• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

To Honor and Protect the Ranching Way of Life

  • Who We Are
    • Why Join
    • Leadership
    • Staff
    • TSCRA Partners
    • FAQs
    • Newsroom
    • Sponsorships
    • Employment
  • What We Do
    • Theft and Law
    • Issues and Policy
    • Education
    • Young Cattle Raisers
    • The Cattleman Magazine
    • Disaster Relief Fund
    • Cattle Raisers Insurance
    • Cattle Raisers Trading Co
  • Events
    • Cattle Raisers Convention
    • Summer Meeting
    • Policy Conference
    • Ranch Gatherings
    • Ranching 101
  • Member Center
    • Join
    • Renew
    • Instructions
  • TSCRA Store
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Humberto (Bert) Villarreal Reyes

Humberto (Bert) Villarreal Reyes, 89, died Feb. 13, 2018. He was born to Carlos Reyes B. of Durango, Mexico, and Maria Villarreal of Goliad. He graduated from Goliad High School in 1946.

A lifelong cattleman and auctioneer, Reyes began raising Hereford calves at age nine and was chosen as one of 14 outstanding 4-H members in Mexico and Texas. He enrolled at Texas A&M University where he earned one of the first Jesse Jones opportunity scholarships. He found a home in the animal science department at A&M and was a member of the TAMU Livestock and Meat Judging teams.

Reyes served in the Army during the Korean War, after which he earned a master’s degree in animal science from A&M and became one of America’s most prominent cattle auctioneers. As the only Spanish bilingual auctioneer in North America at the time, he pulled new clients into Texas sales.

He and his brother Ruben partnered in creating Reyes and Reyes, building the country’s largest cattle-auctioneering firm. He called many historic auctions, breaking national sales records for many breeds including Beefmaster, Simmental, and Brangus. He was honored to have been consulted by President Johnson and was asked by Lady Bird to manage the dispersal sale of LBJ’s cattle upon the former president’s death.

At the time of his death, Reyes had been working with the Texas A&M San Antonio Library to archive his cattle-business records, logging thousands of photographs, and providing an oral history for researchers.

Reyes is survived by his daughter, Carmelita Reyes; grandsons Carlos and Mateo Johns; sister Estella Naranjo; and brother Mike (Elida) Reyes. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Rachel, Tillie, Christina, Florinda, and Martha; brothers, Lucas, Alvino, Tony, Carlos Jr., Pete, and Ruben; and many friends and relatives.

Contributions in his memory may be made to a college scholarship fund.


Published in the May 2018 Issue of The Cattleman Magazine

Written by:
lcampbell
Published on:
April 30, 2018

Categories: Bereavements

Recent Posts

Texas, Oklahoma weekly livestock auction summaries for Feb. 3

February 3, 2023

Texas Compared to last week's light run due to snow: Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to …

Continue Reading about Texas, Oklahoma weekly livestock auction summaries for Feb. 3

U.S. drought monitor and summary report for Jan. 31

February 3, 2023

This week's drought summary Winter storms brought heavy rain and snow much of the eastern U.S. …

Continue Reading about U.S. drought monitor and summary report for Jan. 31

Texas ranch receives Regional Environmental Stewardship Award

February 2, 2023

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced today that Parks Ranch in Goliad County, …

Continue Reading about Texas ranch receives Regional Environmental Stewardship Award

Footer

Who We Are

Why Join
Leadership
Staff
TSCRA Partners
FAQs
Newsroom
Sponsorships
Employment

What We Do

Theft and Law
Issues and Policy
Education
Young Cattle Raisers
The Cattleman Magazine
Cattle Raisers Insurance
Cattle Raisers Trading Co.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Information

Cattle Raisers Blog
News Releases
Bereavements
Events
Media Kit
Tip Hotline
Get Involved
Links

Membership

Membership Center
Membership Center Instructions
Join
Renew
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

PO BOX 101988
FORT WORTH, TX 76185

1-800-242-7820

© 2023 Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; All Rights Reserved.

COPYRIGHT | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE