Clarence Scharbauer Jr.

1925 - 2014

Clarence Scharbauer Jr., longtime rancher, noted Midland philanthropist and championship horseman, died Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, from complications from emergency surgery. He was 88. Funeral: 3 p.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Steve Schorr officiating. Visitation: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at Nalley-Pickle and Welch Funeral Home. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Midland Memorial Hospital Foundation, 400 Rosalind Redfern Grover Parkway, Midland, Texas 79701; American Quarter Horse Association, 1600 Quarter Horse Drive, Amarillo, Texas 79104; and First Presbyterian Church, 800 W Texas Ave., Midland, Texas 79701. Born July 6, 1925, Clarence was known for his generosity to and love for his hometown, his zeal for cattle ranching and his passion for horses. With his sons, Clarence owned and ran the Scharbauer Cattle Co., which at one time encompassed nine ranches in Texas and New Mexico. Mr. Scharbauer adored his beloved wife, Dorothy Turner Scharbauer, and the family they raised together. He carried on the philanthropic tradition first set forth by his father, Clarence Scharbauer, in the early 20th century, a legacy of generosity that will live on through the Scharbauer Foundation, which, in the final years of his life, he helped establish as a lasting gift as he continued to help make Midland a better place. A patient tower that opened at Midland Memorial Hospital in December 2012 bears his and his wife's name. The city's sports complex and the Midland College Student Center are also named after the Scharbauer family. Like his father before him, Clarence was a longtime member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Midland. He was also a member of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and a former president of the American Quarter Horse Association. Mr. Scharbauer graduated from Midland High School in 1942 and attended Texas A&M briefly. He served four years in the United States Navy, stationed in San Diego, before returning to Midland in 1946 to assume control of the family's ranching operation, a legacy to which he was firmly committed throughout his entire life. The Scharbauer family has ranched in Texas since the late 1880s. Clarence was passionate about horse racing. Alysheba, co-owned by wife, Dorothy, and daughter, Pam, won the 1987 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Of the 139 Kentucky derbies that have been run, trophies from two of the winners, Alysheba, and 1959 winner Tomy Lee, the thoroughbred owned by Dorothy's father, Fred Turner Jr., reside in Scharbauer's Midland home. He owned numerous thoroughbreds and quarter horses during his lifetime, and on Feb. 15, 2014, in a final dash of horseracing joy and with less than a week before his death, Mr. Scharbauer watched on the internet as his filly, Fiftyshadesofgold, won the Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston Park. Mr. Scharbauer's earliest racing pursuits came in the 1950s with quarter horses. His interest in thoroughbreds would come later, and begin at the request of Dorothy, who had become an enthusiast while following the success of Tomy Lee in 1959. Mr. Schabauer also raised the grand champion stallion, High Five, at the 1955 Southwestern Livestock Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth, and Marion's Girl, a two-time world champion cutting horse. Scharbauer also bred winners of the All-American Derby, the Rainbow Futurity and the Los Alamos Futurity. Clarence was a member of the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame (1992) and the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame (2001). He received the National Golden Spur Award (for national rancher of the year in 1991), and was honored with the Texas Thoroughbred Association's Lifetime Achievement Award (2007). He was the owner of Valor Farm, a 393-acre showplace equine facility near Pilot Point. Mr. Scharbauer was one of the first investors in Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie and played a crucial role in securing Class 1 track status in North Texas with the Texas Racing Commission. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Turner Scharbauer, who died Feb. 23, 2005; his father, Clarence Scharbauer; and his mother, Ruth Cowden Scharbauer. The family wishes to express its appreciation to those who took care of Clarence, Maria Jurado, Magdalena Ramos and Norma Ramos. Survivors: He is survived by son, Clarence III and Kerry Wallace Scharbauer of Midland and their children, Charlotte Scharbauer French and husband, Kirk, and son, Philip, Kelly Scharbauer Whittenburg and husband, Ben Whittenburg, and sons, Charlie and Wells; son, Douglas and Karen Johnson Scharbauer of Midland and their children, Douglas Scharbauer Jr. and wife, Mauri, and their daughter, Claire, and son, Bradley, Sarah Scharbauer, and Daniel Scharbauer and wife, Morgan; son, Chris and LaVonne King Scharbauer of Amarillo and their children, Christen Scharbauer Steen and husband, Steven, Meghan Scharbauer, John C. Scharbauer and wife, Amy, and their children, Mabry and Tesher, Audra Scharbauer Hopper and husband, Jamie, Rachelle C. Scharbauer; and daughter, Pamela Ruth Scharbauer.