Chapter 06 :The Cattlemen for Cancer Research --Community Philanthropists
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Description
In this Chapter, Dr. Satterfield describes how in the late nineties, Dr. Keeling had a plan for raising seed money for new studies. Using his own strong connections to the community, he approached local ranchers to donate livestock for auction, and the Cattlemen for Cancer Research was born. They raised over 1 million dollars and give a percentage to an MD Anderson fund to help patients from a five-county area to pay for cancer treatment. Dr. Satterfield then talks about the Center’s connection to the community, noting that it is a major employer, purchases much of its supplies locally, and also brings students from Austin Community College in for educational experiences. He then notes that the auction has become a yearly event held in the fall, with a gala being held in the spring. This cancer related fund raising has become a community tradition.
Identifier
SatterfieldWC_01_20120724_C06
Publication Date
7-24-2012
City
Houston, Texas
Interview Session
William C. Satterfield, DVM, Oral History Interview, July 24, 2012
Topics Covered
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center - Giving to/Fundraising at MD AndersonActivities Outside Institution Philanthropy, Fundraising, Donations, Volunteers Human Stories This is MD Anderson Personal Background
Transcript
William C. Satterfield, DVM:
We need to enjoy what we do, have a sense of purpose, and I don't want to end this interview without mentioning this special group of people from Elgin that comprise the Cattlemen for Cancer Research.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
I was going to ask you about them. Who are they, and how did you get involved with them?
William C. Satterfield, DVM:
Dr. Keeling had a—I guess—a moment at some point where he said, "You know, I have a number of people that would like to do something to help us. We are a ranching community. Why don't we have a livestock auction and then donate the proceeds to cancer research, and we'll use the proceeds to develop research programs here and have that as seed money," because we had no other way of developing seed money here to do studies. "We can help our own little faculty be involved in the actual cancer research."
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
When did this happen? When did he—?
William C. Satterfield, DVM:
That he started this? I think—I want to say around '89 or '90. No, I take that back. That's too early. It was probably closer to—
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
I can check the dates, but early ‘90s?
William C. Satterfield, DVM:
I want to say it was probably around '98—somewhere in that '98 range. They have raised over a million dollars. Every year, they give a percentage of that to MD Anderson's fund to help cancer patients. It was supposed to be from a five-county area around here—Bastrop County and so forth. People that go to Anderson, defray some of their living expenses and costs of getting here because it's so expensive to get treated.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
It seems like a really—not only a great altruistic move but also a great move to establish ties between this institution and the community.
William C. Satterfield, DVM:
The community—oh, absolutely.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
Are there other ties? Because clearly the Cattlemen for Cancer Research must have felt that connection before they were asked to participate in something like this.
William C. Satterfield, DVM:
Most of those folks were people that Mike knew. I mean, he was in Little League. His girls all played softball. He was on the board of the bank locally. He was in Kiwanis. He was real active in the community. It wasn't very hard to find a group of committed people. After all, we were one of the largest employers in Bastrop County.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
Oh, you are?
William C. Satterfield, DVM:
Oh, yeah.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
Oh, I had no idea.
William C. Satterfield, DVM:
Outside of the prison over here, which is a federal prison—I don't know if they employ as many folks as we have, but the school districts are the big ones. Outside of those school districts, MD Anderson employs more folks in this county than anybody else. We have about 120 people employed here. Of course, this is a resource. A lot of stuff that we buy locally—I mean—we support the county, and Mike was involved in the FFA program and ranching.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
And that's Future Farmers of America?
William C. Satterfield, DVM:
Yes, through the school up there—and ranching.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
You're talking to a city girl here so—
William C. Satterfield, DVM:
He was a rancher, as am I. I'm also a rancher, too.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
I didn't know that. And so your ranch is in this county?
William C. Satterfield, DVM:
Yes. I've been involved in bringing the Austin Community College to Elgin, as well as several school bond—I've had several school bond issues to improve the local schools. But we've had just tremendous cooperation from this community in sponsoring the Cattlemen for Cancer Research auction. They do a live cattle auction every fall and there's also a live—well, it's a silent auction. People from everywhere donate. You couldn't believe all the things that get donated. I mean, it's hundreds of items.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
It isn't just animals?
William C. Satterfield, DVM:
No, it's not just animals. It's all kind— I mean, you should come. You would probably spend a lot of money.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
When is it? Every fall?
William C. Satterfield, DVM:
It's going to be October 20 this year. It's held in October usually every year. We try to avoid a big University of Texas and Texas A&M football game.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
Why is that?
William C. Satterfield, DVM:
But they always have a TV in one of the tents so guys can watch it—whatever game happens to be on that particular weekend. They serve a brisket lunch, and drinks are donated. We provide a really nice community event, and then in the spring they have a gala. They have a dance, and they raise money during the dance.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
So, it's really become part of the culture of the community for many, many years.
William C. Satterfield, DVM:
I think it has. We have a good core group and always looking for new folks to participate, but we have an excellent core group of people who have grown up in this area and appreciate what MD Anderson has meant to it.
Recommended Citation
Satterfield, William C. DVM and Rosolowski, Tacey A. PhD, "Chapter 06 :The Cattlemen for Cancer Research --Community Philanthropists" (2012). Interview Chapters. 1508.
https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/1508
Conditions Governing Access
Open
