LAMZA Family History Network
Surname List     LAMZA.net Home     Email research@lamza.net

Loyd Edwin Schulmeier ¹⁰⁸⁸

   Another name for Loyd was Red Schulmeier.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Social Security Number: 464-52-7028, 1951, Texas. ¹⁰⁸⁹

• Obituary: San Antonio Express News, 5 Feb 1999, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. ¹⁰⁹⁰ Red Schulmeier: Journey Ends for Cowboy Riders on Chisholm Trail lose old friend during trek
Red Schulmeier lived to be a cowboy. Earlier this week, he died one.
After a full day of riding the Old Chisholm Trail Ride to the 50th Annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Schulmeier, 58, lay down Tuesday in his motorhome to rest.
He never awoke.
Almost always in a cowboy hat and jeans and straddling one of his horses, Schulmeier was the picture of a Texas cowboy.
His life revolved around his two horses, Baby and Misty, and his dog, Patches, a family member said.
"His horses were his life," said Schulmeier's brother-in-law, Marvin Lange. "He was born about 100 years too late."
Schumeier lived with his sister, Darleen, and her husband in St. Hedwig for the past 17 years.
A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sunset Memorial Park and Funeral Home at 1701 Austin Highway.
Lange said he was shocked to hear about Schumeier's death, but relieved it was so peaceful.
"He was doing what he wanted to do," Lange said. "What he loved to do."
Those words were echoed by many of Schulmeier's friends on Wednesday, as they continued their trek to San Antonio.
Schulmeier, who was born and raised in the Alamo City, rode several trail rides over the years and made numerous friends as a result.
He introduced Tracie Pierdolla of La Vernia to trail riding about five years ago.
She continued the tradition Wednesday, with Schulmeier's green Old Chisholm Trail Ride pin fastened to her shirt.
"He'd been doing the trail ride for over 20 years," Pierdolla said of her friend. "He died a happy man."
On Wednesday, Pierdolla left La Vernia with about 100 riders and wagoneers.
The group will join a slew of other riders when they arrive in San Antonio today to kick off the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.
Working cowboys in Texas have dwindled in numbers, but their enthusiasm and courage have lived on, not only in rodeo competition, but in trail rides, a tradition that carries back about 40 years.
The long line of trailers, wagons and horses drew folks from their homes along U.S. 87 in La Vernia. Among them was a small group of children who waited by the road with their teachers. The anxious youngsters jumped up and down when they spotted the first string of wagons.
The riders eagerly waved to return the childrens' salutes. Some even hollered.
The rythmic sound of horse hooves hitting pavement also caught the attention of a few nervous dogs and a group of cows who lazily gazed at the curious sight.
It was the group's fourth day riding together. Many had left after the weekend, while some children returned after being excused from school for a couple of days.
The Old Chisholm Trail Riders generally attract families to their riding ranks. Older riders often were followed by young faces such as that of Casey Walthall, the group's 7-year-old unofficial mascot.
Casey, who performed her duties with grace and aplomb, was a constant source of inspiration to the other riders. With soft, pale- blond hair framed by a black cowboy hat, Casey even performed the Macarena dance moves from the saddle.
By mid-afternoon, a sound truck leading the line of riders announced to the posse that there would be no reason for bragging about this year's ride.
"No ice or rain all week - you've had it too easy," the group was told.
Joe and Maxine Howard of Glenn Heights weren't complaining. Married for 43 years, the two have been riding trails "forever."
The grandparents of 12 behaved like newlyweds as they guided their wagon to that night's stop at Reynolds Transportation.
"Did I tell you lately that I love ya?" Joe Howard asked his wife, turning toward her and planting a big, wet kiss on her.
"Not lately," she replied. She later admitted to hearing the words earlier that morning.
Joe Howard said he feared the cowboys' days are numbered.
"I hope not, but eventually I know it will (die out) because they've (the cities) crowded us so much," Howard said. "Eventually, it will go away but I don't think it will be in my lifetime."
Until then, Howard carries and distributes a "Trail Riders Prayer" on all his rides, printed the back of his calling cards. It reads:
God grant that I may live to ride
Until my dying day
And when it comes to my last ride
I then most humbly pray
When in the Lord's safe landing net
I'm peacefully asleep,
That in his mercy I may be judged
As good enough to keep.
Red Schumeimer would agree.

• Obituary: UT Health Science Center News, 19 Feb 1999, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. http://www.uthscsa.edu/opa/issues/new32-7.html

Loyd married Living