“Cowboy Dave” traveled all the way from Ohio just to listen to people affected by tragedy in Hunt.
HUNT, Texas — Just outside of Hunt, in a paved lot near the Guadalupe River, stands a man in a cowboy hat waving at traffic.
A sign hangs down from a tent nearby. It reads: “Hearts Hurt? Stop and Talk!”
“Cowboy Dave” is originally from Ohio, but returned to Texas to help serve the local community after the July 4 flood which killed more than 100 across the region. He said he serves in several ways, but the main way is just giving people a place to talk.
“People just need someone to listen to them,” Dave said. “They know they are not going crazy, but everyone is telling them they need to talk.”
If this sounds extraordinarily unconventional, it’s because Cowboy Dave is himself unconventional.
But this is what he does.
Cowboy Dave’s real name is David Graham. He and his wife created Heart Hurts to help help serve communities affected by disaster and tragedy. KENS 5 also met Graham in 2022 after the shooting in Uvalde. He was there to listen.
Graham said he’s tried to pitch in in Kerr County, where he figured he could help locals by providing drinks and shade. But his main aim, again, is simply to provide a safe place to talk.
“I set it up for a drive-up so people can stay comfortable in their vehicles,” Graham said. “If they don’t feel comfortable, they can drive away. I create an environment where they can be in control of how far they want to talk and what they want to talk about. Most people just want to leave something in the parking lot with something they don’t know.”
Graham said he’s not a counselor and doesn’t give advice.
But he will pray with people if they want. And he’ll ask people how they are doing.
“People in general here in Texas are tough. So if you ask them how they are doing they are like, ‘Fine, we’re doing good, we’re better than most. We didn’t get it as bad as anyone else, we’re strong,”’ Graham said. “You ask them how they are sleeping and it changes their whole demeanor. They say, ‘Not good.’ The subconscious catches up. ”
Graham said some are still coping with the horrible things they saw and heard on July 4. Others are noticing people missing at school or football games.
Some people have survivor’s guilt. Some need to talk about the stress of rebuilding.
“I listen to that and I just remain quiet,” Graham said.
Graham said he is happy to just let people feel heard. Still, every once in a while they also come back with good news.
“They come back and are like, ‘Cowboy, I’m sleeping. I slept all night last night. I felt guilty, I slept in till 10:00,” Graham said. “It’s a great thing. It’s something only God could have done.”