Tony Alvis
Tony in Los Padres
National Forest 1993
I met Tony in 1992 when the
author of the book, Cowboy High Style, told me about this
other cowboy artist that lived near me. I called him and the next
day he came to my house to visit. Over the years our friendship
grew. We traded and shared artwork, we went to far off shows in
Arizona and Wyoming, we went into Los Padres National Forest,
we got to know each other pretty well.
There's an old cowboy expression
that says, "He was one to ride the river with." Tony
was that. I'd would have trusted him with my life in that wilderness
he was so fond of.
Tony's art in Cowboy
High Style.
A sheep Wagon Tony
restored about 1995.
Tony was generous to
a fault. If you were his friend, he gave you the best horse to
ride. That's me on Mutah in 1993.
He shared all his worldly
treasures... Sleeping Indian Rock. And, the first Western artist's
work.
He showed me the Old
Man's best work.
His horses and mules
always came first.
Tony, thanks for the
memories.... (l to r) Tabasco, Tony, my son Mike, and me on Mutah.
Wild Bill Cleaver,
a mutual friend, sent me these old photos of Tony....
This one was taken
a while back, not a hint of gray in that beard.
Tony was full of fun
I'll never forget being at
a barn dance in Cody, Wyoming. Tony and a few of us boys went
outside for some fresh air. We were at a remarkable place called
Trail Town -- a collection of historic buildings and artifacts
gathered from all around Wyoming.
The four of us stood there
quietly talking, enjoying the crisp air of a starlight fall night.
We were standing next to the grave of the famous Mountainman Jeremiah
Johnson. Suddenly Tony leaned forward poured the contents of his
glass on the grave and exclaimed, "Here's to you Jeremiah,
I'll bet you've got powerful a thrist.
He gave sage advice...It was
Tony's advice that kept me safe this day:
Wreck of '97
Early one morning in
a corral we had fifty head of horses tied.
Us wranglers were fixin' saddles for all those dudes to ride.
When outta the blue with a couple of snorts an' big loud crack,
Sections of rail fence popped out as two cayuses pulled back.
It was sort a of a
combination barn dance and strong whirlwind,
With all those fence rails a flyin' high as those ponies did spin.
An' when those two horses headed towards the ol' barn door,
All of us cowboys were sure enough huntin' a hole in the floor.
Suddenly thirty feet
of rail fence an' two horses came to stop
The air became deathly still an' you could hear a pin drop.
We had to get these cayuses untied an' this mess untangled,
But how do you untie a scared pony without gettin' mangled.
Then to mind comes
some cowboy wisdom an' words of advice,
If you gotta untie a panicked horse only a sharp knife will suffice.
So I creeps in toward this little bay nag with a heart so forlorn,
I know if they start the ball rolling next I'll hear Gabrial's
horn.
To my surprise first
one pony then the other stood stock still,
An' I cut two lead ropes and watched those cayuses start to mill.
Dudes began to arrive an' pick the color of horse they liked best.
We'll never tell why two cayuses stood tied separate from the
rest.
-- Jerry England 1997
Adios, vaya con
Dios, my Amigo.
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