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The Life and Times of Gordie Peer

Real Cowboys

By WARREN RESEN

In his own words:
"When people talk about cowboys they rarely think about Florida. That's all because of Hollywood. And I've got to admit, I worked out there on some films. There's a friend of mine here in Okeechobee who grew up in the cow business. He got cattle of his own out on his ranch. He works cows everyday and he's a good cattleman. One day when his grandson was a settin' in front of the television and they were showin' pictures of cattle here in Florida and the cowboys, the grandson said, 'Those aren't cowboys. There's only one cowboy in Florida and that's Gordie Peer.'

"That's only because he sees me wearin' a pair of six guns and havin' a rope in my hand and doin' shows and stuff. Well the cowboys here don't wear that stuff. You don't see 'em all wearin' a Western-style hat. Lots o' them wear just regular hats (baseball caps). A lot of 'em, even when they're workin' cows, don't wear a Western hat. Where out West you always wear them. So it's like if you see an Indian, they're not Indians unless they got a full war bonnet on and beads all over their buckskins like a Plains Indian. If they see a Seminole, well they say, "Those aren't Indians. I want to see a real Indian.' But it's all different customs, that's all.To sum it all up:

"Today, if someone asked what I was, I would tell them I was an entertainer. And they might say, 'of what?' To tell the truth, I was so scared to be out in front of the public that I didn't want anybody to know and I didn't want anybody asking me questions and stuff. I rarely would set and talk to people. "If you talk with people in Okeechobee here, the people that have known me around here for years, most have no idea what I did for a living all these years. I've never discussed it. I just came back here and worked down at the livestock market. And that was all they knew except that I was gone a lot of the time. They never knew where I was and what I was doin', even the people I worked for here.

"For a long time now, I've called Florida home. I have 20 acres here in Okeechobee. It's my home and my ranch and I raise some cattle on it. It's not a money making venture but it's what I enjoy doing.

Author's note: Gordie Peer is still active doing shows and fairs around the country. This past summer he went as far west as Deadwood, SD, on his schedule of shows, schools, and civic centers. Gordie told me nowadays he is willing to share his knowledge and stories with folks who come visiting. To end this series, I'd like to quote one of Gordie Peer's original poems below:

Friends Are Forever
Clayton and I were very good friends,
And we stayed friends until the end.
I will miss him, this is true,
Just the same as all of you.
He surely was real special to me,
And now, I will no longer see.
But the Lone Ranger s name will never pass,
He is a character that for sure will last.
I did shows with him, like his faithful friend,
And we stayed in touch, until the end.
He certainly meant a lot to me,
I hope someday, again to see.
When I take that last long journey's ride,
And I will be able to sit by his side.
I hope that there's a table up in the sky,
For all the cowboys that have passed by.
I know high in the heavens blue,
Up in the promised land.
When my final round up comes along,
My true blue pals will be on hand.
Here are some names you might see,
At a table with a chair just for me.
There's Roy and Gene and Johnny Mack,
Eddie, Lash and a sidekick named Pat.
Jocko, Duke, Rex, Tex and Tim,
Of course there's Gabby, Smiley, Fuzzy and Slim,
Ole' Walter, Yak, Tom, Gary and Hoppy,
Erick, Sunset, Duncan and Rocky.
Bond, Blooker, Boone, Curtis and Wakely,
Barcroft, Bannon, Mason and Wilke.
Iron Eyes, Dan, Will and Jay,
And there beside him is a friend named Clay.
Many of you don't remember the time,
When you went to a movie for just one dime.
The names I have mentioned are in the past,
But in my mind they will always last.
Who's going to ride those Silver Stallions?
Who's going to sing those Cowboy songs?
Who's going to save us from the outlaws,
With all of our western heroes gone?