Volume 2 , Issue 10

65th Freedom Rodeo's

Old Cowhand 2002 - Lynton Gerloff - Portions of this was written by Naomi Bilyeu and taken from the 65th Annual Freedom Rodeo & Old Cowhand Reunion Program. Lynton Gerloff, "Honored Old Cowhand of 2002", was born and reared in the Freedom area. It is here that he spent his entire life, except for the four years that he spent in the Air corps during World War II. He was born at the Gerloff home January 30, 1918 to Henry and Emma Gerloff. He has one living sister, Lillian Devine, and an older sister who died at a very early age. Lynton's mother died when he was only three, leaving his father (who never remarried) to care for the children. Henry Gerloff was a kind and patient man, and the children never seemed to want for the usual needs of young children growing up.

The Gerloff home and ranch have a history going back 109 years. In 1893, John & Margaret Gerloff, their son Henry, and two sons-in-law, B.F. Clinton and Marion Clothier, homesteaded land northeast of what is now Freedom, Oklahoma. John and Henry built houses side-by-side near Houston Creek and lived there for a number of years. Today, the two houses are under one roof, and the remodeled home is located on the same "spot" that Lynton has always called "home." From his living room window of this home, he enjoys the view of the Cimarron River Bluffs to the south, and the colorful Red Hills to the east.

As a young boy growing up, Lynton had a love for varied interests that he especially enjoyed. Horses perhaps, rated as a number one. There was a quarter-mile race track located just north of the Gerloff home. Usually, Lynton's Saturdays were spent visiting with cowboys and ranchers. Some of them would bring their race horses in early and camp under the cottonwood trees that surrounded the house. He recalls that he won his first bet (fifty cents) at this track on a mare called Gladys Reed. Looking back, he believes his love for horses and cattle was a trait inherited from his dad. He tells of a time when his dad went to Albuquerque, New Mexico to the State Fair racees with Jim Guthrie (who furnished the car), Babe Reil, and Harry Baker. There were also times when his dad would buy cattle and he (Lynton) would earn a little money by driving them home. He also remembers helping a rancher who lived north of Freedom, drive 150 head of cattle down Freedom's Main Street on their way to the Stockyards. Here they penned the cattle and waited until train time.

Other activities that he enjoyed as a young boy (and as he grew older) were quail hunting and sports --- expecially baseball. He tells of playing on different teams with Hank French and Stanley Whittet. He also played on town teams with the Morlands, Harths, Tarp Graves, Gloyd Lyons, and the Murray brothers. While attending Freedom High School, he played both baseball and baskerball. He was very interested in Vo-Ag, and was a member of the livestock judging team. The other team members were Gilbert Walker, Woodrow Wadkins, and Ray Lockhart. This team won several judging contests and won State two years in a row. He graduated from high school with the class of 1936.

When Rodeo came to town, the Junior Rodeo was a big event. At the first rodeo, he won money in the calf roping and wild cow milking contest.

War came in 1941, and Lynton proudly donned his Air Corps uniform. In 1943, he married Claretta Lewis. At this time, he was stationed in Savannah, Georgia. Their son, Gary, was born in Savannah in 1944. When the war ended, the family came back to Freedom. Once settled, he and his dad, Henry, formed a farming and ranching partnership. This partnership continued until 1957--- the year of his dad's death.

In 1978, his wife Claretta passed away. The following year Lynton & son Gary entered into a simlar farming-ranching partnership. In addition to the usual routines & duties of this enterprise, they also began raising their own race horses. They entered them at Raton, New Mexico, Remington Park, Oaklawn at Hot Springs, Arkansas, Sportsman, and Hawthorn in Chicago. Lynton tellls of going to Oaklawn to watch a colt run --- one that they had raised. The announcer there was actually making fun of their horse. He referred to the horse as "The Pride of Anthony Downs," since the horse had won there and at Rremington Park. Lynton says he had the last laugh, though -- , because the colt won, paying $85.00 - $24.00 - $10.00.

In 1980 Lynton married Bobby Sue Davis. Bobby has two daughters, Gail and Nicki. Gail and her husband Lynn Fitts live in Michigan. Their children are Julie, Jacob, and Jjerad Fitts. Nicki and her husband, Jay Hauser, and their son Jason, live in Kansas. Lynton is pleased to have this addition to his family.

Lynton is proud of his immediate family which consists of his son, Gary and wife, Vanessa, and grandson, Chance. (Gary's family lives across the road from Lynton and Bobby.) Other grandchildren are Lori and Randy King, and Josh and Amy Neese.

Lynton is to be commended for his contributions to various boards & etc. This included the Farmers Coop, District Board of SCS, G.O. Bond Board, and the County Fair Board. He served eight years as County Commissioner of District #2. He has been a member of the Freedom American Legion for 55 years.

Today, Lynton still checks on his cattle. The cows that he feeds make it through the winter in better shape than the other cattle on the ranch. He says, "You can't starve a profit into them."

Lynton has always been optimistic about his profession. He believes that if there is a loss in the feed lot, if drought occurs, or if the wheat is hailed out, it will somehow all work out okay. "We will find something to make up the loss," he says. Through the years, Lynton has been a loyal contributor to the staging of the Freedom Rodeo. He has worked at various positions and has always been willing to do his part. Now, this "cowhand" is a very interested spectator.

Lynton Gerloff is deserving of this honor. He is a decent man - kind and trustworthy. One can be sure that he, (like most people) has had many "bumps" along the way, but his determination, hard work, and a vision for the future has allowed him to see where he was going; and this time, we know he got there. He and his entire family are to be congratulated for their many contributions to this far-reaching community.

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