2006 Father of the Year ... M.C. "Butch" Gaston

The Montgomery County CattleWomen's Association is proud to present the 2006 Father of the Year Award to M.C. Gaston, who we all know as "Butch". An active member of the Montgomery County Cattlemen's Association, Butch is a familiar face around the cattle industry, operating a small farm in Pike Road. The recipients of this award are unaware of being selected until it is announced during the Rodeo. In order to obtain pictures and a short write-up on Butch, his family had to be very discreet, and his daughter Laura sincerely apologizes for any little untruths she was forced to tell in order to carry out her mission. This is what Butch's family had to say about a very dear man:

When little Clark was born, I was concerned about Butch's father skills - he was so afraid to hold him until he could sit up good, but then it was all father-and-son. Little Clark would ride with his dad in the pastures and look at the moo-cows. Then driving tractors, trucks, and riding horses, but no bull riding; Butch was glad of that, remembering his days of riding bulls in the rodeo. When Leigh Ann and Laura were born, he must have thought they were boys, he bought them two Shetland ponies and said "here break 'em," he also, taught them how to drive tractors and trucks. He would let them run all amongst the cows and bulls in the pasture and ride their bicycles or horses to the store. When it came to sports, he really supported them; Clark's football and baseball, Leigh Ann and Laura's fast-pitch softball - which he helped coach for about 12 years and three trips to the Fast Pitch World Series. He was always there for the kids, helping them through the good times and bad; they still come to him for advice. Now that he's a grandpa, he gets to do it all over again; he has been teaching Rachael how to ride horses, drive tractors, feed baby calves, and play softball. All the kids would agree when I say, Butch has been the best father and grandpa a child could ask for.

   Love, Evelyn, Little Clark, Leigh Ann, Laura, & Rachael