We were lucky enough to spend time with one of the finest songwriters that ever lived and he hailed and was proud to be from Texas. He was actually born and raised in Whitney Texas. In 1987 Darrell Royal invited my family to be his guest at the Darrell-Willie Golf Invitational Tournament at Oak Tree Country Club in Edmund Oklahoma and what a fun and memorable 3 days we had with this tournament. When you are the guest of Hollis Oklahoma native Darrell Royal they had nothing but the best in accommodations and food and seating for all events. The first night Raylene, Brad, Jeff and I were seated at the table with Larry, Steve, and Rudy Gatlin and one Whitey Shaffer. Our table was the front table on the left side of the stage area. Of course Darrell came by to see if everyone happy with everything and all said yes sir!! They had a four course steak dinner and entertainment by the guests celebrity golfers in the event. We heard George Strait, The Gatlin Brothers, Johnny Rodriguez, Johnny Russell, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Stevens, Moe Bandy, Eddy Raven, Ed Bruce, Red Stegall, Floyd Tillman, Doug Kershaw, Alex Harvey, Jerry Max Lane and others. While at the dinner table Whitey said I bet you never heard of me and Larry Gatlin said I bet you know the songs he has written. I said actually I have heard of you Mr. Shaffer and he quickly said I am Whitey as Mr. Shaffer is too still for me! Let me share a few of his hits All My Ex’s Live in Texas and Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mine by George Strait, Bandy The Rodeo Clown by Moe Bandy, That’s The Way Love Goes by Lefty Frizzell and Johnny Rodriguez and Baptism of Jessie Taylor by Oak Ridge Boys and Johnny Russell to name a few…..
The night of music lasted about 2 and 1/2 hours and was just an awesome environment to experience. Lots of the celebrity golfers were there including James Garner, Johnny Bench, Bum Phillips, John David Crow, Jackie Sherrill, Walt Garrison, Gene Cernan, Earl Campbell, Doug English, Joe Ferguson, Spanky McFarland, Dale Robertson, Claude Akins, Phil Harris and Don Cherry and Astronaut Neal Armstrong.
Thank you Darrell Royal for a memorable weekend for the Paris Texas Nutt Family!!
by: Ronnie Nutt
08/10/22
Hope you got some autographs!