Click to become a Sponsor today! - Outlaws and Legends

OUTLAWS AND LEGENDS
Benefactor:
Ben Richey Boys Ranch
Ticket proceeds from
Outlaws & Legends Music
Fest have gone to
Disability Resources, Inc.
the previous two years.
Over those two years,
Backporch Productions
was able to donate
$47,236 through proceeds.
On August 10th, 2012,
Backporch Productions
decided to take a
community minded
approach and open the
doors to all non-profits to
submit as the benefactor of
the 2013 Outlaws and
Legends event. Several
worthy applicants submitted
and through the selection
process Ben Richey Boys
Ranch was chosen.
About
Ben Richey Boys Ranch is a
Christian based, private,
nonprofit basic child care
facility. Ben Richey Boys
Ranch will provide a clean,
comfortable and safe home
for each boy at the Ranch.
Through the nurturing and
guidance of house parents
and staff, each boy will
develop confidence and
learn to take responsibility
for his actions. Upon
completion of a boy’s tenure
at the Ranch, it is our intent
that he be a contributing,
responsible member of
society.
The 80-acre Ranch, located
in south Abilene at 501 Ben
Richey Drive, consists of
three homes, one relief
cottage, gym, pool,
livestock pens,
administrative center and
more.
Ben Richey Boys Ranch
also has a satellite campus
located 1 1/2 miles south of
Albany, Texas. It is situated
on 80 acres and consists of
a home for 8 young men, a
relief home, livestock pens,
and an Ag barn/shop facility.
History
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Richey
founded the Abilene Boys
Ranch in 1947. While
working as City
Commissioner of Abilene,
Richey was involved in an
Abilene youth boxing
program as well as a
Scoutmaster. He began to
notice through these
activities how boys in the
5
area who were without
Christian role models fell
into the same rut. Too often
bad attitudes led to poor
school performance, which
turned into trouble with the
law, and sometimes prison.
Then, in 1945, after being
approached by Richey, the
Abilene City Council
donated 300 acres of land
next to Lake Kirby on the
south edge of Abilene for
the establishment of a boys
ranch. The next year
Optimists International
started an Abilene charter,
sponsoring the Abilene Boys
Ranch. With the help of
Optimists International, a
charter with the State of
Texas was issued and a loan
was granted for $2,400 to
move an excess barracks
building from Camp Barkley
to the Ranch site, as well as
pay a couple to live with the
boys. This was the first
building on the Abilene Boys
Ranch. In 1947 Richey and
his family, along with Mrs.
Richey’s brother, Edwin
Yeager, moved to the ranch.
Ben Richey died in 1970 on
the ranch, followed by the
death of his wife in 1986.
Two years later, Abilene
Boys Ranch was renamed
Ben Richey Boys Ranch to
honor its founder.
Both Backporch
Productions and Ben Richey
Boys Ranch encourage you
to join hands with us in
making this event a
landmark for Texas.