King Ranch

This absorbing biography, written by Kleberg's top assistant of many years, captures both the life of the man and the spirit of the kingdom he ruled, offering a rare, insider's view of life on a fabled Texas ranch.

"Centennial series of the Association of Former Students, Texas A & M University ; no. 49." The story about America's largest and most progressive cattle ranch.

Covering 825,000 acres in the Coastal Plain and Brush Country of South Texas, King Ranch, established in 1853, looms large in Texas and American history. Since its founding by the energetic and visionary Richard King, it has indelibly captured for generations the essence of the American West. As Tom Lea asserted in his epic 1953 history, the spirit of the place “is alive in the land itself, in the far quietness of growing grass and grazing herds.” In King Ranch: A Legacy in Art, editors Bob Kinnan, William E. Reaves, and Linda J. Reaves have assembled a team of collaborators to present a beautiful, informative account of the ranch and its place in the artistic heritage of the region. Pairing original paintings by artist Noe Perez with insightful essays from curators Bruce Shackelford and Ron Tyler, this book celebrates the many ways “King Ranch culture” has enriched appreciation for the decorative, practical, and fine arts in Texas and the greater American West. Opening with a foreword by Jamey Clement, former chair of the board for King Ranch, Inc., and continuing with a brief introduction to the ranch’s history by Bob Kinnan, King Ranch: A Legacy in Art will heighten appreciation of the natural beauty and artistic influence of this legendary place.

"Centennial series of the Association of Former Students, Texas A & M University ; no. 49." The story about America's largest and most progressive cattle ranch.

The Caller-Times publishe this edition and it was widely distributed. The demand for more copies after publication was more than the newspaper could meet. This book is an attempt to supply that demand. In it are selected stories and pictures from the King Ranch Centennial Edition.

Beginnings, present development, and biography of the owner.

The King Ranch has been the subject of international fascination for over a century. Author Mona Sizer brings the great ranch's history to life in this warm-hearted story of love, passion, and power never before seen on this continent. Added to the story are terrifying tales of ancient ghosts that still imbue many of the secret places on the ranch with a sense of mystery and fear.

“Combines a biography of Kleberg . . . with the story of the postwar boom years that changed the King Ranch . . . into an international corporate agribusiness.” —Houston Chronicle Ranching on the vast scale that Texas is famous for actually happened at King Ranch, a sea of grass that ultimately spread its pastures to countries around the globe under the fifty-year leadership of Bob Kleberg. This absorbing biography, written by Kleberg's top assistant of many years, captures both the life of the man and the spirit of the kingdom he ruled, offering a rare, insider's view of life on a fabled Texas ranch. John Cypher spent forty years (1948–1988) on King Ranch. In these pages, he melds highlights of Kleberg’s life with memories of his own experiences as the “right hand” who implemented many of Kleberg's grand designs. In a lively story laced with fascinating anecdotes, Cypher both recounts his worldwide travels with Kleberg as the ranch expanded its holdings around the world, and describes timeless, traditional tasks such as roundup at the home ranch in Kingsville. Chronicling Kleberg’s accomplishments as well as his legendary lifestyle, which included friendships not merely with the rich and famous but also with Queen Elizabeth, who shared his love of horse racing, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in ranching and one of its most famous practitioners. “Cypher[‘s] easy conversational style makes life on a working ranch, the care and feeding of visiting celebrities and the field of international agribusiness both understandable and entertaining.” —San Antonio Express-News “Probably the best of what will ever be known of the inner Bob Kleberg.” —East Texas Historical Journal