Linda Mitchell Davis, the first woman to be named as a Foy Proctor Memorial Cowman of Honor recipient. A legend in her own right, Mrs. Davis grew up on the famous Bell Ranch under the tuteleage of her father, Albert K. Mitchell, and the cowboys who worked with him and helped raise her.
“Linda has said that she’s the happiest when she’s a’horseback,” said Steagall. “She’s been riding for 70 years.”
Those who know the CS Ranch say that when Mrs. Davis arrived with her gear after marrying World War II hero, Les Davis, the CS took a turn for the better.
“She brought her own working ranch blood and know-how to the CS,” Steagall said.
“It’s been said, ‘She’s an education to watch on a horse,'” Steagall added. “Les always insisted that, ‘Linda is the ranch’s center and inspiration. She gets things done.”‘
Mrs. Davis, who serves on numerous boards and commissions, has received many honors including Cattleman of the Year, awarded by the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association in December 1990, the National Golden Spur Award presented by the Ranching Heritage Association in September of 1992, and induction into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1995.
Additionally, Mrs. Davis and her husband were inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City in March 7, 2000.
Mrs. Davis said she was deeply honored to receive the Foy Proctor Award.
“I want to take the opportunity tonight to say thank you to the Haley Library and the group here in Midland,” said Mrs. Davis. “This is an honor, a tremendous honor, and I was thinking today, thinking back how fortunate we are that Hernan Cortez landed in 1519 in Santa Cruz and brought with him 16 head of horses – purebred horses.
“And then, in 1521 a fellow Spaniard arrived with a small herd of purebred Spanish cattle,” she continued. “Those cattle grew and adjusted to the land, the horses adjusted to the land, and they literally took the country. It’s due to those cattle, those horses and the people that managed to tame them that we are here tonight and have made our mark on history. It’s an indelible mark and we are so fortunate to be able to have done what we have for our country and our nation.
