So You Wanna Be a Cowboy?: True Events in the Lives of Jack and Marilyn Kirby

By Jack Kirby

This book is for all ages, from the age of following your dreams to the age of considering what to do with your life after retirement. It has lots of action, heartbreak, and humor and shows the love of family, as they all took part together in many travels and activities with their animals and family together, including off-road desert biking and car racing.

Marilyn and Jack are certain you will enjoy their experiences, written in short story events. Jack started his first business when he was a teenager. He then built their restaurants in El Centro, California, and later in Montrose, Colorado. He then followed his boyhood dream to become a cowboy.

You will read about some of their Cattle Drives, wrecks, and stampedes, as well as their later travels with their Clydesdale hitch across several states, from San Diego, California, to North Platte, Nebraska. It also covers many events in their lives after horses, as well as building their golf course.

This book is about my mom and dad, as it parallels Dads life as a young boy, businessman, husband, father, and grandfather. It also describes his ultimate dream of becoming a real cowboy. Join me as my dad takes you through twenty-four years of cattle drives alongside my mom, his lifelong friend and second-generation cattle rancher, John Pinch Taylor and his wife, Vera. At eighty-two years of age, this is his first literary endeavor. It has allowed him to re-live his real-life stories through the eyes of a cowboy, and was written in his own words.

Paul Guy Kirby, son

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449736538

Jack Kirby

JACK KIRBY is eighty-two years of age now and is looking for something else to do. He still works on three PGA tournaments a year. He has fond memories of all the different jobs that God has led him and Marilyn to after his dream of becoming a cowboy was fulfilled.

Book preview

So you Wanna Be a

Cowboy?

True Events in the Lives of

Jack and Marilyn Kirby

By:

Jack Kirby

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Copyright © 2012 Jack Kirby

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1-[phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. Th e views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily refl ect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Th inkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Th inkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4497-3653-8 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-3654-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-3655-2 (hc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012900311

WestBow Press rev. date: 3/27/2012

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

PART 1

Slowly Becoming a Cowboy

First Meeting with My Best Friend

My First Cattle Drive

My First Roped Steer

Most Moves Were Fun and Easy

How We Moved From Field to Field

200 Head of Our Own

Gifts for Mexico

Practice Roping in Arenas

Michael’s Invention for Moving Cattle

Lost Antique

Twelve Mile Move

Move from Hartman Williams Feed Lot

Another Move Down Highway 98

Haythorn Ranch: Ogallala, Nebraska

Rainstorm on Highway 111

New Calves on Sudan Grass

Marilyn’s Rodeos

Sugar Beets Pasture

We Took No Pictures

The Loss of Our Friends

The Lettuce Patch

A Wild West Lunch

A Steer Guest for Dinner

Lost and Found Horses

The Different Cattle That We Received

The Last Cattle Drive

PART 2

After 25 Years of Cattle Drives

The Trip of a Lifetime

We Found Our Hitch

Waverly, Iowa Auction

Our Three-Seated Surrey

Different Jobs for Tom and Jerry

Cheyenne Days

Cheyenne Parade Wrecks

Bill Coors and a New Harness

Celebrities

Weddings and Goodbyes

Fair Time

A Tribute to My Friend

Two New Tom and Jerry’s

Kirbyland U.S.A.

Marilyn’s Duck Named Dugan

Molly and Friends

The P.G.A. Tour

Hudson and Waterloo, Iowa

Helping Tim Kirby

Knotts Berry Farm

Buffalo, Oklahoma

Tragedy with Kaz

Our Family Ski Trips

Sailing the West Indies

Flying: Another New Experience

Mexico City Olympics

Nebraska: My Home State

Afterword

Appendix

About the Author and His Testimony

Local Information

Thoughts About the Authors and

So You Wanna Be a Cowboy?

You’ve heard about people who have lived interesting lives…and just when you think you have heard it all, along come Jack and Marilyn Kirby. They have done more in their lifetimes than most people dream of. I have known them for over 65 years, and they have tales to tell. The best part is that their stories are all true!

—Doug Harvey,

2010 National Baseball Hall of Famer and

Retired National League Umpire

Jack Kirby built an American dream on a handshake founded in honor and integrity and guided by his rock-solid faith in God and all things good. Jack’s successful business provided him with the resources to retire at 37 years old and then commit to a second career to fulfill his personal lifelong dream as a Cowboy. When he finally hung up this spurs, Jack hung his hat in a quiet, warm and loving home with his wife Marilyn at the Broken Spoke Golf Course and Resort in El Centro, California. The Spoke, is another of wonderfully successful venture that Jack built. Jack’s book gives us a unique peek at an America not seen in our modern day media. It’s the America of Jefferson, Washington, Daniel Boone, Charlie Russell, Roy Rogers, John Wayne, and every average guy next door who had a dream and worked to capture it. [The book] is a great read, about horses, cows, big wrecks, trail drives, cowboys and cowgirls and the American dream. Be ready to fall on the floor slapping your sides with tears in your eyes on one page and bawling like a new born calf on the next. It will bring quiet smiles and the big guffaws will boil up uncontrollably. It is truly an American tale of success you will thoroughly enjoy.

