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W. E. "Bill" Rush, 84, passed away at his home, Rush Rancho in Truth or Consequences, NM on Saturday, August 7, 2004. Bill was born to Stanley C. & Ida (Brownfield) Rush in Dublin, TX on November 30, 1919. The family ranch at Orange "Crow Flat," New Mexico was where Bill learned to ride, raise, breed and sell horses. Bill's passion was to rodeo, and he was an outstanding horseman, athlete and was active in the Professional Cowboy Association, holding many records over the years. He went to Madison Square Gardens 17 times for finals, and the highlight of his career was the record he held at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in Cheyenne, WY, considered the toughest rodeo there is. Bill met and married the former Domenica Iorio of TorC in 1967. They had no children but helped some young people with their lives who still call Bill & Dee family. Bill continued to rope and compete until neck injuries from a car accident prevented him from riding anymore. After the accident, Bill and Dee decided to develop his and their mutual dream known as the Rush Rancho. He raised two champion mares of New Mexico, "Asian Lady" and "Patty's Sara". A champion breeder and owner of mares, every colt Bill took to the track won. He was a member of the New Mexico Horse Breeders Association, the Arizona Horse Breeders Association, and the California Horse Breeders Association, where his reputation in the horse world for quality horses was successful in building the operation known as Rush Rancho on Riverside Drive. He leaves behind his wife, Domenica Rush of the family home; son, Dan & wife, Evette Schatzman & their two children, Domenica & Victoria of Houston, TX; daughter, Bettye & husband, Michael Martinez of Ponderosa, NM; nieces and nephews; along with Dr. Mario Herrera & wife, Vicki of TorC, NM; and Sam & wife, Lois Rush of Las Cruces, NM. A Memorial Celebration Service will be held on Saturday, August 14, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. at the family Rush Rancho on 1100 N. Riverside Dr. in Truth or Consequences, NM with Rev. Bill Kohler, Jim Grider, Dan Schatzman, and TV Jones officiating. Memorial contributions in Bill's memory may be sent to the N.M.S.U. Foundation, Department of Agriculture c/o DuBois Rodeo Scholarship Fund; MSC3189, P.O. Box 30005, Las Cruces, NM 88003 or to the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, Old West Museum, P.O. Box 2477, Cheyenne WY 82003. Arrangements are by Kirikos Family Funeral Home, Inc. 303 N. Cedar St., (TorC, NM) 505-894-2574
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