Funeral held for longtime voice of East Texas agriculture, Horace McQueen

CROCKETT, Texas (KTRE) - The man who shaped the voice of East Texas agriculture on KLTV and KTRE for nearly 30 years was buried on Saturday.

“A pleasant good morning to you, hope everything’s off to a fine start at your house.”

Those were the words starting the show that greeted East Texans every morning from the 1970s to 2000.

Horace McQueen kept you up-to-date on all things agriculture with a Texas charm that his family says they will miss forever.

“He loved the people of East Texas and that was a very important thing. He didn’t care who you were. If you were nice, he would treat you right,” said Dennis McQueen, his son.

Horace McQueen grew up in La Porte, Texas. Before being on in East Texas, he originally got his start on TV in Lubbock in 1964.

Before that, he studied agriculture at Texas A&M University. He was a member of the Corps of Cadets and met his wife at the school.

“He’d get up at 4:15. Mom would make him breakfast, and he would go into the station and do the show,” said Dennis McQueen.

After graduating from Texas A&M, Horace McQueen worked as an editor on a number of agricultural publications, but his son says nothing could compare to waking up with the community each morning.

“After the show was over, he would leave and go travel around the roads of East Texas and visit with people, and that was his favorite part, seeing the people,” said Dennis McQueen.

Horace McQueen would go on to even interview former United States presidents and congress members.

“I think they enjoyed watching all of it, the cooking shows,” said Dennis McQueen.

Most importantly, Dennis McQueen says his dad spoke to the real ranchers and real people of East Texas, with unforgettable dedication.

Horace McQueen leaves behind his wife, four children and two grandchildren.

Dennis says it’s the end of an era, but his dad’s signature line will stay in the memory of his family and viewers forever.

Horace McQueen won numerous awards including from the National Association of Farm Broadcasters, as Farm Broadcaster of the Year in 1980.

He died at 86, with his funeral being held in Crockett.

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