Rex Cauble
{{short description|Texas millionaire, cutting horse breeder and rancher}}
{{Infobox horse person
| name = Rex Cauble
| birth_name = Rex Carmack Cauble
| image = RexCaubleB&W.jpg|
| alt =
| caption = Rex Cauble, 1967
| occupation = Banking, ranching, construction, real estate
| discipline = NCHA cutting
| birth_date = {{Birth-date|August 15, 1913}}
| birth_place = Vaughan, Texas
| death_date = {{Death-date|June 23, 2003}}
| death_place = Durant, Oklahoma
| resting_place = Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park, Dallas, TX
| resting_place_coordinates =
| major_wins = 1964 NCHA Non-Pro World Champion
| lifetime_achievements = Honorary Texas Ranger
1978 American Medical Center Research Center Humanitarian Award,
| memorials =
| horses = Cutter Bill
}}
Rex Cauble (August 15, 1913—June 23, 2003) was born in Vaughan, Texas, to cotton farmers, Lou Butts and Fred C. "Buddy" Cauble.{{cite news|title=The Dallas Morning News|work=Obituaries|date=June 25, 2003}} He was a millionaire businessman who became wealthy as a wildcatter.{{cite web|url=https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/1990/january/rex-josephine/ | title= Rex & Josephine | publisher=D Magazine | date=January 1990 | accessdate=June 18, 2017}} In the 1970s, he founded two high-end retail, western-wear stores comprising Cutter Bill Western World named after Cauble's world-champion cutting horse, Cutter Bill; one store was located in Houston, the other in Dallas.{{cite web|url=https://www.houstonpress.com/arts/a-glimpse-into-the-wild-ride-of-cutter-bill-western-world-is-a-texas-time-capsule-8205931 | title=A Glimpse Into the Wild Ride of Cutter Bill Western World Is a Texas Time Capsule | publisher=Houston Press|last=Lane|first=Chris|date=March 2, 2016|accessdate=June 18, 2017}}
At age 67, Cauble became infamous when he was indicted under suspicion that he was bankrolling what was "reportedly the largest marijuana-smuggling operation in Texas during the '70s." A U.S. Attorney "labeled the dapper 67-year-old Denton, Texas, millionaire a 'general' in the 'Cowboy Mafia' of drug smugglers".{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/01/09/Cowboy-Mafia-trial-starts-Jan-11-Drug-charges-could-topple-Texas-dynasty/2363379400400/|title='Cowboy Mafia' Trial Starts Jan. 11: Drug Charges Could Topple Texas Dynasty|publisher=United Press International, Inc.|last=Wormser|first=Deborah A.|date=January 9, 1982|accessdate=June 18, 2017}} Members of the Cowboy Mafia were "caught in the seizure of a shrimp boat carrying 22 tons of high-grade Colombian marijuana to Port Arthur, Texas." Many people who knew Cauble believed his ranch foreman Charles "Muscles" Foster had deceived Cauble and was the real leader of the smuggling operation.
Cauble was indicted on a total of 10 counts, including three violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute (RICO), three violations of the Travel Act, and four counts of misapplication of bank funds.{{cite web|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/706/1322/378818/| title=United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Rex C. Cauble, Individually and Doing Business As Caubleenterprises, Defendant-appellant, 706 F.2d 1322 (5th Cir. 1983)|publisher=Justia|date=May 31, 1983|accessdate=June 18, 2017}} In 1982, the jury convicted him on all counts. The trial judge sentenced Cauble to serve concurrent five-year sentences for each count and ordered forfeiture of his share in Cauble Enterprises.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/02/25/us/texas-millionaire-sentenced.html | title=Texas Millionaire Sentenced | work=New York Times | date=February 25, 1982 | accessdate=June 18, 2017}} After serving five years, Cauble was released from prison based on a combination of time served and good conduct.{{cite web|url=http://www.myplainview.com/news/article/Convicted-Cowboy-Mafia-member-dead-at-89-8999091.php|title=Convicted Cowboy Mafia Member Dead At 89|publisher=Hearst Newspapers|date=June 24, 2003|accessdate=June 18, 2017}} Cauble pleaded innocent to the charges and maintained his innocence until the day he died.{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/article/1935427|title=Controversial Oil Millionaire Praised After Death By Friends|publisher=NewsOk.com|last=Etter|first=Jim|date=July 1, 2003|accessdate=June 19, 2017}}
Early life
Rex Cauble grew up on his parents' cotton farm in Vaughan, Texas. As a young boy, he had his own horse, but not one he bred and raised on his own, an aspiration that followed him into adulthood.{{cite web|url=https://www.aqha.com/daily/breeding/2016/breeding-archive/horse-breeding-the-pedigree-and-performance-of-cutter-bill/ | title=Horse Breeding: The Pedigree and Performance of Cutter Bill: This world champion cutting horse became the trademark of an empire|publisher=American Quarter Horse Association|work=America's Horse|accessdate=June 19, 2017}} In the 1930s, Cauble worked as an oilfield roughneck and wildcatter, which developed into a lucrative business that eventually made him a multimillionaire.
Rex married Josephine Hughes Sterling in 1952, and adopted her young son Lewis Rex Cauble.
By the 1960s, Cauble owned several ranches, where he stood the legendary Quarter Horse stallions Wimpy P-1, Silver King P-183, Hard Twist P-555{{cite web|url=https://www.aqha.com/daily/riding/2016/riding-archive/horseback-riding-through-history-royal-cutter/|publisher=American Quarter Horse Association|work=America's Horse|title=Horseback Riding Through History: Royal Cutter|date=January 12, 2014|accessdate=June 19, 2017}} and Cutter Bill. During that time, Cauble first met Charles "Muscles" Foster, a professional rodeo cowboy, but a very troubled man whom Cauble took under his wing.