Changes

'''The Pitchfork Ranch''', established in 1883, encompasses more than 180,000 acres in Dickens and King  counties in West [[Texas]] and an annex in Jefferson County in southern [[Oklahoma]]. Previous properties in [[Kansas]] and [[Wyoming]] have been since sold.<ref name=ranch>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepitchforkranch.com/|title=The Pitchfork Ranch|publisher=The Pitchfork Land and Cattle Company|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref>

'''The Pitchfork Ranch''', established in 1883, encompasses more than 180,000 acres in Dickens and King  counties in West [[Texas]] and an annex in Jefferson County in southern [[Oklahoma]]. Previous properties in [[Kansas]] and [[Wyoming]] have been since sold.<ref name=ranch>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepitchforkranch.com/|title=The Pitchfork Ranch|publisher=The Pitchfork Land and Cattle Company|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref>

The Pitchfork is still operated by descendants of its first financial backer, Eugene F. Williams of St. Louis. It is located eighty miles east of [[Lubbock]] and thirteen miles west of Guthrie, Texas, on U.S. Highway 82. D. B. Gardner and J. S. Godwin bought the three-pronged pitchfork brand as well as the range lands in 1881. The ranch is therefore still sometimes called “The Forks.” In 1882, Godwin sold his interest to Williams. With the organization of the company, Gardner was named general manager.<ref name=handbook>{{cite web|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/app02|title=Pitchfork Ranch|publisher=Texas State Historical Association: ''The Handbook of Texas''|accessdate=November 19, 2019}}</ref>​

The Pitchfork is still operated by descendants of its first financial backer, Eugene F. Williams of St. Louis. It is located eighty miles east of [[Lubbock]] and thirteen miles west of Guthrie, Texas, on U.S. Highway 82. D. B. Gardner and J. S. Godwin bought the three-pronged pitchfork brand as well as the range lands in 1881. The ranch is therefore still sometimes called “The Forks.” In 1882, Godwin sold his interest to Williams. With the organization of the company, Gardner was named general manager.<ref name=handbook>{{cite web|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/app02|title=Pitchfork Ranch|publisher=Texas State Historical Association: ''The Handbook of Texas''|accessdate=November 19, 2019}}</ref>​

​

​

==Managers D. B. Gardner and Eugene Williams==

==Managers D. B. Gardner and Eugene Williams==

In 1871, D. B. Gardner arrived in Texas as a well-educated 21-year-old [[cowboy]]. He went on trail drives to Kansas and joined surveying parties for a couple of years to locate land grants authorized to the Texas and Pacific Railway. After working for D. W. and J. S. Godwin as a cowhand and eventually as ranch boss, Gardner became a partner with the brothers in the ranch. D. W. Godwin later withdrew from the partnership, and a new arrangement was formed between Gardner and J. S. Godwin. The pair moved into King and Dickens counties to purchase the Pitchfork brand, cattle, and range rights. Gardner, meanwhile, had become acquainted with Eugene F. Williams, a representative of the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company. Their families had known each other in [[Alabama]], and a warm friendship developed between the two. In 1881, Williams bought J. S. Godwin’s interest in the company to become Gardner’s partner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.westernheritageclassic.com/p/events/ranch-rodeo/qualifications-and-ranches/218|title=Pitchfork Land & Cattle Company: Western Heritage Classic|publisher=Western Heritage Classic|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/ttusw/00068/tsw-00068.html|title=Pitchfork Land and Title Company: An Inventory of  its Records|publisher=Southwest Collection at [[Texas Tech University]]|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref>​

In 1871, D. B. Gardner arrived in Texas as a well-educated 21-year-old [[cowboy]]. He went on trail drives to Kansas and joined surveying parties for a couple of years to locate land grants authorized to the Texas and Pacific Railway. After working for D. W. and J. S. Godwin as a cowhand and eventually as ranch boss, Gardner became a partner with the brothers in the ranch. D. W. Godwin later withdrew from the partnership, and a new arrangement was formed between Gardner and J. S. Godwin. The pair moved into King and Dickens counties to purchase the Pitchfork brand, cattle, and range rights. Gardner, meanwhile, had become acquainted with Eugene F. Williams, a representative of the Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company. Their families had known each other in [[Alabama]], and a warm friendship developed between the two. In 1881, Williams bought J. S. Godwin’s interest in the company to become Gardner’s partner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.westernheritageclassic.com/p/events/ranch-rodeo/qualifications-and-ranches/218|title=Pitchfork Land & Cattle Company: Western Heritage Classic|publisher=Western Heritage Classic|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/ttusw/00068/tsw-00068.html|title=Pitchfork Land and Title Company: An Inventory of  its Records|publisher=Southwest Collection at [[Texas Tech University]]|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref>​

