.png)
John E. "Cowboy Jack" Steinmitz
Dodge City, KS
John E. "Cowboy Jack" Steinmitz was born in Hertha, KS to John E. and Anna Elizabeth (Torreyson) Steinmitz on October 21, 1920. At the age of 12 he began his career in the cattle industry. