A Texan who’s a three star general with a heart of gold…
Lieutenant General (Ret.) Leroy Sisco is a bright star in the Lone Star state and has been a friend of mine several decades. We give each other a hard time but I hold his friendship in high regard. I have only released 8 stage bows from my professional archery career and I gave him the third one I ever released. He has various business interests but is most well known for giving wounded warriors a mortgage free home. His Military Warriors Support Foundation is an amazing organization that’s changed lives. Gen Sisco and former Gov Rick Perry are hunting buddies and have been on some great hunts here in Texas. I thought the readers of this magazine may enjoy Gen Sisco’s story ….
For our readers who may not know you, can you tell us where you were raised and how your early life was?
I was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, and moved to Abilene, Texas, when I was 14 years old. Got to do a lot of hunting and fishing growing up…
How does it feel to have retired as a three-star general?
You are so thankful for the heroes who worked their hearts out, making you do well and doing so much for this unbelievable country. That never changes. You are always thinking of them. So they deserve the rank I wear, and in my mind they always will.
What has your military journey been like?
Loved every minute of my military time.
Where did your interest in hunting and fishing come from?
I lost my dad at the age of 43, but our neighbors, Joe and June Stone and their family, kind of adopted me and taught me how to hunt and fish, and I love it today. Also, my partner and I owned the largest hunting organization in Texas. It was called Texas Trophy Hunters Association. We had it for many years and sold it about two years ago to Safari Club International.
Large ranches in Texas are very popular hunting spots. What area of our state and what ranches do you enjoy trips on?
Too many to count. We have hunted them everywhere and even had our own TV hunting show.
Who are some well-known folks you have hunted with?
Many — Rick Perry, George Strait, Clay Walker, Ted Nugent, Bruce Bochy, pro baseball coach, Craig Morgan, Rusty Rose, owner of the Texas Rangers at one time, Ryan Klesko, Joaquín Jackson, Texas Ranger, and many more.
I understand you once outshot a famous Texas Ranger with his own gun and later had a duplicate made. Can you tell that story?
No, I never outshot him, but I shot a coyote at 136 yards running with his rifle! I found the same model as his gun, and he sent it off to get it fixed just like his.
We have a mutual friend we took to lunch a few years ago, Bobby Hart of Hart Rifles. You love his work, right?
Yes, I do, and I have had made and bought 21 custom-made rifles from him. When someone helps my foundation with a large gift, I give them one of those custom-made rifles. They are incredible rifles.
Tell me what it’s been like, in your words, to give a home away with George Strait.
Outside of my family, George Strait and his family are the finest people I have ever met. Doing the home giveaways with George are so heartwarming, and it also gets emotional sometimes. There are no words to describe the wonderful thing we get to do, and you also are able to do it with the King of Country Music. George proudly wore the uniform of this great country. He loves helping these incredible heroes, and many we know, their lives have been saved. At least sixteen, with what we both do, is what the experts tell us are alive today. I have walked off stage several times with tears in my eyes. George Strait is a big-time hero to me, and his heart has to be bigger than the state of Texas. God bless him and his entire family.
Tell us how folks can learn more about your Wounded Warrior program.
To date, we have given away almost 1,200 homes, about 200 automobiles, and take about 200 hunting, fishing, and golfing trips each year. MilitaryWarriors.org
Is it true you yodeled on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry?!
Yes, my Sgt. Donny Walser worked for me for seven years, and in two years he taught me how to yodel. Darius Rucker found out about it, and when I gave some homes away with him, he had me yodel. Two of those times were on the Grand Ole Opry. The walls are still standing. Ha!
You brought Gov. Perry to my show a few years ago in Boerne. He was a great advocate for Texas ranchers and agriculture. Do you keep up with him these days?
Yes, Rick is a great friend, and I had known him a long time before he ever ran for public office. So we have been great friends for a long time. Ha! Get to see and talk to him a lot.
You were a part owner in the Texas Trophy Hunters. Did you enjoy the shows?
Yes, and we sold it a few years back to Safari Club International.
What’s your favorite spot to hunt in Texas, and is it with gun or bow?
I have too many to list them all, but one was on one of my soldier’s ranches, who invited me to his ranch out by Junction, and I killed a world-record axis deer with my bow. Also, with my bow in Canada, I killed a monster bull elk that scored over 400. I have taken several monster bull elk with my bow.
My first interview for Texas Ranch Journal was with Ted Nugent. Like Theo, you are also an advocate for the Second Amendment. Are you still involved with the NRA?
Yes, I have been on the NRA board of directors for over 12 years and am running again now. Without us as citizens having the ability to legally carry guns, this country we know and love would be gone.
I also recently saw you were in Washington in the Oval Office with the President. What was this for?
December 1, 2025. Just got a call, and I am flying Sunday to be in the President’s office Monday while he signs the legislation dramatically helping the Medal of Honor recipients’ siphon pay be raised dramatically. It will also be tax free. I have worked long and hard to get this done. Can’t thank Congressman Troy Nehls and Senator Ted Cruz enough for their big-time help. When they were asked, there was no hesitation at all. Love it….
Medal of Honor Recipients: I have some great news that I know you will really like. About 15 years ago, Dr. Jim Leininger asked me to come out and help with a fundraiser. Got in the blind with this guy and found out he was a Congressman. We were paying the MOH recipients $600 a month in siphon pay. He helped me get it changed to $1,500 a month 15 years ago. So I decided to check on it about 6 months ago, and they had not changed it at all. So I went to DC and met with Congressmen and Senators, and I got a friend who is a Congressman, Troy Nehls, and Senator Ted Cruz to carry the bill through both houses. It passed 424 to 0 in the House and 100 to 0 in the Senate. We are raising their siphon pay to $5,800 a month, or about $69,500 a year tax free. I will be in DC in December in the President’s office with as many of the MOH recipients as we can get there, and the President will sign the bill. Troy said he had a surprise for me, and that was when the President signs the bill, I will be given the pen he signs the bill with. That will be a bit emotional. There are only 61 alive, and about 22 can’t even get out of their homes. For example, an E5 who earned the MOH is living off of E5 retirement pay and $1,500 a month, but not any longer. I have never done anything in my life outside of my family that is so heartwarming. God bless all of these incredible heroes, and now we will really bless all of them. So we’re gonna help them a bunch, absolutely love it.
Was in the office of the President for the signing of the bill helping our MOH recipients dramatically. Also, he gave me the pen he signed it with. Love it….
You could live anywhere. Why Texas?
I was raised in Texas, and my heart never left the state. I went to college here, met my wife here, and all three of our children were born here, so my heart is still in Texas. Also, had it not been for me, you probably wouldn’t be living down here. I stayed on you until you finally consented and moved to Texas. Ha! I also know you don’t regret it.
Thanks for your service, your big heart to help others, your love of Texas and Texans, and especially your friendship.
