Texas Longhorn steers cross the Red River near Doan's Crossing
during the TLBAA Centennial Cattle Drive, June 30, 1966.
On May 26, 1966, ninety-three head of Texas Longhorn steers left San Antonio, Texas headed to Dodge City Kansas, following the famous Western Trail. Organized by then TLBAA President Charlie Schreiner, III, the drive celebrated 100 years since the first major cattle drive left from Texas to northern markets, bringing prosperity to the west after the Civil War. It was also designed to increase public awareness of the Texas Longhorn breed.
The steers came from Schreiner's YO Ranch at Mountain Home, Texas and 10 other ranches. Trail bosses were Charlie Schreiner and western cartoonist, Ace Reid. Named as honorary trail bosses were Texas Longhorn pioneers, E.H. Marks, Russell Stanger, Milby Butler, Graves Peeler and I.G. Yates. Travis Marks served as Trail Marshall.
After a big send-off in San Antonio, with over 200 riders, the cattle were loaded and shipped by truck to their next destination. The herd parallelled the trail except for a stop at Lyndon B. Johnson's ranch near Stonewall, Texas. The drive was publicized in newspapers across the country from Ohio to Texas, and in such national publications as Newsweek.
Eventually, the drive wound up the road through such trail drive towns as Abilene. At each stop along the way, riders from the area would join up, and there were great celebrations with dancing, barbecueing and roping. Finally the herd reached Doan's Crossing near Vernon. There a century ago, thousands of Texas Longhorns had crossed the Red River into Oklahoma.
The 1966 Centennial Cattle Drive had progressed so far with very few incidents. In San Antonio, one rider fell when his horse slipped on the pavement, but other than that, the drive had gone smoothly. However, on June 30, 1966 came the incident that Longhorn breeders still talk about today.
The cattle had been unloaded a few miles away the night before and that morning the drovers planned to head them north across the Red River. The herd forded the river several miles upstream from the original crossing. Lt. Governor, Preston Smith of Texas led the herd and turned it over to Oklahoma Lt. Governor, Leo Winter in mid-stream.
It was there on the Oklahoma side that the cowboys ran into trouble. Suddenly, six war-painted Indians came riding over a ridge. As the yelling "redskins" drew closer to the herd, all hell broke loose, as 2,000 spectators watched. Cattle scattered in every direction and horses started bucking. The cowboys began firing pistols which only added to the uproar. Eventually, the Indians were run off and drovers began to gather the herd. It only took the riders more than a half-day to round up the strays.
Finally, things calmed down. It seems the Indians were members of the Quanah Round-Up Club, who had been hired to add some realism to the drive. However, someone had neglected to tell the trail drivers. Charlie Schreiner later commented, "those damn Indians did too good a job!"
The drive reached the end of the trail, Dodge City, Kansas on July 2, 1966. In the afternoon, Col. Eddie Wood, of Wynnewood, Oklahoma sold the steers at public auction. Most of the steers went home with the Texas drovers, but Kansas Governor, William H. Avery, bought four head to keep in Kansas. That night there was music and dancing into the wee hours at the famous Long Branch Saloon, just as thirsty cowboys did when they hit town a hundred years before.
As the weary trail drivers returned to Texas, they felt they had successfully accomplished their goals. A herd of Texas Longhorns had once again followed the Western Trail and the the Texas Longhorn breed had gained national recognition.