Gardner served as manager until 1928, a year before his death. The management then passed to O. A. Lambert, 1928–1930; Virgil V. Parr, 1930–1940; Rudolph Swenson, 1940–1942, who was killed by a train; [[Douglas Burns]], who served from 1942 to 1965; [[Jim Humphreys]], the manager from 1965 to 1986; Bob Moorhouse, who served from 1986 to 2007, and Ron Lane (born 1969), Moorhouse's successor who is no longer the ranch manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.corporationwiki.com/Texas/Dickens/ron-n-lane/29677861.aspx|title=Ron Lane, Dickens, Texas: previous general manager of the Pitchfork Land and Cattle Company|publisher=corporationwiki.com|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref> In the early 20th century, Pitchfork lands were drilled for [[petroleum]], but at the beginning of the 21st century, the ranch had no income, however from either oil or [[natural gas]]. In addition to the cattle, the ranch raises championship quarter horses, having won the 1993 American Quarter Horse Association Remuda competition in [[Amarillo]].<ref name=handbook/>​

Gardner served as manager until 1928, a year before his death. The management then passed to O. A. Lambert, 1928–1930; Virgil V. Parr, 1930–1940; Rudolph Swenson, 1940–1942, who was killed by a train; [[Douglas Burns]], who served from 1942 to 1965; [[Jim Humphreys]], the manager from 1965 to 1986; Bob Moorhouse, who served from 1986 to 2007, and Ron Lane (born 1969), Moorhouse's successor who is no longer the ranch manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.corporationwiki.com/Texas/Dickens/ron-n-lane/29677861.aspx|title=Ron Lane, Dickens, Texas: previous general manager of the Pitchfork Land and Cattle Company|publisher=corporationwiki.com|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}</ref> In the early 20th century, Pitchfork lands were drilled for [[petroleum]], but at the beginning of the 21st century, the ranch had no income, however from either oil or [[natural gas]]. In addition to the cattle, the ranch raises championship quarter horses, having won the 1993 American Quarter Horse Association Remuda competition in [[Amarillo]].<ref name=handbook/>​

Hermon "Babe" Oliver (1920-2009) worked for the Pitchfork Ranch for forty-two years. In 1960, he was elected as one of the four King County ommissioners, a part-time position which he held until 1976, when he was elected [[sheriff]] of King County. In 1984, he was appointed King County administrative county judge, a position which he held until his retirement in 1990. Oliver was born to M. N. and Ada Oliver in Steedman in Pontotoc County in southern Oklahoma. He moved to Texas with his family in 1934 and thereafter was a [[United States Army]] veteran of [[World War II]]. On February 25, 1945, he married the former Bama Nell Smith (1924–2007) in Paducah in Cottle County, Texas. The Olivers relocated in 1995 to Pampa in Gray County, Texas, and then in August 2007 to Clyde in Callahan County. Oliver was survived by two daughters, Linda and husband, Jimmy Barton, of Clyde and Beth Watson and husband, Randy Watson, of Pampa, and one son, Terry and wife, Linda Oliver, of Dumont in King County. His services were held at the First [[United Methodist]] Church in Paducah, Texas. Interment was at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Paducah.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lubbockonline.com/stories/020509/obi_384786752.shtml|title=Obituary of Hermon "Babe" Oliver|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=February 5, 2009|accessdate=February 5, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref>​

Hermon "Babe" Oliver (1920-2009) worked for the Pitchfork Ranch for forty-two years. In 1960, he was elected as one of the four King County ommissioners, a part-time position which he held until 1976, when he was elected [[sheriff]] of King County. In 1984, he was appointed King County administrative county judge, a position which he held until his retirement in 1990. Oliver was born to M. N. and Ada Oliver in Steedman in Pontotoc County in southern Oklahoma. He moved to Texas with his family in 1934 and thereafter was a [[United States Army]] veteran of [[World War II]]. On February 25, 1945, he married the former Bama Nell Smith (1924–2007) in Paducah in Cottle County, Texas. The Olivers relocated in 1995 to Pampa in Gray County, Texas, and then in August 2007 to Clyde in Callahan County. Oliver was survived by two daughters, Linda and husband, Jimmy Barton, of Clyde and Beth Watson and husband, Randy Watson, of Pampa, and one son, Terry and wife, Linda Oliver, of Dumont in King County. His services were held at the First [[United Methodist]] Church in Paducah, Texas. Interment was at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Paducah.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lubbockonline.com/stories/020509/obi_384786752.shtml|title=Obituary of Hermon "Babe" Oliver|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=February 5, 2009|accessdate=February 5, 2009; no longer on-line}}</ref>​

​

​

==The Pitchfork today==

==The Pitchfork today==

In 2008, the Pitchfork was featured on the History Channel. The episode is carried on You Tube.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr7TxmjDDeU|title=Pitchfork Ranch featured on History Channel|date=January 24, 2008|publisher=You Tube|accessdate=November 25, 2019}}</ref>  

In 2008, the Pitchfork was featured on the History Channel. The episode is carried on You Tube.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr7TxmjDDeU|title=Pitchfork Ranch featured on History Channel|date=January 24, 2008|publisher=You Tube|accessdate=November 25, 2019}}</ref>  

​

​

==Ranch cookbook==

==Ranch cookbook==

​

​