As the world watches news of the funeral arrangements
being made for former First Lady “Lady Bird” Johnson, who
died in her sleep today at age 94, Appaloosa Horse Club member
and trail boss Mike Howard prepares to leave for the Johnson
ranch in the heart of Texas Hill Country near Stonewall, Texas.
Mike, of McKinney, Texas, has a long history
with the family of former President Lyndon Baines Johnson.
Mike’s relationship with the Johnson family began during his
years as a Secret Service agent, during which he was assigned
first to President and Lady Bird’s daughter Lynda Bird (now
Robb)—whose godfather he is—then to President Johnson, then
to Lady Bird. “I worked a total of 10 years with them,” Mike
says.
After talking with Lynda Bird today, Mike
says the funeral will follow an outdoor meal for approximately
500 guests. “That’s the tradition here,” Mike says. “When
someone dies, we feed everybody.”
The invitation-only funeral ceremony will
take place at a church located along the Ferdinales River
next to the LBJ Ranch cemetery, followed by a service at the
LBJ Library that will be open to the public. The former first
lady will be interred at the ranch cemetery. Presidents Clinton
and Carter, and possibly President Bush, are expected to attend.
Lady Bird, who was known for her beautification
efforts—planting wildflowers and restricting billboards along
highways—was instrumental in passing the Highway Beautification
Act in 1965. Even after her stroke in 2002, Mike says she
continued to work for her passion. “Every year, she gave an
award for the best roadside park or rest area. She was involved
up until just a few months ago.
“She never said anything bad about anyone,”
Mike adds fondly, “—except one person: Colonel Sanders [of
Kentucky Fried Chicken fame].
“We were driving from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard
one time and she said, ‘Oh, that awful man, I just wish he
wouldn’t do those billboards like that!’
“She wasn’t talking about him necessarily—just
what the signs looked like,” Mike explains.
Mike relates that his Appaloosa and LBJ’s
Tennessee Walking Horse—a gift from former Tennessee Governor
Buford Ellington—were pasture buddies. “LBJ made fun of my
spotted horse,” Mike says, “but my horse was the only one
that could stay with that Tennessee Walker. He had what George
Hatley calls that Nez Perce shuffle.”
In addition to daughter Lynda Bird, Lady Bird
leaves a daughter, Lucy Baines Johnson Turpin. President Johnson
died in 1973, just four years after he left office.
