The TWCGSO lost a long-time supporter and great friend recently. BJ Bishop participated in every tournament from 1990 to 2006 (17). He was a fine gentleman and will be missed. Condolences to his wife, Maxine and family, all of whom have contributed greatly to the success of the tournament.

Billy Joe Bishop

MARFA — Billy Joe "B.J." Bishop, 86, died surrounded by his family on Saturday evening, September 19, 2009, as a rainbow swept across the West Texas sky.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, at First Baptist Church of Marfa with the Rev. Lloyd Conner officiating.

Mr. Bishop was born in Millersview, graduated from Melvin High School and received a master's degree from Sul Ross State University. While attending Sul Ross, he met and married Marion Catherine Bobo of Alpine. They had two children, Terry and Tammy. After her death he married Maxine Park Tharp of Pecos, who also had been widowed; she had two children, Becky and Bobby. They had made their home in Marfa since 1973.

After working for the Soil Conservation Service for several years, in 1965, B.J. and Louis Ehrlich, operating as Valley Farms, leased land in the Presidio Valley and began growing cotton, later growing fruits and vegetables. In 1974, Mr. Bishop became sole owner of Valley Farms, later incorporated as Presidio Valley Farms Inc., one of the largest farming operations in the state.

Over a 4-year period in the 1970s, B.J. worked with Leonard Pike of Texas A&M University to develop seed for the popular 10-15 onion. In 1999, he fulfilled his dream of building a golf course and RV park, Loma Paloma, in Presidio. In recent years, he and Maxine wintered at Loma Paloma with friends from all over the world. His family said he loved playing golf, and he hit a hole-in-one at Loma Paloma in 2004 at age 82.

He was a Baptist, World War II Navy veteran, pilot and dedicated citizen. He served on the boards of Marfa ISD, Marfa Production Credit Association, Presidio County Appraisal District and Marfa National Bank, and had been a Marfa City Council member. Additionally, he was one of the founders of the Texas Ranger Association Foundation, was a member of the Texas Citrus and Vegetable Growers Association and was on the Texas A&M Experimental Station Advisory Board. He helped other Presidio business owners pay for Presidio ISD classrooms and helped with the construction of St. Francis Plaza and Manuel Hernandez Stadium in Presidio.

In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse Stuart Bishop and David Gaston; and a brother, Scott Bishop.

Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Maxine; two sons, Terry Bishop and wife Juanita, and Bobby Tharp and wife Leticia, all of Presidio; three daughters, Tammy Bishop and Brenda Witty of Presidio, and Becky Tharp and fianc/e Guillermo Romero of Alpine; one goddaughter, Hannah Jane Nixon Goodman of San Angelo; one sister, Sally Boyd and husband Bobby of Throckmorton; one brother, David Gaston Jr. and wife Deryl Bishop of Brady; and six grandchildren, Jesse Bishop of McAllen, Jessica Scudder of Alpine, Alexantra Tharp of San Angelo, Trey Tharp, and Asa and Mason Bishop, all of Presidio.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Marfa or Presidio public libraries, Grand Companions of Fort Davis, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, First Baptist Church of Marfa or a favorite charity.

"He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him," his family said.