Texas mayor killed in apparent donkey attack

Mayor Bill Bohlke of Hollywood Park, center, is pictured with two other city council members. / http://www.hollywoodpark-tx.gov/Town of Hollywood Park

(CBS/AP) HOLLYWOOD PARK, Texas - A South Texas mayor has been found dead after apparently being attacked by a 500-pound donkey on his ranch.

The Atascosa County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that the death of Hollywood Park Mayor William "Bill" Bohlke appears to be an accident. Bohlke was 65.

Chief Deputy David Soward says Bohlke apparently was attacked Monday morning by an aggressive male donkey he kept on the ranch. His body was found Monday night during a search by deputies and relatives. A formal cause of death is pending.

"It is with great regret that we, the family of Bill Bohlke, wish to inform you of his passing last night, August 27th, 2012," said Bohlke's family in a statement. "Bill suffered a fatal injury while taking care of his prized cow herd near Pleasanton last evening."

A vigil for the mayor is planned on Monday, Sept. 3 at 7:00 p.m. CT at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, and a mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. CT at the same church the following morning.

"Bill, your mayor, dearly loved serving you, our community, and we only wish he was here to continue doing so," the family's statement said.

Soward says it's up to the family to decide what to do with the donkey.

Mayor Pro Tem Steve Phillips will serve as acting mayor of Hollywood Park, a town of about 3,000 just north of San Antonio.

[EyesStationZebra]

Killed by a donkey; the Republicans will inevitably blame it on the Democrats...

[ralphing]

Sometimes No Means No, even in donkey language. There's a reason why they banned donkey shows in Mexico.

[sadiedog1]

this is just way to funny.

[TominTX]

What a way to go. Live 65 yrs only to end up being killed by a donkey.

[uisignorant]

Those democrats are mean!

[nygurl1]

Only to reps.

[HM8432]

Poor guy, to lead a life of public service, only to be killed by some jack***! Seriously, RIP.

[wjss75606]

OK, for all you city folks and urban dwellers here is why you have the donkeys. They are guard animals. They dislike coyotes, dogs, and other predators and will chase them off or stomp them flat. They a cheap to keep and eat with the other animals and don't require any special care. Look it up. Guard Donkeys are becoming much more popular as livestock guards. Some can become overly aggressive. He probably had this one around to help protect his prize herd. And to think you people are allowed to vote with such limited knowledge.

[omnibus66]

Informative comment. Being around farm animals, as I have for over 50 years, requires that you respect them at all times. Statistically farming/ranching is a more dangerous occupation than being a policeman or fireman. Some of you city folks may find humor here, but that only exposes your ignorance.

[nohater]

he had prized cattle, so why keep a donkey? anything or anyone or any beast can kill you but this is a first, death by donkey.

[gadfly65]

How does this merit the front page? Meanwhile, a federal court has struck down Texas's discriminatory redistricting but that's hardly being discussed in the news; the big money interests who control journalism don't want you to know about anything that embarrasses their political arm, the GOP.

[rightofwrong]

Big money controls the left-wing media for the GOP? Really?

[nygurl1]

Maybe you read the wrong things? I'm in Tn and I knew about it! The feds did a good job for a change!

[andrewjsacks]

Right. A lot of dangerous ***** in Texas. We know that.