- n Campbell and Mel Tillis at the Amarillo Civic Center w/ kids from Cal Farley's Boys Ranch
- Glen Mel Tillis at Civic Center CFBR.jpg (643.98 KiB) Viewed 14719 times
Nestled in the rolling hills northwest of Amarillo, Texas, Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch is a residential community open to at-risk children ages 5 to 18. In the late 1930s, Cal Farley was playing semiprofessional baseball by day and wrestling by night in Amarillo, Texas. Mr. Farley, a World War I veteran with an engaging personality, was a fan favorite at the ballpark, where he would deliberately hit foul balls over the fence to children gathered there, knowing they could exchange these balls for a free ticket to the game. Mr. Farley realized some of these children were hanging around the ballpark when they should have been in school, and he soon found many of them came from broken homes where guidance, supervision and love often were missing. Mr. Farley began looking for ways to help these children and, in the fall of 1938, Texas Panhandle rancher Julian Bivins agreed to support the cause. Bivins donated about 120 acres of land 36 miles northwest of Amarillo. The following March, Mr. Farley established his boys ranch at the site, which long before had been home to Tascosa, a raucous pioneer town. On land that once was known for gun fights and barroom brawls, Boys Ranch residents learned the value of integrity and an honest day’s work. The Boys Ranch population quickly grew and, in 1944, Mr. Farley sought to bolster the boys’ social education by hosting a rodeo. About one hundred people showed up, but the idea took root. Now, thousands attend the annual Boys Ranch Rodeo.
The mission of Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch had a deep impact on Mel Tillis and would lead to a longtime connection with the organization and Amarillo. Mel was no stranger to Amarillo. He played the Tri-State Fair in 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978 and 1981. In ‘74, a teenaged Tanya Tucker joined him onstage. He owned several radio stations in town. He was also a staple at Amarillo Civic Center, where he played at least three times, including a free show with Glen Campbell and Willie Nelson in 1979. Mel made sure that some of the kids at Cal Farleys were able to attend the concert and got to meet Glen.
I have worked with Cal Farleys since 1978 and can attest that it has and continues to provide a home for kids in need. They are privately funded by donations and if you are interested in knowing more about this wonderful place, their website is:
Cal Farleys Boys Ranch
