National Mule Memorial

V.H. Torrance, Austin historian and writer, noting the absence of the mule at the Ft. Worth Stock Show, became concerned over the rapid disappearance of the mule from the American scene. The late Dr. J.B. Barnett read the story, sent in a contribution, and a suggestion that a memorial to the mule be erected at Will Rogers Coliseum, Ft. Worth. George Dolan, a Ft. Worth columnist wrote of the movement to erect a mule memorial. Gil Lamb, owner of radio station KMUL in Muleshoe, and Carroll Pouncey the manager of the Muleshoe Chamber of Commerce, wrote Dr. Barnett and Dolan, listing reasons why the memorial should be in Muleshoe. Mrs. Middlebrook’s 4th grade class sent Dr. Barnett a contribution, and a plea to have the memorial erected in Muleshoe. Dr. Barnett flew to Muleshoe and organized the National Mule Memorial Association in 1965. More than 700 contributors from the U.S. and abroad, joined the campaign. The sculptor was Kevin Wolf, and the memorial was done by Fiberglass Menagerie, Alpine, California. The model for the memorial was “Old Pete” an 18 year old, 1100 pound mule belonging to Dave Anders of Muleshoe.