Gerald Weldon McCathern Gerald McCathern, 94 died unexpectedly July 13, 2021 in Hereford. He was born October 20, 1926, in Sayre, Oklahoma, the son of James Emmett, Sr and Mae McCathern. Gerald served in the U. S. Army in Germany during WWII. After the war Gerald returned to Lubbock and attended Texas Tech University. While at Tech he met his sweetheart, Bonnie Traweek, and they were married in 1947. Bonnie and Gerald celebrated 74 years of marriage in June 2021. After graduation and after working as a geologist, Gerald returned to Hereford and joined his brother and father in the family farming and ranching business. Gerald worked tirelessly as an organizer and supporter for the American Family Farmer. He helped organize and lead the American Agricultural Movement in Texas. He was the original Wagonmaster of the Tractorcade to Washington D. C. in 1979. Gerald served as special assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture in Washington D. C. He was active in National Farmers organization (NFO), Texas Grain Sorghum Producers, National Organization of Raw Materials (NORM). He was the editor and publisher of a nationally circulated newsletter The Argriculture Watchdog. Gerald authored and published several nonfiction books highlighting the plight of the American Family Farmer during the 70’ and 80’s. In addition, Gerald authored numerous historically based books of fiction. For many years Gerald was a familiar personality in Palo Dura Canyon’s Bookstore selling his novels and enlightening interested folks about Panhandle history. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased in death by his sisters, Elona Mae and Peggy Lillard, his brother James Emmett, Jr. and a grandson, Michael Wayne McCathern. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; his son Michael McCathern and wife, Susan Kuehler and their daughters Amber Rose McCathern, Lorelei Corrillo and Anneke Johnson and their children; his daughter Kathy Parker and husband Larry Parker of Castle Rock, Colorado and their children Tara Sealy, Trae Parker and Tyler Parker and their children; his daughter Kolleen McCathern of Hereford and her children; Sydnea Newland, Brody Newland and Kian Newland, and their children. Gerald had 14 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. A service and celebration of his life will be held at 2 pm, Saturday, July 17 at Parkside Chapel, 601 N. Main Street, Hereford, Texas. A reception will follow at the McCathern home, 419 Centre, Hereford. Visitation for family and friends will be Friday, July 16, 3- 5 pm at Parkside Chapel. For those who wish to remember Gerald in a special way may make gifts in his memory to American Farm Aid and Bayer Museum of Agriculture, 1121 Canyon Lake Drive, Lubbock, Texas 79403.