Thursday, March 28, 2024

Lynch has witnessed Rattlesnake Roundup from the beginning

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The 53rd annual Rattlesnake Roundup was a special event for Coryell County native Kermit Lynch, who has been attending and working at the roundups since 1970. The event was first created by the Oglesby Lion Club as a fundraiser for the community and Lynch has been one of its staunch supporters. Lynch, 83, became a member of the club in 1967.

When Lynch first joined the Lions Club, the Rattlesnake Roundup didn’t exist. Lynch said the only fundraisers they had were mop and broom sales. The club uses fundraisers to create proceeds, which go back to the community, to the school, and to the Lions Club Eye Bank.

“Prior to our Rattlesnake Roundup, Walnut Springs had an event like this and some of our members went up there and saw it and said I think we could do this as well and that’s when we started,” Lynch said. “Our first year, the roundup was held in the old gym at the high school, and we all tried to cook the food and we were the only vendors – and that wore us out. The next year the Bellmead Lions Club came over and did the cooking and we made money out of that snake hunt.” 

This year, a good number of vendors attended the roundup, which has become an annual event, Lynch said.

“The very first Rattlesnake Roundup we had, some of the club members carried snake hunters out to hunt, now we don’t do that anymore. That first year, Maurice Martin and I carried out a few young boys to hunt along the river and we took them to a snake den and didn’t find anything except a big old rock and one snake under that rock … a big snake and the boys got it out and got it in a bucket and ended up winning second place with that snake,” Lynch said.

Members of the Oglesby Lions Club served fried catfish to the crowds, as well as fried rattlesnake.

“When we started serving rattlesnake at the roundup, that wasn’t at the beginning. Everyone has to say they ‘tried it’ one time I guess, and people say they like it, but I don’t,” Lynch said.

One memory stands out in his mind.

“I remember one year we thought we would have a failure – snow and ice that day, but the next day the sun was shining, and we had a lot of people in attendance,” Lynch said.

During the COVID year, the event was canceled due to the fear of crowds and that would later cause a decline in attendance. During that time, Lynch said “we had a fish fry or chili supper to raise a little money since we didn’t have any other money coming in.”

Lynch has never held a snake, nor has he touched one.

“No, and I’m not going to,” Lynch said. “I’ll touch it with my 410.”

Lynch is satisfied working outside with the vendors and doing other jobs at the roundup rather than dealing with the snake pit.

“I don’t go back there, I have nothing to do with that at all … nothing to do with the snakes,” he added.

Lynch expressed his feelings about the Oglesby Lions Club by saying “It’s a good community activity for everybody – a good club. I hope the Rattlesnake Roundup will continue and will make money for the community and for children and I think everyone enjoys it.”