Donald Wayne Heard
December 28, 1935
to
December 9, 2017
Donald Wayne Heard, 81, of Centralia, passed away Saturday, December 9, 2017 at his home. He was born the son of Hoyt and Lucy Forrest (Chandler) Heard on December 28, 1935 in Gladewater, Texas. He married Patsy O'Brist Branch in 1960. She preceded him in death. Don later married Betty Lou Duncan on November 3, 2007 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by both of his parents, wife Patsy Heard, and daughter Amber Johnson.
Don was a 1956 graduate of Kilgore College, having completed his studies in Agriculture, specializing in pre-veterinarian medicine. While completing his studies, he was President of Kilgore College Agriculture Club, lettered in the Kilgore College Rodeo Team, a specialty at bareback and bull riding, lettered in track, and a member of the livestock judging national team, and a member of Kapa Sigma Lombada Fraturnity at the college. He later graduated from SIU in 1968 and completed graduate work in animal science.
He worked at the oil refinerys and oil drilling rigs as roust about and worked on drilling rigs as ruff neck. Also, had soloed in training for pilot's license.
He went on to be a school teacher and coach of Raccoon School. He devoted 35 years to the school district having coached basketball, volleyball, and track over the years. He was a board member, secretary and treasurer for the Oil Belt Athletic Conference and licensed IHSA Basket Ball Official of the IL High School Association and board member of the Southern Illinois Junior High Athletic Association.
He was also the owner of Heard's Western Wear and Trailer Sales and owner of D-H Farms.
Don was the oldest breeder of Santa Gertrudis cattle in Illinois with Herd #2706. He showed his cattle in over 14 states with many champions. He sold and shipped cattle as far as Taiwan and Australia. He was successful in genetically improving and changing his strain of Santa Gertrudis cattle, producing some of the top cattle in the breed. Over the years, he was a member of many organizations with the Santa Gertrudis cattle. He was a member of the Santa Gertrudis Breeders International in Texas with Herd #2706, served on the National Board of Directors for SGBI serving 3- 2 year terms for the northeast District 6, co-founder and charter member and vice-president of the IL Santa Gertrudis Association Affiliate, and member and vice-president of the Mid-America Santa Gertrudis Association Affiliate.
Don also bred and showed reserve national high-point female "Sunshine." He was a member of the Southern IL Beef Board in conjunction with the University of Illinois. He bred and raised Heard's Poll Mule who was picked as the top Santa Gertrudis bull of the 1994 World Congress held at the Houston Livestock Show in Houston, TX. He was determined by the Foreign Country Association as the Best Bull Exhibited.
He also enjoyed designing cattle handling facilities and equipment that reduced stress on the cattle and the handlers. He was responsible for many new innovations, ideas, and designs. He truly was a cattleman's cattleman.
He was a member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon where he enjoyed attending worship services and Sunday School.
Don greatest joy and love was attending his children and grandchildren's sporting events. He will be remembered as their biggest cheerleader.
Complete obit - www.maczfuneralhomes.com
December 28, 1935
to
December 9, 2017
Donald Wayne Heard, 81, of Centralia, passed away Saturday, December 9, 2017 at his home. He was born the son of Hoyt and Lucy Forrest (Chandler) Heard on December 28, 1935 in Gladewater, Texas. He married Patsy O'Brist Branch in 1960. She preceded him in death. Don later married Betty Lou Duncan on November 3, 2007 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by both of his parents, wife Patsy Heard, and daughter Amber Johnson.
Don was a 1956 graduate of Kilgore College, having completed his studies in Agriculture, specializing in pre-veterinarian medicine. While completing his studies, he was President of Kilgore College Agriculture Club, lettered in the Kilgore College Rodeo Team, a specialty at bareback and bull riding, lettered in track, and a member of the livestock judging national team, and a member of Kapa Sigma Lombada Fraturnity at the college. He later graduated from SIU in 1968 and completed graduate work in animal science.
He worked at the oil refinerys and oil drilling rigs as roust about and worked on drilling rigs as ruff neck. Also, had soloed in training for pilot's license.
He went on to be a school teacher and coach of Raccoon School. He devoted 35 years to the school district having coached basketball, volleyball, and track over the years. He was a board member, secretary and treasurer for the Oil Belt Athletic Conference and licensed IHSA Basket Ball Official of the IL High School Association and board member of the Southern Illinois Junior High Athletic Association.
He was also the owner of Heard's Western Wear and Trailer Sales and owner of D-H Farms.
Don was the oldest breeder of Santa Gertrudis cattle in Illinois with Herd #2706. He showed his cattle in over 14 states with many champions. He sold and shipped cattle as far as Taiwan and Australia. He was successful in genetically improving and changing his strain of Santa Gertrudis cattle, producing some of the top cattle in the breed. Over the years, he was a member of many organizations with the Santa Gertrudis cattle. He was a member of the Santa Gertrudis Breeders International in Texas with Herd #2706, served on the National Board of Directors for SGBI serving 3- 2 year terms for the northeast District 6, co-founder and charter member and vice-president of the IL Santa Gertrudis Association Affiliate, and member and vice-president of the Mid-America Santa Gertrudis Association Affiliate.
Don also bred and showed reserve national high-point female "Sunshine." He was a member of the Southern IL Beef Board in conjunction with the University of Illinois. He bred and raised Heard's Poll Mule who was picked as the top Santa Gertrudis bull of the 1994 World Congress held at the Houston Livestock Show in Houston, TX. He was determined by the Foreign Country Association as the Best Bull Exhibited.
He also enjoyed designing cattle handling facilities and equipment that reduced stress on the cattle and the handlers. He was responsible for many new innovations, ideas, and designs. He truly was a cattleman's cattleman.
He was a member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon where he enjoyed attending worship services and Sunday School.
Don greatest joy and love was attending his children and grandchildren's sporting events. He will be remembered as their biggest cheerleader.
Complete obit - www.maczfuneralhomes.com
Donald Wayne Heard
December 28, 1935
to
December 9, 2017
Donald Wayne Heard, 81, of Centralia, passed away Saturday, December 9, 2017 at his home. He was born the son of Hoyt and Lucy Forrest (Chandler) Heard on December 28, 1935 in Gladewater, Texas. He married Patsy O'Brist Branch in 1960. She preceded him in death. Don later married Betty Lou Duncan on November 3, 2007 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by both of his parents, wife Patsy Heard, and daughter Amber Johnson.
Don was a 1956 graduate of Kilgore College, having completed his studies in Agriculture, specializing in pre-veterinarian medicine. While completing his studies, he was President of Kilgore College Agriculture Club, lettered in the Kilgore College Rodeo Team, a specialty at bareback and bull riding, lettered in track, and a member of the livestock judging national team, and a member of Kapa Sigma Lombada Fraturnity at the college. He later graduated from SIU in 1968 and completed graduate work in animal science.
He worked at the oil refinerys and oil drilling rigs as roust about and worked on drilling rigs as ruff neck. Also, had soloed in training for pilot's license.
He went on to be a school teacher and coach of Raccoon School. He devoted 35 years to the school district having coached basketball, volleyball, and track over the years. He was a board member, secretary and treasurer for the Oil Belt Athletic Conference and licensed IHSA Basket Ball Official of the IL High School Association and board member of the Southern Illinois Junior High Athletic Association.
He was also the owner of Heard's Western Wear and Trailer Sales and owner of D-H Farms.
Don was the oldest breeder of Santa Gertrudis cattle in Illinois with Herd #2706. He showed his cattle in over 14 states with many champions. He sold and shipped cattle as far as Taiwan and Australia. He was successful in genetically improving and changing his strain of Santa Gertrudis cattle, producing some of the top cattle in the breed. Over the years, he was a member of many organizations with the Santa Gertrudis cattle. He was a member of the Santa Gertrudis Breeders International in Texas with Herd #2706, served on the National Board of Directors for SGBI serving 3- 2 year terms for the northeast District 6, co-founder and charter member and vice-president of the IL Santa Gertrudis Association Affiliate, and member and vice-president of the Mid-America Santa Gertrudis Association Affiliate.
