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'''James O'Neill Humphreys, Sr.''', usually known as '''Jim Humphreys''' (February 28, 1921 &ndash; June 9, 2007), was a prominent [[Texas]] rancher and the former board chairman of the National Ranching Heritage Center, an entity of [[Texas Tech University]] in [[Lubbock]]. For some two decades, he managed the large [[Pitchfork Ranch]], with headquarters near thinly populated Guthrie in King County located on the South Plains east of Lubbock. According to  ''Historic Ranches of Texas,'' Humphreys thereafter became "one of the major figures in Texas [[agriculture]] before his retirement from active management in 1986."<ref name= books>http://books.google.com/books?id=BVYLrXGCJYIC&pg=PA56&lpg=PA56&dq=Southwestern+Exposition+and+Livestock+Show+%2B+James+Humphreys&source=web&ots=W9QHOu4MdX&sig=-J36g-eryERCn8ecSQJp8ZcWopk&hl=en|title=''Historic Ranches of Texas|author=Lawrence Clayton|publisher=Google Books|accessdate=November 19, 2019}}</ref>​

'''James O'Neill Humphreys, Sr.''', usually known as '''Jim Humphreys''' (February 28, 1921 &ndash; June 9, 2007), was a prominent [[Texas]] rancher and the former board chairman of the National Ranching Heritage Center, an entity of [[Texas Tech University]] in [[Lubbock]]. For some two decades, he managed the large [[Pitchfork Ranch]], with headquarters near thinly populated Guthrie in King County located on the South Plains east of Lubbock. According to  ''Historic Ranches of Texas,'' Humphreys thereafter became "one of the major figures in Texas [[agriculture]] before his retirement from active management in 1986."<ref name= books>http://books.google.com/books?id=BVYLrXGCJYIC&pg=PA56&lpg=PA56&dq=Southwestern+Exposition+and+Livestock+Show+%2B+James+Humphreys&source=web&ots=W9QHOu4MdX&sig=-J36g-eryERCn8ecSQJp8ZcWopk&hl=en|title=''Historic Ranches of Texas|author=Lawrence Clayton|publisher=Google Books|accessdate=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

 

==Background==

==Background==

Humphreys was born in [[Kansas City]], [[Missouri]], to T. J. and Edna Humphreys. In 1940, he launched his studies at Texas Tech but was sidelined by service in the [[United States Army]] Medical Corps during [[World War II]]. He served with the 34th Infantry Division in [[Great Britain]], [[North Africa]], and [[Italy]].<ref name=find>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5420/is_200707/ai_n21291525|title=Honorary Director Jim Humphreys Dies|publisher=''The Cattleman''|date=July 2007|accessdate=November 19, 2019}}</ref>​

Humphreys was born in [[Kansas City]], [[Missouri]], to T. J. and Edna Humphreys. In 1940, he launched his studies at Texas Tech but was sidelined by service in the [[United States Army]] Medical Corps during [[World War II]]. He served with the 34th Infantry Division in [[Great Britain]], [[North Africa]], and [[Italy]].<ref name=find>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5420/is_200707/ai_n21291525|title=Honorary Director Jim Humphreys Dies|publisher=''The Cattleman''|date=July 2007|accessdate=November 19, 2019}}</ref>​

 

In 1947, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in animal husbandry.<ref name=obit/>  

In 1947, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in animal husbandry.<ref name=obit/>  

==Career==

==Career==

After graduation, he joined the staff of Interstate National Bank in Kansas City but soon returned to the South Plains in 1948 to work at the Pitchfork. He was hired by manager [[Douglas Burns]] as the assistant in charge of domestic hog operations. He soon mastered ranch operations and became the sixth manager of the Pitchfork when Burns retired to Lubbock but continued to advise the ranch as a director of the parent company.<ref name=books/> On June 9, 1951, he wed the former Berneice Anderson in Creighton, Missouri.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/061007/obi_061007091.shtml|title=Jim Humphreys|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche Journal''|date=June 10, 2007; no longer on-line.}}<ref> ​

After graduation, he joined the staff of Interstate National Bank in Kansas City but soon returned to the South Plains in 1948 to work at the Pitchfork. He was hired by manager [[Douglas Burns]] to assist with domestic hog operations. He soon mastered ranch operations and became the sixth manager of the Pitchfork when Burns retired to Lubbock but continued to advise the ranch through his role as a director of the parent company.<ref name=books/> On June 9, 1951, he wed the former Berneice Anderson in Creighton, Missouri.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/061007/obi_061007091.shtml|title=Jim Humphreys|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche Journal''|date=June 10, 2007; no longer on-line.}}<ref> ​

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As ranch manager, Humphreys supervised the operation of some 165,000 acres and 113 windmills in King and adjacent Dickens counties. According to the ranch website, Pitchfork cowboys are known for the quality of their [[horse]]s, such as the  "Pitchfork Gray," a gray horse with a black mane and tail. The Pitchfork brand is of course in the shape of a pitchfork. The Pitchfork is a diversified agricultural business, with an annex in Jefferson County in southeastern [[Oklahoma]]. There have been major [[petroleum]] finds in the Tannehill sands area. The Pitchfork offers guided [[hunting]] for [[deer]], game birds, [[boar]], and other game. Farming has been expanded in recent years to increase winter grazing and grain production. The ranch has some 4,500 mother cattle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepitchforkranch.com/ranch.html Pitchfork Ranch|title=Pitchfork Ranch|publisher=The Pitchfork Ranch|accessdate=November 19, 2019}}</ref> ​

