Roll Call Tribute

(Published in) the Dublin Citizen FOR THE WEEK OF Oct. 13, 2011

TRAWEEK
Bobby Joe “Bob” Traweek, 76, died Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011.

He was born in February 1935 in Hope, N.M., son of Albert and Dovie Traweek.

He graduated from Dublin High School in 1953, attended Tarleton State College and graduated from Texas A&M in 1957.

Traweek returned to Dublin where he became involved in the family farm and by 1963 moved his young family to Cow Creek Farm which he turned into a dairy.

He served as president of a multitude of organizations including Texas Young Farmers, Texas Dairy Herd Improvement Association, Texas Holstein Association, Texas Purebreed Dairy Cattle Association, as well as a number of local organizations.

In 1989, Traweek was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Holstein Association, a position he held until 1997. During his final year on the board, he was elected Chairman of the Executive Committee and was able to provide leadership that affected Holstein policy across the United States and
internationally.

Following his service with the National Holstein Association, Traweek was appointed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to serve on the Texas Farm Service Agency as one of five ag producers, a position he held until 2001.

Locally, Traweek was a member of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and has been a Director of Dublin National Bank for the last 35 years. In the past, Traweek also served as President of the Dublin Young Farmer chapter, which he helped organize, and played a leadership role in the old Fall Fair.

In addition, Traweek was a familiar face at dairy shows where he served as a dairy cattle judge. He can be found judging not only in Dublin and Erath County, but at various state fairs and state Holstein shows.

Traweek has been a member of First Baptist Church Dublin for 46 years where he served as a deacon and was an avid golfer.

For his unyielding efforts in helping his community and fellow farmers, Traweek received a slew of awards including Outstanding Young Farmer of Texas, which he won in 1963. Since then he was honored as Master Dairyman of Texas (1970), FFA Honorary State Farmer (1980), Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture (1983), Farm and Ranch Award from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (1990), Texas Dairy Herd Improvement Association’s Outstanding Achievement Award (1994), National Holstein Association’s Outstanding Service Award (1997), Texas State Farm Service Agency’s Outstanding Service Award (2001).

He married his high school sweetheart, Neva Mote in 1956.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Brenda Traweek Carroll of Sidney and Donna Traweek of Dublin; two brothers, Bill and John Traweek, both of Stephenville; four grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Betty Carter.

A celebration of life will be held Sunday, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church with burial at Dublin Liveoak Cemetery.Visitation will be from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at Harrell Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church in Dublin.
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From www.yourhometownvoice.com

Residents to celebrate life of man killed in farm accident
By SARA VANDEN BERGE Managing Editor sara.vandenberge@empiretribune.com |
Posted: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:26 am

Area residents will pay tribute to a long-time area dairyman and friend who died in a tragic farm accident Tuesday.

A memorial service for Bob Traweek, 76, will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church Dublin.

Traweek has been described as a man who always had a smile on his face and was in an upbeat mood.

Dublin mayor Becky Norris said the city of Dublin is mourning Traweek's passing.

"Bob Traweek was one of the finest Christian men I have ever known. He loved his God and family above all else along with his community, state and country," Norris said " Bob brought much knowledge, wisdom and talent to many areas of our community. He was truly a pioneer in integral dairy and farming practices that have been beneficial across the industry locally and abroad. He will be deeply missed by his many friends in and around Dublin and across Texas."

Traweek served on a slew of dairy industry boards and local organizations including Dublin Chamber of Commerce. He also served as a director of Dublin National Bank for the past 25 years.

Sheriff Tommy Bryant said investigators are wrapping up the case which he called "tragic."

"We have never had a case like this before," Bryant said. "It has been tough on all of us."

Traweek died Tuesday after apparently falling into a feed mixer on his dairy located on CR 344 in Dublin.

Deputies were called to the scene about 7:15 p.m. after his family and employees could't find him.

A ranch hand told investigators he last saw Traweek standing near a tractor pulling a feed wagon that was mixing silage about 4:30 p.m.

"A little while later, the ranch hand came back and saw the tractor and feed wagon still running, but they couldn't find Bob," Bryant said.

Physical evidence found inside the feed wagon led investigators to believe Traweek died after slipping inside.

"We believe Mr. Traweek was killed after falling into the mixer," Bryant said.

Bryant said it could be months before the case is officially closed and DNA testing is complete.