Berry: Passed friend was a great tracker

Last week I found out my friend Tom Gossett passed away. Tom retired from the border patrol and moved back home to Roosevelt County. I met Tom just after he came back.

Tom was elected and served a term as sheriff of the county. I was able to work with Tom on several things and spent a lot of time with him. Our many adventures usually started

Lonnie Berry

with a late night call and “Are you busy?”

Tom told us he could track someone who had run down an alley and across a few streets. I looked at the hard packed ground in the alley and the pavement on the street and I had my doubts. In just a few minutes, Tom had proven me wrong as he tracked the guy right up to his door.

One night, we were several miles from town and had a flat tire. Tom said he did not know where the tire was and told me to open the glove box. I told Tom I did not know either but was pretty sure it was not in the glove box.

Tom grabbed the owner's manual and we found the spare.

Happy trails my friend.

Lonnie is still looking for the spare. You can contact him at:

[email protected]