As ranch manager, Humphreys supervised the operation of some 165,000 acres and 113 windmills in King and adjacent Dickens counties. According to the ranch website, Pitchfork cowboys are known for the quality of their [[horse]]s, such as the  "Pitchfork Gray," a gray horse with a black mane and tail. The Pitchfork brand is of course in the shape of a pitchfork. The Pitchfork is a diversified agricultural business, with an annex in Jefferson County in southeastern [[Oklahoma]]. There have been major [[petroleum]] finds in the Tannehill sands area. The Pitchfork offers guided [[hunting]] for [[deer]], game birds, [[boar]], and other game. Farming has been expanded in recent years to increase winter grazing and grain production. The ranch has some 4,500 mother cattle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepitchforkranch.com/ranch.html Pitchfork Ranch|title=Pitchfork Ranch|publisher=The Pitchfork Ranch|accessdate=November 19, 2019}}</ref> ​

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When Humphreys retired from the ranch, he relocated to Lubbock. [[Bob Moorhouse]] (born in Texas in 1947) became the new manager and held the position until his retirement in 2007. Moorhouse is also known for his ranch [[photography]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepitchforkranch.com/meetbob.html|title=Meet Bob Moorhouse|publisher=The  Pitchfork Ranch|accessdate=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

When Humphreys retired from the ranch, he relocated to Lubbock. [[Bob Moorhouse]] (born in Texas in 1947) became the new manager and held the position until his retirement in 2007. Moorhouse is also known for his ranch [[photography]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepitchforkranch.com/meetbob.html|title=Meet Bob Moorhouse|publisher=The  Pitchfork Ranch|accessdate=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

In addition to his wife, Berneice, Humphreys was survived by a son, James "Jimbo" Humphreys, Jr., of Dickens,  rancher active in the National Cowboy Symposium, and his wife, Winona; three daughters, LeAnn Lawson of Lubbock, Jane Penman of New Braunfels north of [[San Antonio]], and Jean Trull and husband, Clifford, of Crosbyton in we Texas; a sister, Ann Blessing of [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]], [[Kentucky]], and one great-grandson.<ref name=obit/> Humphreys was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Randy Michael Lawson, a Lubbock stockbroker who was [[murder]]ed in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/122996/1996the.htm|date=December 29, 1996|title=The Year in Review|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|accessdate=November 19, 2019}}</ref> ​

In addition to his wife, Berneice, Humphreys was survived by a son, James "Jimbo" Humphreys, Jr., of Dickens,  rancher active in the National Cowboy Symposium, and his wife, Winona; three daughters, LeAnn Lawson of Lubbock, Jane Penman of New Braunfels north of [[San Antonio]], and Jean Trull and husband, Clifford, of Crosbyton in we Texas; a sister, Ann Blessing of [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]], [[Kentucky]], and one great-grandson.<ref name=obit/> Humphreys was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Randy Michael Lawson, a Lubbock stockbroker who was [[murder]]ed in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/122996/1996the.htm|date=December 29, 1996|title=The Year in Review|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|accessdate=November 19, 2019}}</ref> ​

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Services were held on June 11, 2007, at the First [[Baptist]] Church of Lubbock, where Humphreys was a [[deacon]]. Interment was at Resthaven Memorial Park in Lubbock.<ref name=obit/>​

Services were held on June 11, 2007, at the First [[Baptist]] Church of Lubbock, where Humphreys had been a [[deacon]]. Interment was at Resthaven Memorial Park in Lubbock.<ref name=obit/>​

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Humphrey's grandson, Matthew Humphreys (born ca. 1982), who grew up in Dickens, established a spur- and bit- making shop in Lubbock. Like his grandfather, he holds a bachelor of science degree in animal husbandry from Texas Tech but learned his craft primarily by watching his father, James Humphreys, Jr., when he was the manager of Guitar Ranches at Spur, Texas. The younger Humphreys also makes western trophies.<ref>[http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=140050206 MySpace.com - XX Silver and Steel - 25 - Garçon - LUBBOCK, Texas - www.myspace.com/xxsilverandsteel<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

Humphrey's grandson, Matthew Humphreys (born c. 1982), who grew up in Dickens, established a spur- and bit- making shop in Lubbock. Like his grandfather, he holds a bachelor of science degree in animal husbandry from Texas Tech but learned his craft primarily by watching his father, James Humphreys, Jr., when he was the manager of Guitar Ranches at Spur, Texas. The younger Humphreys also makes western trophies.<ref>[http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=140050206 MySpace.com - XX Silver and Steel - 25 - Garçon - LUBBOCK, Texas - www.myspace.com/xxsilverandsteel<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

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==References==​

==References==​