—Bob Candland,

Former Publisher/Owner of the Tombstone

Tumbleweed Newspaper in Tombstone, Arizona

and United States History Teacher

Jack Kirby, with his varied background, is a master storyteller. He draws on his experiences to relate his fascinating stories to us in his folksy manner. With his reputation in the Imperial Valley of California as a businessman and restaurateur, people are surprised to hear that he is also an experienced cowboy and teamster. His colorful stories give the reader a taste of what the Old West has become.

—Robert Duncan

It was my pleasure to have pastured 10 years in El Centro, California. During those years, I was able to experience some of the cowboy way of life. I never enjoyed anything so much as saddling up my horse and going on a cattle drive with the Kirby’s, Taylor’s, and other Christian cowboys and cowgirls. When we would arrive at the field with cattle that we were going to move, I would start wondering what was going to happen to us today on the drive. Then we would all go to lunch together, and we would enjoy each others’ stories of the day’s events. Yes, 10 wonderful years of my life that will never be forgotten.

—Roy Smith, Member of The Crew and Former Pastor

I always enjoy seeing Jack and Marilyn Kirby because we always have a good laugh. Their great attributes are a genuine interest in people and an excellent sense of humor. It’s what has kept them young and enthusiastic enjoyers of life. The world needs more people like Jack and Marilyn Kirby.

—Mark Russel,

Vice President of Rules and Competition for the P.G.A. Tour

I’ve been lucky the last ten years to be included in a group of friends who meet for coffee and nonsense every Sunday morning at our golf course. A local legend, Jack Kirby, is the senior member of our group and frequently directs the conversation by instigating the subject of the day’s subject or debate. As a retired judicial officer, I’m often the target of Jack’s dissatisfaction with our justice system, and I find myself required to defend decisions made by judges across the country that run contrary to Jack’s frontier justice philosophy. Of course, I found his attitude to be a little different the day he was a defendant in my traffic court.

Along with solving all of the world’s problems, we also hear a lot of stories from our group. Jack has had more experiences than any of us and hearing about his life as a cowboy, businessman, restaurateur, golf course developer, and civic leader has been fascinating. Stories about his famous Clydesdales, Tom and Jerry, are particularly fun to hear, and I’ve heard what seems like an unending supply of these tales.

Naturally, I was delighted when Jack announced he was going to compile some of his stories and get them published. Jack has been fortunate to lead a full and rich life, and we are fortunate to share some of his experiences through his book.

—F. King Kimball,

Retired Superior Court Commissioner

Jack Kirby is a great friend and I am so grateful I got to know him more on a personal level these past few years. He asked that I keep this memoir short and sweet, so I’ll try and honor his request.

Jack is a graduate of the great Central Union High School and he has taken much pride in his school. Jack has always been a strong supporter of all the activities connected with Central Union, but I know his passion is football. While I was a player in the 60’s, Jack was the man behind the scenes making sure our teams were well taken care of. I can remember later on as a coach when the teams would go downtown to the Cameo restaurant that Jack owned and operated, and we had a tremendous pregame meal with all the trimmings! In more recent times, Jack suggested that our football team run onto the field behind a Spartan on a horse to get the players, coaches, and fans all fired up! Boy, did that ever catch on and now our community has taken ownership of this new tradition that Jack Kirby made happen. Every Spartan fan asks about that horse and now when teams come to Central, they know about that Horse! Jack also had his Clydesdales that would perform in the Christmas parade and other events in and out of the Valley. Jack sure looked like a Happy Cowboy when he was with those horses!

I would sincerely like to thank Jack, Marilyn, and his family for being such an important part of what has made Central Union High the school that it is today—a school filled with pride, tradition and honor. Thank you Jack for being a friend and you are most definitely a TRUE-BLUE SPARTAN!

—Steve Evangelist,

Assistant Principal of Athletics at Central Union High School

In 1965, we accepted a call to the El Centro Church of the Nazarene as their pastor where we met the Kirby family. We became instant friends. Their book is about cattle drives. I was fortunate to go on a few and to ride a horse on the drag with Marilyn and Vera, of course. I would sing to the steers, Come on boys! Jesus loves you this I know, to encourage them to keep up. The other hands would laugh at my singing to the steers. I really loved those experiences. So much fun! I know you will enjoy their stories.

—Gwen (McGuire) Wright,

Former Travel Secretary to the General \

Superintendents of the Church of the Nazarene

When I was 10 years old, my father took me golfing for the first time. I soon found myself looking down the #1 fairway at Broken Spoke not knowing what to expect. The game was new and abstract to me, similar to a kid trying to tie his shoe for the first time. I hit a club (which I later learned was a 3 wood) 100 yards down the fairway and remember my father giving me an Atta Boy! Although this shot was my 1st shot ever as a golfer, I soon learned (after 10 balls) that it would be my only good shot of the day. As I envisioned this drive over and over in my mind for the next few days, I again asked my father to take me back out Broken Spoke. From that point forward, I was hooked on the sport.

