Frank J. Buchman

Cowboy • Horseman • Writer

Kansas Cowboy Hall Of Fame Inducts Six In Class of 2015

For their lifetimes closely affiliated to the cowboy lifestyle, six individuals were recently inducted with the Class of 2015, into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame at the Boot Hill Museum, Dodge City, according to Kathie Bell, curator of collections and education.

The Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame at Dodge City recently included its Class of 2015 including (back) Gary Kraisinger, historian; Orin Friesen, entertainer; Oley Goodnight, cattleman/rancher; (front) Harley Gilbert, rodeo cowboy; Margaret Kraisinger, historian; and Lucile Peck, accepted for her late husband Jerry Peck, working cowboy.
The Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame at Dodge City recently included its Class of 2015 including (back) Gary Kraisinger, historian; Orin Friesen, entertainer; Oley Goodnight, cattleman/rancher; (front) Harley Gilbert, rodeo cowboy; Margaret Kraisinger, historian; and Lucile Peck, accepted for her late husband Jerry Peck, working cowboy.

This year’s honorees include Jerry Peck, working cowboy; Oley Goodnight, cattleman/rancher; Harley Gilbert, rodeo cowboy; Gary and Margaret Kraisinger, historians; and  Orin Friesen, entertainer.

Working Cowboy

Jerry Peck was born at Wakefield, on August 4, 1928, to Henry and Edna Peck and grew up breaking and riding horses.

In 1946, Peck started working as a ranch hand, and before long began his lifetime managing  the Big-4 Pasture, south of Junction City.

A member of the National Guard, Peck worked as a pickup man at local rodeos, and in the early ’50s helped drive Texas cattle from railroad cars in Cassoday, to area pastures.

Marrying  Lucile in 1955, they moved north of Skiddy, renting the 980-acre Ebbutt Ranch from the widow of 2012 Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee, Bill Ebbutt, and also worked cattle with 2014 Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee Dusty Anderson.

In 1976, Peck bought his own ranch, and continued to rent pastures, while working at Herington Livestock, serving as a field man until his death,  April 1, 2002.

“My dad was not a horse whisperer, but he was gentle with animals and knew how to earn their respect,” said daughter Gayle Fielder.

Cattleman/Rancher

Oley Goodnight was born at Ashland, to Olis and Iona Goodnight on October 29, 1929. Raised at Englewood, Goodnight and Shirley Franks were married October 5, 1952, at San Diego, where Oley was stationed.

After retiring from the Navy in 1954, Goodnight returned to Englewood, and worked for the Theis Ranch until 1959, when he leased a small farm as well as working land that had been in the Goodnight family for more than 100 years.

The Goodnight Ranch started a Hereford cowherd and later expanded to include a stocker feeder operation with large acreages of wheat and alfalfa, increasing ranch size with  purchase of the Claremont Ranch.

Goodnight has always had a love for Quarter Horses for ranch work, as well as  breeding,  training and racing Thoroughbreds.

Younger brother of 2002 Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee Don Goodnight, this year’s honoree is active in community and church leadership. Son Greg has taken over the ranch.

. Rodeo Cowboy

“The test told me I could be anything I wanted, so I became a cowboy,” said Harley Gilbert, born on June 7, 1934 in Busby, to Ermine and Iris Gilbert.

When he was 10, Gilbert began breaking horses, starting with one he had raised from its birth, and continued training horses throughout his life.

After graduating from high school in 1952, Gilbert continued ranching while pursuing his dream of being a rodeo bull rider. He was listed as one of the top 15 bull riders in 1963.

For several years, Gilbert worked with 2010 Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee, Sonny Worrell for Harry Knight, owner of the Flying A, as a pickup man. In addition to bull riding, Gilbert did some steer wrestling and roping.

In 1969, when his father died, Gilbert took over the ranch, but continued to rodeo professionally until 1974. After that, he competed in “old timers” events, and judged amateur and professional rodeos.

Historians

Both Gary and Margaret Kraisinger are descendants of Kansas homesteaders. Gary was born on November 6, 1939, in Hays, Margaret, his wife, was born on July 14, 1941, in Garden City.

The couple met in 1960 at Fort Hays State University and married in 1963. It was during this time they became interested in the cattle trails across western Kansas. Together, the Kraisingers have written two books on cattle trails.

The first one, “The Greatest Texas Cattle Trail 1874-1886,” was published in 2004, and the second, “The Western Cattle Trail 1874-1897, Its Rise, Collapse and Revival,” was published in 2015.

A third book, “The Fort Arbuckle Trail, 1867 – 1871,” is scheduled for release in early 2016. The Fort Arbuckle Trail located in Indian Territory funneled Longhorns into Abilene.

Margaret and Gary live in Halstead, where Margaret operates the Old Hardware Store, a business in a historic 1879 stone building.

Entertainer

Orin Friesen was born in York, Nebraska, September 1, 1946. Friesen is a cowboy of many talents as a radio broadcaster, musician, author, actor, lecturer and business manager.

Friesen  grew up as a cowboy, working with cattle and horses. He graduated from Wichita State University, majoring in broadcasting.

In 1994, Friesen started his first cowboy band, and has recorded 17 albums of cowboy music with the Home Rangers, Prairie Rose Wranglers, Diamond W Wranglers and Prairie Rose Rangers.

Friesen produced the Great American Cowboy at Carnegie Hall concerts in 2003 and 2004, and concerts in China in 2006. He also produced the radio special “Music of the Wild West.”

Currently, Friesen is  operations manager of the Prairie Rose Ranch and Chuck Wagon, curates the Silver Screen Cowboy Museum and is leader of the Prairie Rose Rangers.

Married to Becki Gardner, he raises and trains horses on his Rocking Banjo Ranch, having  worked many cattle roundups.

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