Wise Co., TX. - Obits: John G. Prude - 1904-2000
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With permission of: Wise County Messenger
Submitted by: Lola Withrow - lwithrow@syix.com

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                   John G. Prude
                     1904-2000

John G. Prude, one of Big Bend's best loved and known characters and 
whose family runs a century-old ranch that attracts thousands of 
tourists to the Davis Mountains each year, died Feb. 24, 2000, at his 
home at Prude Ranch. Service was Feb. 27, in Fort Davis.

He was the grandfather of Becky Longbotham Rodriguez of Bridgeport.
He was born Feb. 27, 1904, at the Prude Ranch to a West Texas pioneer 
family. 

He was an educator for more than 45 years in public schools and 
at Sul Ross State University in Alpine. He was an early champion for 
teacher benefits and parent-teacher cooperation. 

At the Prude Ranch, he was known as "Big Spurs" and was host to 
thousands of visitors who participated in cattle drives, ate from chuck 
wagons and listened to old cowboy songs while sitting around a campfire.

The Prude Ranch was established by his parents, Andrew and Ora, in the 
late 1890s. The ranch eventually grew to 28,000 acres and opened to 
visitors in 1921. After the stock market crash of 1929, the family had 
to sell cattle and land, reducing the ranch to its present 5,000 acres.

In addition to Rodriguez, he is survived by a son, John Robert and wife
Betty Prude of Fort Davis; a daughter, Ruth Elisabeth and husband Jack 
Longbotham of Clyde; and grandchildren, John Robert (Chip) Prude, Andrew
Prude and Charles Prude, all of Fort Davis, Jaynellen Prude Wylie of 
Henderson, Jack Longbotham, Jr. of Abilene, Jeff Longbotham of Midland
and Beth Longbotham High of Victoria, and 28 great-grandchildren. 
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