Born in 1933 amid the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, Delbert Trew has lived a life defined by hardship, perseverance, and a deep connection to the land. Raised on a dryland farm in Perryton, Texas, his childhood was shaped by war, drought, and responsibility - helping his father run over 3,000 acres during World War II, as manpower shortages left children like him to keep operations going.

"Agriculture wasn't just my upbringing. It became my identity," Trew says. And for over nine decades, he's embodied that identity with grit and grace. At The Trew Ranch in Alanreed, he still tends to land maintenance, drives tractors, clears brush, and repairs fences - not out of necessity, but out of pride. Though he no longer runs cattle himself, he leases the land and keeps it in top shape, reflecting his belief that ranching is the true heart of the Panhandle.

He's witnessed monumental changes: land once worth 50 cents an acre now fetches thousands, wooden fence posts have evolved into T-posts with hot wire, and windmills have yielded to solar pumps. Through it all, Trew has remained rooted, building more than 500 water-harvesting structures to fight drought and preserve moisture. "I don't let a drop of water escape if I can help it," he says, recognizing the growing threats of a warming climate.

But Trew's legacy goes beyond land. He's also a historian, musician, writer, and museum founder, deeply invested in preserving the stories and tools of past generations. His fascination with barbed wire - known in its early days as "the Devil's Rope" - led to the creation of the Devil's Rope & Texas Historic Route 66 Museum in McLean, which he co-founded with his wife Ruth. The museum showcases hundreds of historic fencing artifacts and tells the story of rural innovation, becoming a quirky roadside attraction that's drawn over 5,000 visitors from all 50 states and more than 85 countries just this year.

Trew also helped lead the charge in forming the Old Route 66 Association of Texas, preserving the legacy of the historic highway that once ran through McLean - a town that saw its economy devastated when it was bypassed by Interstate 40. Rather than let McLean fade, the Trews and other locals chose to fight for its history and future.

His contributions extend to the arts, too. A former saxophone and bass player with over 30 years of Western swing performances under his belt, Trew also wrote for the Amarillo Globe-News for 13 years, chronicling the Panhandle's characters, challenges, and changes. Many of those columns became published books.

Despite personal tragedy - losing his first wife and daughter in a 1970 crash - Trew rebuilt his life with Ruth, herself a widow of the Vietnam War. Together, they built a new legacy of love, community, and purpose. Their annual family reunions bring over 70 relatives back to the ranch, celebrating roots that run as deep as the soil.

Asked what he hopes people take away from the museum and his story, Trew simply says:
"I hope they walk out saying, ‘Well, now that was fun. I enjoyed that.'"

But his life speaks volumes beyond fun. In every post hole, book page, and exhibit wall, Delbert Trew has embedded a love for the land, a reverence for history, and a stubborn hope that the spirit of rural Texas will endure. His name - and his work - are woven into the barbed-wire tapestry of the Panhandle he loves.