Volume 10 , Issue 34

Freedom, OK's 2008 Old Cowhand - Dean Wilson

We didn't make it back to Northwest Oklahoma last weekend for Freedom's Rodeo, Cowhand Reunion and Shootout. BUT... We read in this week's NW Oklahoma weekly newspaper, The Freedom Call, that Dean Wilson was the honored Old Cowhand this year (2008) at Freedom's Old Cowhand Reunion & Rodeo.

What we know of Dean Wilson from that article is that he married Betty Hackney, April 29, 1951. Both Dean and Betty worked for the Kamas Brothers Ranch; thereafter the young couple moved to Protection, Kansas to work for Betty's uncle, Lloyd Hackney. At this same time, family was blessed with the birth of daughter RoAnn and son Randy.

In 1954 the Wilson family headed to the Parker and Beely Ranch just north of the Kansas line and daughter Sharil was born.

From 1958 to 1961, the family worked the Gregg Ranch just southeast of Wimore, Kansas. There, Dean, enjoyed the kind of work he loved, but had a few more acres to ride. It wasn't all work. The family would stay busy with the birth of twins, Darol and Carol.

Finally in 1961, Dean rented 880 acres northeast of Mooreland, Oklahoma. He bought a cow herd, horses and a few hogs. While living in Mooreland, the late Darrel Eden approached Dean and ask him to manage the Freedom Propane Company. So in 1964 when the owner of the Mooreland acreage put it up for sale, the Wilson family gladly jumped at the chance to move back 'home' to Freedom.

All three of Dean and Betty�s daughters had been crowned Freedom Rodeo Queens, as well as serving as attendants. Even granddaughter Sabrina was crowned Queen in 2002.

Congratulations to Dean Wilson and his family from the OkieLegacy and McGill Sisters L&C Corporation (Dorthy & Linda).

If anyone out there has an extra copy of the <2008 Freedom Rodeo Program for the 71st Rodeo & Cowhand Reunion, I would sure love to have a copy. You can mail it to me: Linda Wagner, PO Box 619, Bayfield, CO 81122. Thanks!
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