Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 54

Section Page 2 Star-Telegram Thursday July 25 1996 Tried true and trusted Brothers serve more than 20 years each in Parker Sheriffs Posse rodeo By Gale Bradford Special to the Star-Telegram WEATHERFORD Yesterday was Jerry Thomas' 63rd birthday and his 42nd wedding anniversary It also marked another in a long string of appearances for Thomas and his two brothers in the Parker County Sheriffs Posse parade grand entry and rodeo Fondly dubbed the "rodeo trio" by posse member Rick Merritt Marvin Thomas JG "Buck" Thomas and Jerry Thomas have been a bonanza to the posse Merritt said All three have been instrumental in the rodeo's success for more than a quarter-century he said "I've known all three of them all of my life They're real hard and dependable workers who've made every rodeo parade and grand entry the best it could be" Merritt said Each Thomas brother has held responsible positions within the posse Merritt said "Not a one has a lazy bone in his body" he said Once posse captain Marvin Thomas has been in charge of the grand entry for about 20 years "The highest honor of my life was being captain to that bunch in 1976" said Marvin Thomas who says he "keeps things rolling" during the grand entry that can have up to 1000 riders The spectacular event signals the start of each rodeo which runs "I hope the day I die I'm horseback after a wild cow" said the wrangler turned watermelon and cantaloupe farmer who said he was lured to Cool 48 years ago when he married his wife Evelyn "The posse has been one of the biggest thrills of my life and I have thoroughly enjoyed it" the 26-year posse member said The posse is also family and social life to Jerry Thomas and his wife Barbara of Millsap One of three 1996 rodeo committee members he has 23 years notched in his posse membership belt and he loves to laugh and tell a good story "Before we got married I had been in the hospital because I got through Saturday at the Sheriff's Posse arena 2251 Mineral Wells Highway Staying active is easy for 75-year-old Marvin Thomas who manages the 4000-acre Lazy Bend Ranch in southwestern Parker County for Hudson Oil Co "I ride my horse Blue Duck every day I use him for ranch work and I ride him in the parade and grand entry He's a good cutting horse and I think highly of him" Marvin said "I've arranged for him to be at the graveyard when I die" Buck Thomas 67 who missed last year's rodeo because of heart surgery said he hopes to saddle up indefinitely kff I jfc Star-Telegram ALISON WOODWOR'i'FrA From left Buck Thomas Jerry Thomas and Marvin Thomas sit tall in their saddles yesterday before the parade and rodeo hurt rodeoing" he said "Barbara pregnant and that was why we got rj came to see me every day and when married" he said I got out we got married "Well it's 42 years later and she Vi "The story got out that she was hasn't had that baby yet" Maefarart seeks federal fraud suspect Getting a ride in the coolest part of town Fort Worth Mayor Kenneth Barr and Tandy Corp Chairman and CEO John Roach ride a Zamboni machine across the ice yesterday at the reopening of the rink at the Fort Worth Outlet Square merly Tandy Center The down- town rink which opened in 1977 has a new freezing system and new light and sound systems Mall officials say they expect stores in the mall to begin opening in August 1 HL Panel to decide Lone Star's race dates 'a felony Robert Hadley Gross: Officials sayr chiatrist and a full-time law student at Texas Wesleyan University Gross argued unsuccessfully that he had been too busy studying for law school exams to comply with the subpoena Gross had to turn over his pass port as a condition of his release after his arrest on the contempf charge But after his conviction he waf released on his own recognizance until sentencing scheduled fof Sept 20 Gross could be sentenced to a maximum of six months in pris- on and a $5000 fine on the conj- tempt charge This month US District John McBryde gave Gross permisj- sion to take his family to Florida in August on a Disney World vacation Gross is 6 feet tall weighs 15) pounds and has brown hair and eyes Anyone with information about the doctor may contact thjg US Attorney's office in Forjt Worth at 978-3291 Gross served as medical coordjf nator and coordinator of adole cent services at the Psychiatric Irf' stitute and at Bedford Meadows Hospital another shuttered facility The Psychiatric Institute is th focus of a federal investigation thai has resulted in several conviction related to bogus insurance claims and kickbacks for referrals j) The doctor's medical license expired June 30 because of of fees the indictment Condo owners will receive 23 complimentary tickets for each major race event during the speedway's first three seasons Penthouse owners will receive 33 tickets race Gossage said Smith has built similar condos it his Charlotte Motor Speedway jn North Carolina and at his Atlanta Motor Speedway in Georgia i Lone Star Tower will also house the corporate headquarters of the Texas Motor Speedway and will offer office space for lease Smith said he expects first-time speedway condo owners to make! a hefty profit if they ever decide to sell Winston Cup driver Bobby Hillin Jr of Midland boughtla Chariots condo for $350000 The unit eventually sold for $1 million Grand Prairie track officials say they won't ask the Legislature for help in landing the prime May slot that the Houston track also wants By Laura Vozzella Star-Telegram Staff Writer FORT WORTH Federal officials are seeking a fugitive Fort Worth psychiatrist who they say has eluded authorities since his indictment last week on a felony fraud charge The whereabouts of Dr Robert Hadley Gross a Colleyville resident has been unknown since a warrant was issued for his arrest one week ago today officials said "He's a fugitive" Assistant US Attorney David Jarvis said "We're actively seeking to locate Dr Gross at this time" Gross 38 was indicted July 1 8 on a charge related to allegations of an insurance fraud scheme at the now-defunct Psychiatric Institute of Fort Worth The doctor was charged with one count of mail fraud and aiding and abetting The felony carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250000 fine Gross is accused of billing Aetna insurance $5475 for psychotherapy services that were never performed The doctor was in Massachusetts taking a course at Harvard University on the dates he said he held six psychotherapy sessions the indictment says Gross failed to appear at a July 16 grand jury hearing as ordered by federal subpoena the indictment says He could not be found at his home inside an exclusive gated community on Meandering Court when officials with the Internal Revenue Service the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Colleyville police attempted to serve the warrant on July 18 Officials would not discuss any subsequent attempts to arrest Gross No one answered the phone at his home yesterday and a woman at his Fort Worth psychiatric office said he no longer worked there His lawyer Kim Wade could not be reached for comment late yesterday Federal officials declined to say whether relatives were at home Gross was convicted June 26 of criminal contempt of court for failing to turn over billing and other business records as ordered by a federal subpoena A part-time psy- Smith likened the tower of 40 two-bedroom and eight three-bedroom condos to a homestead on the "high-speed version of the Chisholm Trail" which he said ran less than a mile from the speedway site at 1-35 and Texas 114 An additional 10 penthouse suites will each have a rooftop observation deck accessible by a spiral staircase in the living area Prospective buyers have paid 10 percent deposits on 35 of the 58 condos Sixth-floor condos are the least expensive beginning at $275000 and price increases with height to a maximum penthouse price of $575000 Buyers must close on their condos 30 days after construction is complete speedway officials said ByMedeNix I Star-Telegram Staff Writer I AUSTIN Officials at Lone Park at Grand Prairie say they re asking "anybody who will listen" to help them land the coveted spring and summer racing dates for next year's grand opening but said they will stop short of seeking legislative help Today in Austin the Texas Racing Commission is scheduled to break an impasse between the Grand Prairie track and Sam Houston Race Park near Houston which also is seeking the prime dates that correspond with the sport's high-profile Triple Crown Racing commission staff members have recommended that Lone Star be allowed to race thoroughbreds from April 17 to July 27 but posed by the commission is good for us and good for racing but we haven't involved legislators To me it's not a political issue but an issue that has to do with the technicalities of structuring race days within the state" The state's three major racetracks are prohibited by racing commission rules from running horses on overlapping dates unless they agree to do so in writing But months of talks between Lone Star and Sam Houston including last-minute negotiations yesterday have produced no agreement Star-Telegram RODGER MALLISON James Francis of Dallas one of five members of the racing commission said he has yet to decide how to award the dates "I think in a perfect world it would be better to have no overlapping dates" said Francis "Historically the precedent is to let a new track have its best shot and establish its customer base" he said "That argument has a lot of weight But so does Sam Houston's that they've had these dates and they deserve them Francis said Lone Star has a powerful argument because the other two Class 1 tracks Sam Houston and Retama Park near San Antonio were allowed to open without another major track running concurrently away and down Interstate 35" Smith said as he unveiled an artist's depiction of the condo tower Now you see what it will look like: luxurious humongous multipurpose a Texas-sized building and a Texas-sized speedway" This month Smith announced an April 6 Winston Cup stock car race at the Texas Motor Speedway Yesterday speedway General Manager Eddie Gossage said he is working to secure a second 1997 NASCAR race and to schedule at least one Indy car race next year An open house is scheduled at the speedway Aug 3 Admission is $5 and proceeds benefit Speedway Children's Charities The event is co-sponsored by theS(ar-Telegram and KZPS925 FM Ground broken for speedway condo tower Phoenix man guilty of trucking 5 aliens from Arizona to Texas officials at 3-year-old Sam Houston said they need those dates to solidify their track's return from bankruptcy Lone Star President Bob Kamin-ski said Houston-area legislators have lobbied racing commission staff members in favor of Sam Houston But Kaminski said he plans to stay away from any legislative involvement "We are absolutely explaining our position to anybody who will listen" he said "We've talked to all the commissioners about why we believe the race calendar pro uled for Oct 21 Donovan's defense had argued that the cabbie was just doing his job Doug Greene an assistant federal public defender contended that Donovan should not be found guilty because he was not involved in smuggling the men over the border into Arizona But Assistant US Attorney Mike Worley argued successfully that Donovan knowingly furthered the men's illegal immigration plan when he picked them up at a "safe house" in March a few days after they crossed the border 3 By Kristin Sullivan Star-Telegram Staff Writer FORT WORTH With a fanfare of fireworks under a hot Texas sun Texas Motor Speedway developer Bruton Smith broke ground yesterday on his "humongous" 10-story Lone Star Tower condominium complex Targeted for completion by next July the condo tower will feature living-room views of the speedway's 15-mile oval track swimming pools tennis courts private parking and a ballroom where "you can come down here and get married" Smith told buyers during an afternoon ceremony "It will provide a beautiful aesthetic signature fr the Texas Motor Speedway visible from miles By Laura Vozzella Star-Telegram Staff Writer FORT WORTH A federal jury in Fort Worth took about 10 minutes yesterday to find a Phoenix cabdriver guilty of transporting undocumented aliens James Donovan 46 was convicted of knowingly furthering an illegal immigration scheme when he charged $1 a mile to take five Mexican citizens the 1067 miles from Phoenix to Dallas Donovan faces a maximum penalty of about a year in prison Sentencing is sched.