Guy Leslie Waggoner (September 21, 1883 – December 11, 1950) was an American rancher and business executive. He inherited one-fourth of the

Waggoner Ranch The Waggoner Ranch is a historic ranch located 13 miles south of Vernon, Texas, in north Texas near the Red River and Oklahoma border. Founded in 1852 by Daniel Waggoner, it is the largest ranch within one fence in the United States.

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

. Later, he owned the

Bell Ranch The Bell Ranch is a historic ranch in Tucumcari, New Mexico, United States of America. Owned by John Malone since 2010, it is one of the largest privately owned ranches in the United States. , Malone is the second largest land owner in the co ...

New Mexico New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...

. He served as Chairman of the Texas Racing Commission and later Chairman of the New Mexico Racing Commission.

Early life

Guy Waggoner was born on September 21, 1883. His father, William Thomas Waggoner, was the owner of the

in Texas.Gary Cartwright
Showdown at Waggoner Ranch
''

Texas Monthly ''Texas Monthly'' (stylized as ''TexasMonthly'') is a monthly American magazine headquartered in Downtown Austin, Texas. Founded in 1973 by Michael R. Levy, ''Texas Monthly'' chronicles life in contemporary Texas, writing on politics, the Natura ...

'', January 2004 His mother was Ella (Halsell) Waggoner. He had a brother, E. Paul Waggoner and a sister,

Electra Waggoner Electra Waggoner (January 6, 1882 – November 26, 1925) was an American rancher and socialite from Texas. She was an heiress to the Waggoner Ranch, one of the largest ranches in the United States. The town of Electra, Texas, was named in her hono ...

. They grew up at the

Waggoner Mansion The Waggoner Mansion (a.k.a. El Castile) is a historic mansion in Decatur, Texas. The sixteen room mansion was built in 1883 by the Waggoner Family. It was purchased in 1942 by Mr. and Mrs. Phil Luker. Location The mansion is located at 1003 ...

(a.k.a. 'El Castile') in Decatur as well as on the Waggoner Ranch.

Career

Waggoner inherited one fourth of the

. While living on the ranch, he served as Chairman of the Texas Racing Commission. Waggoner then purchased the

San Miguel County, New Mexico San Miguel County () is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,201. Its county seat is Las Vegas. San Miguel County comprises the Las Vegas Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also include ...

. In the 1930s, he built a 10,300 square foot

hacienda A ''hacienda'' ( or ; or ) is an estate (or '' finca''), similar to a Roman '' latifundium'', in Spain and the former Spanish Empire. With origins in Andalusia, ''haciendas'' were variously plantations (perhaps including animals or orchards ...

on the ranch, which still stands today. He became the Chairman of the New Mexico Racing Commission in 1939.

Personal life

Waggoner married eight times. One of his wives was Anne Burnett, the heiress of the

6666 Ranch The Four Sixes Ranch, stylized as 6666 Ranch, is a ranch in King County, Texas, as well as Carson County and Hutchinson County. Location The main section of the ranch is located near the town of Guthrie in King County, Texas. They wed on September 4, 1922. They later divorced. He had two children from other marriages.

Death and legacy

Waggoner died on December 11, 1950, at the age of sixty-seven. After his death, his two children sold their share of the Waggoner Ranch to their cousins. They also sold the Bell Ranch to Harriet Keeney of Connecticut, who later sold it to William N. Lane II, the Chief Executive Office of the

General Binding Corporation General Binding Corporation (GBC) is a business machines and supplies manufacturer which makes equipment and supplies for binding, lamination, and other presentation products. The company is part of ACCO Brands ACCO Brands Corporation is an Ame ...

. In 2010, it was purchased by Silver Spur Ranches, a ranching and beef company owned by John C. Malone.

References

External links

Picture of Guy Waggoner's house
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waggoner, Guy 1883 births 1950 deaths Ranchers from Texas People from San Miguel County, New Mexico Ranchers from New Mexico American business executives