"Chickens -- I wanted to raise chickens," said the tall, seemingly ageless gentleman as he sat in his office surrounded by awards, literature and a framed sketch of John Wayne. A gentle smile played on his face as he remembered his FFA advisor teaching him how to caponize a chicken, which he practiced on his mother's kitchen table, losing a few chickens during the ordeal -- a lesson his mother was not quite able to appreciate.
"No offense to John Travolta, but I was kind of an urban cowboy," said Ben Dickerson, the first scholarship recipient of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Reared on a tank farm near Webster, Texas, young Dickerson was especially active in agriculture during his high school years. He had a horse as a youngster, raised guineas and rabbits, and even had an Angus steer named T-bone. With special permission, he attended Bellaire High School because of its FFA program. Throughout his high school years he became a serious participant in many school activities -- halfback on the football team, captain of the track team, president of the senior class and a member of both Junior Achievement and the Christian Student Union. He also was elected best all-around student at Bellaire High School. Graduating at 17, Dickerson's dream was to become a minister. He applied to Baylor University in Waco, Texas, was accepted and had even met his assigned roommate. But, fate held a different destiny for him. During the summer of 1957 after high school graduation, Dickerson's student activities and positive attitude led him to a counseling position at a ranch for delinquent boys near Longview, Texas. The camp director, Bernie Lemons, a Texas A&M University alumnus, took Dickerson under his wing. Each morning when they awoke, Lemons played "The Aggie War Hymn." "After a month [of hearing the hymn] I was indoctrinated and called my mother to tell her I really felt I needed to go to A&M instead of Baylor," said Dickerson. "This was in July, and I didn't know how we were going to do this." Shortly after the call, his mother called him back and said, "By the way, I just got some information that you got a scholarship to A&M." With that phone call, and the scholarship from the Show, Dickerson's destiny was set. Dickerson believes a special Ag teacher, Isaac Carter, was responsible for his being awarded the $2,000 scholarship. "Mr. Carter submitted the application on my behalf without my knowledge. It was such a big surprise. I never even saw the application," said Dickerson. "All I know is that an agriculture teacher had confidence in me and believed I should be considered as an applicant. I really want to thank him, but I haven't been able to find him." Following that fortuitous call to his mother, Dickerson went on to receive both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas A&M University. He was a member of the Corps of Cadets and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Carter can be very proud of the young man he helped 40 years ago. That young man now holds a Ph.D. and is the Director of the Institute of Gerontological Studies at Baylor. On being called "Doctor," with twinkling eyes, Dickerson said, "I feel much more comfortable being called Ben. I still look around when anyone addresses me as 'Doctor.'" "The Houston Livestock Show gave me more than just a scholarship. It became a family to me," recalled Dickerson. "The Show had a genuine interest in me and my family. Herman Engel, general manager of the Show and John Kuykendahl, assistant general manager of the livestock department, often came out and visited with my mother and wrote me encouraging letters while I was at A&M." This gave him a sense of belonging, a sense of confidence in pursuing his education, Dickerson added. Forty years after receiving the scholarship, Dickerson remains a significant icon to the Show. "I was especially honored and pleased when I was invited to speak at the 1997 Million Dollar Scholarship Banquet. It was a way I could say 'thank you' and that I will help them in any way I can." Dickerson was bestowed a lifetime membership at the event by Show President Jim Bloodworth. The relationship between Dickerson and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo -- a relationship inundated with positive people and experiences -- does not end there. He recently has started a program at Baylor to honor Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo scholarship recipients who attend Baylor and to express appreciation for what the Show has done for the university. Throughout his life, he has been surrounded by people who have encouraged him to reach for every dream he held. "My mother played a very important role in my teen years," recalled Dickerson. "We lost my father to cancer during my senior year of high school. My mother, who had never worked in her life, went to work for the City of Houston in the Parks and Recreation Department, retiring after more than 30 years. She's always been an inspiration to me. I've never heard either of my parents ever say I was not able to do what I wanted to do. I could accomplish whatever I made my mind up to do," said Dickerson. There have been so many people throughout Dickerson's life who have continued to inspire and encourage him, and among those he holds most dear are those associated with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Since 1957, thousands of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo scholarship recipients have followed in Ben Dickerson's successful wake and have discovered that the Show is not just about scholarship money -- it's about being part of a family.
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