By Rich Flowers News Editor
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Athens Review typically does not report on suicides. However, due to the public location of the event, and because the person involved is considered a public figure, details have been included in this report.
A longtime producer of team roping and barrel racing events, Booger Barter, was found dead near Athens, Tuesday.
Henderson County Sheriff Ray Nutt said his department received an anonymous call between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., that the body of a deceased man had been seen at the Virginia Hill Church, east of Athens.
Officers went to the location and found Barter. A gun and Barter's pickup were also found at the scene. Nutt said Barter appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Precinct 6 Justice of the Peace Milton Adams conducted an inquest, and ordered the body sent to Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy.
The following statement was posted Tuesday afternoon on the worldteamroping.com web site:
“The rodeo world lost one of its greatest producers and friends with the passing of Bobby “Booger” Barter, who passed away today at his home in Athens, Texas. One of the most innovative producers in the roping and barrel racing industries, Booger did everything on a grand scale. From his truck ropings and barrel racings, Booger put some of the most beautiful prizes and largest checks in the hands of the barrel racing and team roping populace. Sadly, some of the greatest barrel racing and team roping events will pass on into legend with this great man. A man of great stature in body and spirit, Booger Barter will be greatly missed by all who know him, and had the privilege of entering one of his great events. We know many of you had plans to attend the upcoming barrel race and team roping in Glen Rose, Texas. Those events have been cancelled, and World Barrel Racing and World Team Roping have ceased to exist as of today. Please give Booger’s family time to morn their loss. All financial responsibilities of those events and WBR memberships will be taken care of in due course.”
