Pitchfork Ranch - Later Managers

Later Managers

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 (1895–1977), who served from 1942–1965; Jim Humphreys (1921–2007), who served from 1965–1986; Bob Moorhouse (born 1947), who served from 1986–2007, and Ron Lane (born 1969), whas has managed the ranch since 2007. Fencing of the ranch began in 1887, and oil drilling followed early in the 20th century. In the early 21st century, the Pitchfork 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.

Hermon "Babe" Oliver (July 17, 1920—February 3, 2009) worked for the Pitchfork Ranch for forty-two years. In 1960, he was elected as one of the four King County county commissioners, a part-time position which he held until 1976, when he was elected King County sheriff. 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, the seat of Cottle County, Texas. The Olivers relocated in 1995 to Pampa, the seat of Gray County, and then to Clyde in Callahan County in West Texas in August 2007. Oliver was survived by two daughters, Linda and husband, Jimmy Barton, of Clyde and Beth Watson and husband, Randy Watson, of Pampa; one son, Terry and wife, Linda Oliver, of Dumont in King County; nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Services were held at the First United Methodist Church in Paducah. Interment was at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Paducah.