Real cowboys ride horses and work with cattle, but the dictionary has numerous definitions for “cowboy.”
Working cowboys who ride horses generally dislike and disagree with certain other dictionary wording.
That is “one having qualities as an aggressive, independent businessman; a romantic figure in folklore.”
Whatever Daniel Webster says, it really doesn’t matter. Steve Becker fits every definition of a cowboy completely.
“I grew up in the cowboy culture. Cowboys have always been my heroes. I’ve continually owned and use to ride horses all of the time,” Becker clarified.
No debate, the Buhler man is certainly a cowboy-at-heart.
Yet, likely he’s more commonly identified for his diverse life’s endeavors and achievements.
“I’ve never strayed far from my roots and still live on the small farm where I was raised,” Becker said on a recent Saturday.
He was seated at the antique roll top desk just inside the front door of his Becker’s Bunkhouse at Medora Junction near Hutchinson.
“This historic building has been my passion for many years, but I’m dispersing my cowboy collections,” Becker admitted sadly.
The registered national historic landmark was constructed in 1907 as the Ranson Hotel to serve railroaders’ overnight stops at Medora Junction.
“J.H. Ranson built the hotel when the Rock Island and Frisco Railways were to intersect in the community,” Becker said. “However, the building never achieved its intended potential when automobiles changed the role of railroads forever.”
Still, the first paved road from Medora Junction to Hutchinson in 1919 influenced development of the community. “By the late 1930s, the hotel was converted into a service station. It later included a grocery store and residence,” Becker said.
Today, Becker’s Bunkhouse is the only remaining original structure of Medora Junction.
“It has always been close to my heart, so I bought the building in order to preserve the history,” Becker said. “It was just perfect for my cowboy memorabilia collection which had outgrown the ‘man cave’ in my home’s basement.”
While this is a cowboy’s story, Becker was a practicing Hutchinson attorney after graduating from Washburn Law School in 1975.
“I returned to live in my family’s farm home at Buhler where I graduated from high school,” Becker said. “It worked out well with the country life near the city. Then I was appointed to be the district court judge which I served as for 26 years.”
His enjoyable service profession still gave time for Becker to pursue his cowboy-at-heart life. “There are only about 14 acres in my farm,” he said. “But it allows me to keep horses, a dog and be close to nature.”
Television was dominated by cowboy shows when Becker was a youth. “I’ve always been interested in everything to do with cowboys and started collecting memorabilia quite early on,” he said.
Among his vast collections have been saddles, hats, boots, clothing, horse vehicles, cowboy movie posters and much more.
“I attended auctions over a wide area, and if they had something I wanted I’d generally buy it,” Becker said. “This historic building located right on Highway 61 was just perfect for displaying and selling my memorabilia.
“I especially enjoy trading what I have with other collectors to see which one of us thinks we can get the best deal,” he added.
Envisions of renovating the former upstairs half-dozen hotel rooms into an eating establishment never completely materialized. “I have the booths and kitchen,” Becker said. “I hosted several biscuit and gravy breakfasts and cowboy meals for groups, but never did serve the public.”
When the new Highway 61 bypassed Medora Junction, trade at Becker’s Bunkhouse came to a near standstill. “I was only open Thursday through Saturday with a constant flow of visitors and customers,” Becker said. “Then it got so I’d set here all day and nobody would stop in.”
So, he has reluctantly dispersed much of his collections. “I was especially proud of my high back saddles many of them more than a century old,” Becker said. “They are gone now and about all I have left are small collections of hats, boots and other items.”
A miniature “Cowtown” Becker constructed with toy livestock, cowboys, buildings and trains remains intact as his personal “pride and joy.” Many communities in the state began as cow towns, he pointed out.
Mannequins were used for a number of revolving displays in the store with several including a gambler and Indian still in place. “They helped make the history come to life when visitors came in,” Becker said.
With some memorabilia merchandized to acquaintances, much has been sold at area auctions. “I don’t go to the auctions,” Becker said. “They make me sad selling my prized possessions, sometimes for less than I paid for them.”
Two booths are rented at a mall in Hutchinson for dispersing additional memorabilia. “I have the items priced right and they are selling quite well,” he noted.
While Becker’s Bunkhouse, former Medora Junction Ranson Hotel, will soon be vacant, the proprietor is intent on preserving the historic building.
“I haven’t advertised it yet. But when I do sell, it’ll be to somebody who appreciates the history here and will redevelop it,” he promised.
With two horses which he no longer rides and a pony for his granddaughter, Becker keeps his hands tied to the cowboy way. “I enjoy petting my horses, mowing the farm and being outside with my dog,” he said.
“Fortunately our daughter lives nearby at Sterling so we can be close to family,” Becker said. “I will never completely stop collecting cowboy stuff. My wife Sarah will just have to put up with my ‘man cave’ coming back home.”
“The Ol’ Judge” continues forever to be a cowboy-at-heart.