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S.Bonnie rode beside the pilot in the bubble canopy of one helicopter — with the door off for better pictures.I was beside the pilot of the other helicopter for the story.The sight from above that great herd of white-faced Herefords coming from the brush and then moving out in a great red and white stream toward a big corral at ranch headquarters was breath-taking.UnmatchedNo western artist has ever matched it.And though I hesitated a ,little at our making the flight, there was no danger to it —- only theA good helicopter cowboy moves the cattle but does not panic themmost exhilarating hour that can be imagined.The roundup took place on the Colorado Ranch, south of Cotulla and .just cast of Artesia Wells, it is operated by Mayor J. C. •Martin Jr. of Laredo and owned by him and his sister. Mrs. Dora Martin Rus-fcell.Mayor Martin — dressed and looking like the true cowman he is — was running the roundup. And hisi. v y ) Ffc f t ft t: ft -rering the helicopter just like a horseson, J. C. Martin III, an insurance and real estate man, was lending a hand.Bonnie and I are friends of Mayor Martin through Laredo stories we have done.But we have Phil Koehne of San Antonio, who owns the adjoining Las Abras Ranch, to thank for our being at Mayor Martin's helicopter roundup.We were headed for Las Abras to do last vveek’s story on the buffalo and buffalo hybrids that Koehne has. He saw the helicopters over the Martin ranch and knew what a good story it would be for us.The helicopters were operated by Coastal Helicopters with offices in Corpus Christi and Cotulla.SpecialtyCoastal Helicopters does other flying —charter service. offshore flying and lifting unusual loads into unusual places.But cattle roundups are their specialty.They fly about 1,600 hours a year on roundups.Bonnie flew with Joe Ingle, who owns Coastal Helicopters. He has been flying helicopters since 1958.I flew with Ingle's right-THE HELICOPTER mal the tail end of a hlt; pasture and heads 1boys — helped by chand man, pilot Joe Smith.The two helicopters were in the big yard at ranch headquarters when Bonnie and I took our places beside the pilots.Smith and 1 were in the front helicopter. What a moment it was for me when
Newspaper Details
San Antonio Express
San Antonio, Texas, US
Sat, Jan 24, 1976
Page 16
Full Page
Clipped by
Texas A.
TX, USA 19 Oct 2023
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