding throughout college. Black received his undergraduate degree at New Mexico State University, and completed veterinary school at Colorado State University, graduating in 1969. He was a practicing veterinarian from 1969 to 1982, specializing in large animals, such as cows and horses. During the last two years of his veterinary career, Black gained popularity through public speaking with over 250 appearances. After this, his career as a poet began. Black also hosted the public television series Baxter Black and Friends.[2]

He wrote a column, spoke on the radio, and had short segments on RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel. He resided in Benson, Arizona, with his wife, Cindy Lou, where they had no cell phone, television, or fax machine. One of his philosophies of life claims: "In spite of all the computerized, digitalized, high-tech innovations of today, there will always be a need for a cowboy." When asked what made him decide to become a cowboy, he said, "You either are one, or you aren't. You never have to decide."[3]

In late 2021, Black retired from writing and speaking engagements because of health issues.[4] Black's wife, Cindy Lou, reported on January 15, 2022, that he was in hospice care. His son-in-law explained, however, that the hospice consisted of a home health care worker checking on Black every few days because of various medical issues.[5]

Black died from leukemia on June 10, 2022, at his residence in Benson, Arizona, aged 77.[1][6]

Radio

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Black's radio career began as a chance occurrence. During a news-worthy local event, he submitted some of his work to a radio station. Black specified in an interview, "It was the year Yellowstone caught on fire, 1988. We were listening and they didn't have any coverage to speak of, and it was a huge deal in our life. It was a huge deal in Colorado (where I lived) and the sky smelled like smoke and I had this big tumultuous poem about range fire... So I sent them this. I just sent it to "Public Radio" in Washington D.C. And two or three days later I get a call back."[7]

Baxter was a regular commentator for 20 years on NPR beginning in the early '80s, he was a regular commentator for National Public Radio's Morning Edition.[8] Baxter Black on Monday, the weekly syndicated radio program, was on the air since 1989, and his weekly syndicated column, On the Edge of Common Sense, was carried by more than 150 publications.[9]

Bibliography

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Books
Title Genre Publisher Year
The Cowboy and His Dog : or, "Go, Git in the Pickup!" Poetry Record Stockman Press 1980
A Rider, a Roper and a Heck'uva Windmill Man Poetry Record Stockman Press 1982
On the Edge of Common Sense : the Best So Far Poetry Record Stockman Press 1983
Doc, While Yer Here Poetry Record Stockman Press 1984
Cowboy and Sourdough Buckaroo History Poetry Record Stockman Press 1985
Coyote Cowboy Poetry Poetry Record Stockman Press 1986
Croutons on a Cow-Pie Poetry Record Stockman Press 1988
The Buckskin Mare Poetry Record Stockman Press 1989
There's Mountain Time, There's Daylight
Savings Time, and Cowboy Standard Time		 Poetry Record Stockman Press 1990
Hey, Cowboy, Wanna Get Lucky? Fiction Record Stockman Press 1990
Croutons on a Cow-Pie II Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 1992
Dunny and the Duck Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 1994
Cow Attack Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 1996
Cactus Tracks & Cowboy Philosophy Literary Collection Penguin Books 1997
Loose Cow Party Poetry & Anecdotes Coyote Cowboy Co. 1998
A Cowful of Cowboy Poetry Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2000
Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle Livestock
Forward only		 Storey Books 2000
Cowboy Mentality: And the Big One That Got Away Blues Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2001
Horseshoes, Cowsocks, and Duckfeet: More Commentary
by NPR's Cowboy Poet & Former Large Animal Veterinarian		 Commentary Crown Publishers 2002
Baxter Black's Ag Man : the Comic Book Graphic Novel Coyote Cowboy Co. 2003
Hey, Cowgirl, Need a Ride? Fiction Crown Publishers 2005
The West
Limited Edition of 50		 Poetry Poetry Center of Chicago 2005
Blazin' Bloats and Cows on FIRE! or, It's Hard to Blow Out a Holstein Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2006
The World According to Baxter Black: Quips, Quirks and Quotes Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2008
The Back Page: the Best of Baxter Black From Western Horseman Literary Collection Coyote Cowboy Co. 2009
Rudolph's Night Off Children's Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2011
Lessons From a Desperado Poet
with Wilford Brimley		 Literary Collection TwoDot 2012
Ride, Cowboy, Ride! 8 Seconds Ain't That Long Fiction TwoDot 2012
Reindeer Flu Poetry Children's Fiction 2013
Poems Worth Saving Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2013
Cave Wall Graffiti from a Neanderthal Cowboy Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2014
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering: An Anthology Poetry Lyons Press 2014
Tinsel, Mistletoe and Reindeer Bait Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2016
Scrambled Wisdom Poetry & Anecdotes Coyote Cowboy Co. 2017
A Commotion in Rhyme Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2018

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Risen, Clay (2022-06-24). "Baxter Black, Who Elevated Cowboy Poetry to Folk Art, Dies at 77". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
  2. ^ Watts, Jr, James D. (7 May 2004). "Black humor". Tulsa World. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  3. ^ "FAQ".
  4. ^ "On the Edge of Common Sense". Baxter Black.
  5. ^ Bartlett, Melissa (18 January 2022). "Baxter Black is in Hospice Care But Not Like You Think". Mix 94.1. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  6. ^ Neff, Terri Jo (12 June 2022). "Baxter Black, America's Popular Cowboy Poet, Has Died". Arizona Independent.
  7. ^ Home on the Range with Baxter Black
  8. ^ "Stories By Baxter Black". NPR. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  9. ^ Bunch, Joey (12 January 2009). "Former vet found humor his calling". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
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