Pioneer Hence Barrow dies at age 97

Hence Barrow, a legendary Ector County rancher, died Wednesday at the age of 97 in the same home where he was born.

He was the consummate example of living the cowboy life, saying in a 2002 interview with the Odessa American, “All I ever knew was working on the ranch.”

In fact, he lived his entire life in the same house on the Barrow family’s H4 Ranch north of town. His family homesteaded the ranch in the late 1800s.

Imogene Machotka, 96, of Odessa, said she will miss Hence Barrow.

“He was a lifelong friend. I’ve known him and his family as long as I’ve lived. When I was growing up, that was considered way out in the country where he lived,” Machotka said.

Machotka described Barrow as one-of-a-kind. “He was just truly a gentleman and high-class ranch person. He always welcomed people to come out and visit him and his family.”

Machotka said the community has lost a great link to the past.

“He’ll be missed because he had such a good memory and could just bring back stories of the olden days in this part of the country. He was a very interesting man to talk to and visit with. I sure will miss him as a friend.” Barrow shared many tales of early day life in the Permian Basin, including stories how his family made the 16-mile roundtrip to worship at the First Baptist Church in a horse-drawn wagon.

Barrow maintained that lifelong association with First Baptist, and was the church’s oldest living member. Services are at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church with Rev. Byron McWilliams officiating. Interment will be at Ector County Cemetery under direction of Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.

He is survived by his son, Hence Clark Barrow and wife, Pat, of Odessa; daughter, Mary Frances Barrow of Lubbock; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

When Barrow reached school age, the arduous trip to Odessa for classes was not an option.

So instead, Barrow’s father hired a schoolteacher. Barrow, two brothers and a sister were educated in a one-room schoolhouse adjacent to the ranch house. But through the years, Barrow regretted never being able to receive a high school diploma.

That changed in 1999 when the Ector County Independent School District presented him with an official diploma from Odessa High.

The diploma was a surprise for Barrow, sitting at a large table with friends and family at Odessa Country Club, and under the impression he had been invited to a Leadership Odessa dinner in gratitude for the many tours of his schoolhouse and his spirited talks about the old days in Ector County.

In accepting the diploma, Barrow joked, “I hope I can get a job now, since everyone knows you can’t get a job without a high school diploma.”

At the time, then Leadership Odessa coordinator Nancy Wells said Barrow was a valuable asset as he shared his experiences of life in Ector County.

“He’s a wonderful character with wonderful stories — he’s seen it all,” Wells said after the surprise presentation.

Ben Adams contributed to this report.