Don also bred and showed reserve national high-point female "Sunshine." He was a member of the Southern IL Beef Board in conjunction with the University of Illinois. He bred and raised Heard's Poll Mule who was picked as the top Santa Gertrudis bull of the 1994 World Congress held at the Houston Livestock Show in Houston, TX. He was determined by the Foreign Country Association as the Best Bull Exhibited.
He also enjoyed designing cattle handling facilities and equipment that reduced stress on the cattle and the handlers. He was responsible for many new innovations, ideas, and designs. He truly was a cattleman's cattleman.
He was a member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon where he enjoyed attending worship services and Sunday School.
Don greatest joy and love was attending his children and grandchildren's sporting events. He will be remembered as their biggest cheerleader.
Complete obit - www.maczfuneralhomes.com
December 28, 1935
to
December 9, 2017
Donald Wayne Heard, 81, of Centralia, passed away Saturday, December 9, 2017 at his home. He was born the son of Hoyt and Lucy Forrest (Chandler) Heard on December 28, 1935 in Gladewater, Texas. He married Patsy O'Brist Branch in 1960. She preceded him in death. Don later married Betty Lou Duncan on November 3, 2007 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by both of his parents, wife Patsy Heard, and daughter Amber Johnson.
Don was a 1956 graduate of Kilgore College, having completed his studies in Agriculture, specializing in pre-veterinarian medicine. While completing his studies, he was President of Kilgore College Agriculture Club, lettered in the Kilgore College Rodeo Team, a specialty at bareback and bull riding, lettered in track, and a member of the livestock judging national team, and a member of Kapa Sigma Lombada Fraturnity at the college. He later graduated from SIU in 1968 and completed graduate work in animal science.
He worked at the oil refinerys and oil drilling rigs as roust about and worked on drilling rigs as ruff neck. Also, had soloed in training for pilot's license.
He went on to be a school teacher and coach of Raccoon School. He devoted 35 years to the school district having coached basketball, volleyball, and track over the years. He was a board member, secretary and treasurer for the Oil Belt Athletic Conference and licensed IHSA Basket Ball Official of the IL High School Association and board member of the Southern Illinois Junior High Athletic Association.
He was also the owner of Heard's Western Wear and Trailer Sales and owner of D-H Farms.
Don was the oldest breeder of Santa Gertrudis cattle in Illinois with Herd #2706. He showed his cattle in over 14 states with many champions. He sold and shipped cattle as far as Taiwan and Australia. He was successful in genetically improving and changing his strain of Santa Gertrudis cattle, producing some of the top cattle in the breed. Over the years, he was a member of many organizations with the Santa Gertrudis cattle. He was a member of the Santa Gertrudis Breeders International in Texas with Herd #2706, served on the National Board of Directors for SGBI serving 3- 2 year terms for the northeast District 6, co-founder and charter member and vice-president of the IL Santa Gertrudis Association Affiliate, and member and vice-president of the Mid-America Santa Gertrudis Association Affiliate.
Don also bred and showed reserve national high-point female "Sunshine." He was a member of the Southern IL Beef Board in conjunction with the University of Illinois. He bred and raised Heard's Poll Mule who was picked as the top Santa Gertrudis bull of the 1994 World Congress held at the Houston Livestock Show in Houston, TX. He was determined by the Foreign Country Association as the Best Bull Exhibited.
He also enjoyed designing cattle handling facilities and equipment that reduced stress on the cattle and the handlers. He was responsible for many new innovations, ideas, and designs. He truly was a cattleman's cattleman.
He was a member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon where he enjoyed attending worship services and Sunday School.
Don greatest joy and love was attending his children and grandchildren's sporting events. He will be remembered as their biggest cheerleader.
Complete obit - www.maczfuneralhomes.com
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