My home course as a kid would have never been a reality without the efforts from Mr. and Mrs. Jack Kirby. Later on in my life would I soon recognize how the contributions of the Kirby’s would soon impact not only my outlook on golf, but other young golfers in years to come. As a current high school golf coach, I find my golfers learning in the same manner and scenarios as I did as a kid on the very same course, Broken Spoke. More astounding, the same efforts in youth golf are still in place as they were 25 years ago. In the current day, it is evident that kids, teenagers, and adults are showing how much a local golf course can impact one’s life through recreation and competition.

The Kirby family is to be recognized for their endless efforts in the development of our local golf community for over 25 years. When the idea came about in the 1980’s to build a golf course in the heart of El Centro, the Kirby family sure did Hit it on the nose!

I speak for the youth of today and in the future.. Jack and Marilyn, thank you!

—A.J. Escalera,

Boys Golf Coach and Teacher at Southwest High School

MARILYN AND I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO OUR CHILDREN,

GRANDCHILDREN, AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.

Paul and Terri Kirby

Th eir Children: Katie, husband Jordan, and Bobby

Wes and Caroline Kirby

Th eir Children: Nicole, Amber, and Amber’s daughter Abygail

Robin and Michael Martin

Th eir Children: Cheryl, Jeff , Taryn, Marilyn, and Taylor

Cheryl and Victor Pitones

Th eir Children: Zachary, wife Melissa, Alexandra, and Victoria

Jeff and Julissa Martin

Their Children: Angela and ReAnne

My Sister: Norma Richard

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These are seven of our nine grandchildren.

Preface

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always been a go-getter. If I wantedto do something, I went out and did it. In 1949, after I graduated from high school, I decided that I wanted to start my own business. I started a food distributing and manufacturing company. I had no money, just good companies that gave me credit. I had to convince suppliers to trust me, and that was my first hurdle. I was able to buy some pickles, mustard, and mayonnaise from a manufacturer in San Diego, and later, a 1949 Studebaker truck to make deliveries. That was the beginning of Kirby Foods.

My first sale in business to my first customer was $1.80 for two gallons of mustard. My fledgling company grew in sales extremely fast because of good products and good service. Later, a company by the name of Continental Food Service, a national company with general offices in Chicago, was buying up small companies across the nation. They approached me with an offer I could not refuse. I sold my company, Kirby Foods, to them in 1967, and I was able to retire. However, I decided to stay on as vice president in an advisory capacity for the Southern California division for the next ten years because I took a ten year payoff.

This book is separated into two parts. Part 1 is about my cowboy days. After retiring in 1967, I had a lot of free time. I was able to pursue my boyhood dream of becoming a cowboy, and with that came a lot of cattle herding, wrecks, and unforgettable experiences. Part 2 is about my post cowboy days. My wife Marilyn and I traveled the world and experienced its wonders. We also took part in different business endeavors. We had the time of our lives!

There are several reasons why I decided to write this book. The first being if you have a dream, go after it! Remember wearing a gun and holster around your waist when you were a little kid? And if you were lucky enough, your mom or dad would even buy you a cowboy hat and maybe some spurs to complete the outfit? Most kids, as they grew older, would change that childhood dream to one of becoming a fireman or a policeman—not me. My dream was to become a cowboy, and I made sure that I did just that.

I also wanted to encourage those who may be contemplating retirement or who may have just retired, that senior citizens are in demand for all kinds of interesting jobs. Don’t go home, sit down in a rocking chair, and start rocking. Grab a grandkid, take off to see the country that’s rich with historical landmarks; take them places they may have never seen. That old bucket is sitting there waiting for you to kick it.

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Jack-1933-Mason City, Iowa. This is where it all started.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the following people who helped make this book a realty:

To Mr. Whitney Cineilus, for writing down what I dictated. To Mr. Bob Candland, for editing my manuscript. To Robin Martin and Taylor Martin, for typing many of the stories. To Taryn Martin, for preparing the manuscript for the publisher. To Paul Kirby, for writing the Book Synopsis.

PART 1

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Slowly Becoming a Cowboy

My love for horses and cowboys probably started in the late 1930’s. My dad bought me a pony in 1937. We lived on ten acres of ground where the Ryerson Concrete Company is located today. It was east of town on the old Highway 80. My horse’s name was Tony. He was brown and white and about forty two inches tall. He had a very gentle disposition. I crawled all over him and he never kicked or bucked.

We had two cows that Stan, my brother, and I had to milk early in the morning. We had twenty head of hogs that we had to feed. We also had to feed the chickens and gather the eggs for Mom and then back to milking in the evening. Dad planted Milo Maze corn one year that we had to irrigate. When it was ready to harvest, we tied gunny sacks around our waist and then start at one end of the field cutting off heads of grain and putting them in the sack until they were full or too heavy to drag. We dumped the sacks in piles. Dad would pick up the piles of sacks and put them in