Baxter Black

Baxter Black (January 10, 1945 – June 10, 2022) was an American cowboy poet and veterinarian. He wrote over 30 books of poetry, fiction—both novels and children's literature—and commentary, selling over two million books, CDs, and DVDs.

Biography Black was born in Brooklyn Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, but grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In high school, he became the Future Farmers of America (FFA) president, the senior class president, and lettered in wrestling one year. He began riding bulls in rodeos while in high school, and continued riding throughout college. Black received his undergraduate degree at New Mexico State University, and completed veterinary school at Colorado State University, graduating in 1969. He was a practicing veterinarian from 1969 to 1982, specializing in large animals, such as cows and horses. During the last two years of his veterinary career, Black gained popularity through public speaking with over 250 appearances. After this, his career as a poet began. Black also hosted the public television series Baxter Black and Friends.

He wrote a column, spoke on the radio, and had short segments on RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel. He resided in Benson, Arizona, with his wife, Cindy Lou, where they had no cell phone, television, or fax machine. One of his philosophies of life claims: "In spite of all the computerized, digitalized, high-tech innovations of today, there will always be a need for a cowboy." When asked what made him decide to become a cowboy, he said, "You either are one, or you aren't. You never have to decide."

In late 2021, Black retired from writing and speaking engagements because of health issues. Black's wife, Cindy Lou, reported on January 15, 2022, that he was in hospice care. His son-in-law explained, however, that the hospice consisted of a home health care worker checking on Black every few days because of various medical issues.

Black died from leukemia on June 10, 2022, at his residence in Benson, Arizona, aged 77.

Radio Black's radio career began as a chance occurrence. During a news-worthy local event, he submitted some of his work to a radio station. Black specified in an interview, "It was the year Yellowstone caught on fire, 1988. We were listening and they didn't have any coverage to speak of, and it was a huge deal in our life. It was a huge deal in Colorado (where I lived) and the sky smelled like smoke and I had this big tumultuous poem about range fire... So I sent them this. I just sent it to "Public Radio" in Washington D.C. And two or three days later I get a call back."Home on the Range with Baxter Black

Baxter was a regular commentator for 20 years on NPR beginning in the early '80s, he was a regular commentator for National Public Radio's Morning Edition. Baxter Black on Monday, the weekly syndicated radio program, was on the air since 1989, and his weekly syndicated column, On the Edge of Common Sense, was carried by more than 150 publications.

Bibliography + Books Title Genre Publisher YearThe Cowboy and His Dog : or, "Go, Git in the Pickup!" Poetry Record Stockman Press 1980 A Rider, a Roper and a Heck'uva Windmill Man Poetry Record Stockman Press 1982 On the Edge of Common Sense : the Best So Far Poetry Record Stockman Press 1983 Doc, While Yer Here Poetry Record Stockman Press 1984 Cowboy and Sourdough Buckaroo History Poetry Record Stockman Press 1985 Coyote Cowboy Poetry Poetry Record Stockman Press 1986 Croutons on a Cow-Pie Poetry Record Stockman Press 1988 The Buckskin Mare Poetry Record Stockman Press 1989 There's Mountain Time, There's DaylightSavings Time, and Cowboy Standard Time Poetry Record Stockman Press 1990 Hey, Cowboy, Wanna Get Lucky? Fiction Record Stockman Press 1990 Croutons on a Cow-Pie II Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 1992 Dunny and the Duck Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 1994 Cow Attack Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 1996 Cactus Tracks & Cowboy Philosophy Literary Collection Penguin Books 1997 Loose Cow Party Poetry & Anecdotes Coyote Cowboy Co. 1998 A Cowful of Cowboy Poetry Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2000 Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle LivestockForward only Storey Books 2000 Cowboy Mentality: And the Big One That Got Away Blues Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2001 Horseshoes, Cowsocks, and Duckfeet: More Commentaryby NPR's Cowboy Poet & Former Large Animal Veterinarian Commentary Crown Publishers 2002 Baxter Black's Ag Man : the Comic Book Graphic Novel Coyote Cowboy Co. 2003 Hey, Cowgirl, Need a Ride? Fiction Crown Publishers 2005 The WestLimited Edition of 50 Poetry Poetry Center of Chicago 2005 Blazin' Bloats and Cows on FIRE! or, It's Hard to Blow Out a Holstein Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2006 The World According to Baxter Black: Quips, Quirks and Quotes Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2008 The Back Page: the Best of Baxter Black From Western Horseman Literary Collection Coyote Cowboy Co. 2009 Rudolph's Night Off Children's Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2011 Lessons From a Desperado Poetwith Wilford Brimley Literary Collection TwoDot 2012 Ride, Cowboy, Ride! 8 Seconds Ain't That Long Fiction TwoDot 2012 Reindeer Flu Poetry Children's Fiction 2013 Poems Worth Saving Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2013 Cave Wall Graffiti from a Neanderthal Cowboy Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2014 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering: An Anthology Poetry Lyons Press 2014 Tinsel, Mistletoe and Reindeer Bait Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2016 Scrambled Wisdom Poetry & Anecdotes Coyote Cowboy Co. 2017 A Commotion in Rhyme Poetry Coyote Cowboy Co. 2018

Baxter Black

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