Dave drove from Montana with Loren Entz and T. D. - well he’s a neighbor to the Four Sixes down at the headquarters in Guthrie. Special guests included Rick McCumber, the official silversmith of the Cowboy Artists, Greg Brown, publisher of Cowboys and Indians magazine, Tom Pearson and Mike Cassel of the Men’s Arts Council (MAC) and Bill Rey of the Clagget Rey Gallery. Honorary member Griff Carnes of Kerrville, Texas joined the ride and recorded it with many memorable photographs.

Perhaps no moment was quite so memorable as President Bill Owen and board member Fred Fellows giving Bill Rey a big bear hug, and telling him he’d just been voted an Honorary Member of the Cowboy Artists of America during the business meeting.

The CAA members and guests have many people to thank, especially Mike Gibson, General Manger of the 6666 Ranch and Joe Leathers, manager of the Dixon Creek division and the ride host. The CAA members have been privileged to ride all three of the famed 6666 ranches. In 1996, the ranch hosted the CAA at the historic Guthrie headquarters for the second time in its history. In 2002, the CAA traveled to central Montana along the Smith River. The loyal and generous support of Mike, Joe and owner Anne Marion are greatly appreciated.

To say the Trail Ride of 2005 was special is an understatement. It will go down in the history of the Cowboy Artists of America as a consummate blend of the old, the new, steeped in tradition, memorable and as CAA Founder Joe Beeler says, “one of the best of all time.”