Obituary of Ronald Cauthen

Walton, KY--Ronald "Tex" Cauthen, a Hall of Fame Farrier and father of Hall of Fame rider Steve Cauthen, died at his Walton, KY home on June 1st. Born in Muleshoe, Texas, February 26, 1932, Cauthen grew up on his grandfather's farm south of Sweetwater, TX. As a young teenager, he went to work on a ranch breaking wild horses before taking a job at a racetrack in San Angelo. He accompanied two racehorses to New Orleans when he was 15, remaining on the Midwest racing circuit until he was drafted into the Army and trained as a meteorologist in 1952. Upon his return to civilian life in the U.S. from his post in Panama, Tex attended the blacksmith program at Michigan State University, which had deferred his enrollment until after the draft. Cauthen became a renowned racetrack farrier, and was eventually elected into the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame. Cauthen married Myra Bischoff in June of 1959, and the following year their first son, Steve, was born. After the birth of their second son, Doug, the Cauthens bought a small farm and settled permanently in Walton, where their third son, Kerry, was born. All of the children followed their parents into the horse business, Steve as a champion jockey in the U.S. and Europe; Doug as President and CEO of WinStar Farm; and Kerry as Managing Partner of Four Star Sales. Steve was elected to the Racing Hall of Fame in 1994. Both Doug and Kerry are also attorneys. Tex Cauthen died peacefully in his sleep at the farm where his family was raised. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Myra, their three sons and daughters in law Steve (Amy), Doug (Katie) and Kerry (Julie); and four grandchildren, Katelyn, Karley, Kelsey, and Thomas. Cauthen also leaves behind many who looked on him as family and whose lives he touched with his love and much-sought-after, down-to-earth wisdom. Memorial mass will be Sunday, June 7, at 3 p.m., at All Saints Church, 62 Needmore St., Walton, KY 41094. Services will be provided by Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home in Walton. Memorials in lieu of flowers can be made to Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Ave., 5th floor, Norwalk, CT 06851 or The Parish Kitchen, PO Box 1234, Covington, KY 41012.