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Mouthful of snakesJackie Bibby, president of the Heart of Texas Snake Handlers, held four snakes in his mouth during one demonstration at the Oglesby Lions Club Rattlesnake Hunt and Arts and Crafts Show* Bibby is the holder of four world records dealing with snake handling.Snake handlersamaze cro wdsttWalking through a pit full of rattlesnakes may seem dangerous enough, but members of the Heart of Texas Rattlesnake Handlers performed death-defying acts that had spectators in awe during the 31st Annual Oglesby Lions Club Rattlesnake Show and Arts and Crafts Show.The rattlesnake club, which has members throughout Central Texas, has been performing demonstrations at the Oglesby show for more years than they can remember.Club president Jackie Bibby said he has been handling snakes since 1969 and has been to Oglesby most of that time.Among the stunts Bibby, who holds four world records, performs is holding four snakes by their tails in his mouth.“It’s a hobby and a sport just like some people like to hunt or fish,” Bibby said.Tommy White of Oglesby, who has been with the group about 25 years, climbed into a sleeping bag and allowed fellow snake handlers to fill the bag with snakes.“When you crawl in and they zip it up, the snake go wild,” White said. “They are moving real fast.After successfully escaping fromIt’s a hobbyand a sport,just like somepeople like tohunt or fish,the bag, White reported he and Bibby were the only ones to attempt the stunt head-first.For Bobby Duke, handling rattlesnakes is something of a family tradition. His mother started 30 years ago and he followed in her footsteps. He hopes to pass the tradition along to his 11-year-old son, Bobby Lee Duke.“I want to teach him the difference in poisonous and nonpoisonous snakes,” Duke said, “and how to react if he comes up on a snake.”Part of each demonstration stresses safety with rattlesnakes or any other poisonous snake.Mike Herzog of Clifton knows all too well what can happen when bitten by a rattlesnake.Last year, Herzog was hospitalized for the ninth time after being struck at the Oglesby show, and this time it almost cost him his life.“My son was in the sleeping bag and they pulled him out and poured the snakes on his legs,” Herzog recalled. “We were removing the snakes, and I reached down and got one by the tail, but the snake was too-Jackie BibbyPlease see SNAKE. P. 16
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