By: Ken Hughes

It must have been nearly 50 years ago on the “Cat Walk” erected over the Oklahoma National Stockyards holding pens, when as a young cowboy, I was home visiting my parents for a few days before school started. I had worked all summer on the Chapman-Barnard Ranch in Osage County, OK and thought that I would go to the Oklahoma City Stockyards and visit with some of the Commission Men and Cattle Buyers that had been to the ranch over the summer and pay my respects.

It was a sale day, I remember, because you could hear the Auctioneer chanting over the

loudspeaker in the distance and there was a lot of cattle movement below the “Cat Walk” going to and from the sale ring.  A pen rider was behind each selected bunch pushing them back and forth from their designated holding pens.  Truckers, farmers and ranchers were loading and unloading cattle. Also, some cattle had probably arrived by train having been shipped off the big ranches because frost was just around the corner signaling the end of the grazing season.  The “cat or board walk” as it is sometimes called was crowded with people visiting, trading and generally catching up on the news from other parts of the country.

As far as I was concerned the “Cat Walk” was the hub or busiest place in the entire stockyards city area.  As my Dad used to say, it was busier than the corner of 5^th and Boston in downtown Tulsa!  Suites, Bib Overalls, or Levis was the dress of the day and it was not uncommon to see spurred cowboy boots or dress shoes, but rarely would you see any tennis shoes.  Cowboy hats, either felt or straw, were the common chapeau as only a few baseball caps were worn back then.  Just like going to a doctor’s appointment or on an airplane trip, people dressed up to go to the stockyards even if it was only a fresh pair of starched Levis or a clean shirt! … no telling who you might see … even your banker!!

Well some 50 years later on a recent Sunday afternoon, I found myself again on the “Cat Walk” at the Oklahoma National Stockyards taking pictures for the brand new web-site of the Stockyards City Main Street program. That same afternoon I had the good fortune to meet and visit with a very nice young family from Hillsville, Virginia.  Some of the family members had just finished competing in the National Junior Bull Riders Association finals in Shawnee, OK. They had driven to Oklahoma City and were checking out the Stockyards, being one of the biggest in the Nation.  ……. But, that is another story in its self!

As the Helsabeck Family and I visited and looked over the “Cat Walk” railing observing the activity-taking place below, it became quite evident to me that not much had changed in 50 years.  Although, not a sale day, upon receiving the cattle, commission men were still sorting each animal by size, weight and gender in order to get the best price for their clients or customers. They were still trying to handle the cattle as easy as possible but occasionally there is still going to be that rank steer or protective cow that will come out of no-where and either put you on the fence or run straight over ya!!   Many a cowboy both young and old has learned to express himself vehemently, while being prodded in the rear end by an ole head butting, mad cow, whether she was naturally polled or blessed with horns!!

On my way back to the car, I cut through the Livestock Exchange Building and noticed a lot of changes are taking place!  The interior updating of the Exchange building is currently under way and as the picture shows, it all looks great!  Rob Fisher, President of the Oklahoma National Stockyards, has contracted to have the interior hallway ceilings painted.  The walls are being covered with durable vinyl wallpaper that gives the appearance of leather.  But the most nostalgic change, in my opinion, is the wood like material being used in resurfacing the floors!  It reminds me of the old “Historic” Exchange Building that burned in June of 1980 with its real wood floors and the wooden stairs that creaked and cracked.  I can still hear the sounds of boots throughout the building and see the scratch marks made from spurs dragging across the grain of the wood floor!  Yes, Rob it was truly time for change, nice selection of materials and money well spent!

However, the biggest change for me over the pass 50 years more or less, dawned on me after I got home and downloaded my digital photos to the computer.  The Helsabeck Family consisted of Richie, the Dad, Wendi, the Mother, and four attractive Daughters ages 9 to 17.  Farm raised, very courteous, school smart and Bull riders to boot!!  One daughter placed 6^th in the world competition and another daughter placed 12^th out of 400 contestants.  Tell me that Richie and Wendi Helsabeck aren’t proud of their family!!

                                                By:  Ken Hughes

Saturday, October 25, 2008, an estimated 300 individuals gathered at Little Joe’s Boots store in OKC’s Stockyards City for a pocketknife collectors dream.  The 2008 Case Knife Consumer Events Tour was co-sponsored by the W.R Case & Son Cutlery Company and Little Joe’s Boots, Inc. with Stockyards City being one of only 18 stops on this year’s national tour.

Joe Bass, local Case knife dealer, and Nick Clancy, National Sales Representative for Case Cutlery put on quite a show.  Collectors from as far away as Florida and Pennsylvania called or dropped by the store for a chance to bid on various tour knives, including the limited production knives and the one of a kind special roundup knife.  They even offered you the opportunity to have your own knife sharpened, cleaned and engraved by professional craftsmen. 

The history of many individual pocketknives can be traced back for generations.  In my family alone, one treasured knife was owned and carried by my grandfather and will have been handed down through five generations when received by my grandson.  These prized keepsakes usually show the durability by the wear and tear of each blade, either broken or sharpened to a point and a handle that is either cracked or chipped.  The manufacture and style of knife was important when acquired ….. but, the true value is in the memories, stories and character of the person who for many years carried and used the knife! 

I hope that next year someone from your family will be able to attend this exciting Stockyards City event and begin a family tradition by purchasing a Case pocketknife from Little Joe Bass! ….. he is the little guy with a big smile, thick mustache and a strong handshake! …..  GREAT JOB GUY’S!!