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Ranching for over 90 years in South Texas
James Oliver "J. O." Walker, Sr. (1888–1967)
J.O. first arrived in South Texas in the early 20th century from Louisiana. He had previously contracted malaria as a young man and his doctor encouraged him to move to a drier climate. He first came to San Antonio TX, and in 1910, followed his brother-in-law to Laredo.
After working a series of jobs, he became a foreman on a vegetable farm. He managed to purchase a hundred acres of farmland, where he and his wife, the former May Haley (1890–1975), raised their three children
After receiving a loan from The Federal Land Bank, J. O. purchased seven thousand acres for only $5 per acre, with which he launched the family ranching empire.
Gene Simeon Walker, Sr. (1926-2015)
Gene attributed his success to the realization that business conditions, no matter the field of endeavor, constantly change: "A lot of my contemporaries who didn't change as things dictated they sure didn't last very long. You ... have to be flexible and modernize and change."
Gene purchased ranches in 1995 in West Texas and in 2000 he purchased land in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. In 2000, total Walker ranch holdings exceeded 250,000 acres.
Gene also began using a helicopter to gather cattle from the brush. The helicopter greatly reduced the need for saddle horses and is still an asset to this day. He had his own airplane as well, piloted by his younger son, by which he could reach in just over two hours the two West Texas ranches in Jeff Davis, Presidio, and Culberson counties.
In 1988 as well as in 2003, Gene was named "Rancher of the Year" by two separate organizations, Borderfest and the Laredo International Fair and Exposition. “I get huge satisfaction from the work, and the reputation we have in the market," Gene said of his ranch life.
In 2014, six months before his death, the Laredo Chamber of Commerce honored Gene Walker as the "Laredo Business Person of the Year."
Partially soureced from:
Read: Gene S Walker Sr.
