Carl Stephen Menzies

The first and last paragraph of Edgar Albert Guests poem “Equipment” reads as follows:

Figure it out for yourself, my lad,

You've all that the greatest of men have had,

Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes.

And a brain to use if you would be wise.

With this equipment they all began,

So start for the top and say "I can."

Courage must come from the soul within,

The man must furnish the will to win,

So figure it out for yourself, my lad,

You were born with all that the great have had,

With your equipment they all began.

Get hold of yourself, and say: "I can."

Dr. Carl Stephen Menzies passed away Thursday evening May 2nd while resting peacefully and is now in a better place. He was 92 years old at the time of his passing. Born in Menard, Texas on March 6, 1932, he was the son of Alexander Littleton Menzies and Margarite Watson Menzies. Carl had two brothers, the older being A.L. ‘Sonny’ Jr. and the younger being Jim who both preceded him in death.

Carl grew up in Menard and attended school with his future wife Shirley White Menzies beginning in the 1st grade. Carl lived on the family ranch doing chores, hunting, and playing football and other sports through high school while Shirley was a twirler in the band. They were selected high school football King & Queen their senior year. They were married on September 2, 1952, and celebrated 63 years of marriage. Shirley passed away in 2014.

Carl graduated from Menard High School in 1950 and attended Texas Tech University earning a B.S. degree in Animal Science in 1954. After graduation he worked in Brownwood Tx, for a short time as assistant county extension agent, before moving the family to Manhattan, Kansas where he received an M.S. in Animal Science from Kansas State University while overseeing the sheep research barn and teaching undergraduate students. He finished his education in Lexington, Ky earning a PhD in Animal Nutrition from the University of Kentucky and returned to Kansas to continue his work as a college professor.

In the winter of 1969, he moved the family to frigid Brookings, S.D (-20° on moving day) and served as the department head of the Animal Science dept. at South Dakota State University for 3 years. In 1972 the family moved back ‘Home’ to Texas where he served 25 years as director of the Texas A & M AgriLife Research & Extension Center in San Angelo leading research projects in range management, brush control, sheep nutrition, breeding, and wool production. Making life better for Texas ranchers & livestock. He authored and co-authored over 36 scientific research papers in his area of expertise.

Carl was internationally known for his efforts in Animal Science interacting with scientist from Australia, New Zealand, and Russia as well as others.

He retired in 1996 and maintained homes in San Angelo and Menard where he enjoyed golf, including one hole-in-one, his Cheers Sunday School Class, and ranching on the C&S Menzies Ranch where he raised cattle, sheep, goats and grandkids. Other interests included friends & neighbors, Mac the dog, Billy the goat and rain.

Carl achieved many things during his career and earned many accolades from various organizations. As a senior in high school, he was on the Texas state championship livestock judging team and earned a trip to Chicago to compete in the national show. That was just the beginning of his participation in judging events. At Texas Tech in 1953 he was on the National Championship Livestock judging team and while at KSU he coached several national championship wool judging teams.

Carl was a judge at may livestock shows judging lambs, pigs, cattle and once even judged rabbits when the rabbit judge didn’t show up. He judged at many shows including San Angelo, Houston, Fort Worth, Denver, Colorado State, Aksarben in Nebraska and many other county shows and fairs.

Some of his awards & recognitions include:

1973 - Menard High School Hall of Fame

1988 - American Sheep Producer Council Silver Ram Award

1993 – Distinguished Alumni – Texas Tech University

1993 – Honorary Fellow Award from Society of Animal Science

1996 – Fred T. Earwood Award from Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers Association (TS&GRA)

1998-1999 – President of TS&GRA

2018 – Wool Excellence award from the American Sheep Industry

Survivors include his son Dr. Steve Menzies and wife Kay; his daughter Linda Crocker and husband Dr. Scott Crocker; his granddaughter Lauren Napier Harris and husband Madison; his grandson Harris Napier III and wife Shannon; granddaughter Bryce Menzies Sirmons and husband Jeremy; granddaughter Cara Crocker and fiancé’ Shaun McCleese; granddaughter Dr. Megan Crocker Esch and husband Matt. Also surviving are seven great grandchildren and one pending. Also, Pat Revell, Carl’s special friend.

At the beginning was Carl’s favorite poem that he liked to give his students as instructions before each test. Words of wisdom…You’ve got everything you need to succeed.

The family asks that in place of flowers please make donations to the charity of your choice.

A celebration of Carl’s life will take place at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at First United Methodist Church, 37 E. Beauregard, San Angelo, Texas. 76903, with the Rev. Cyndi Young officiating.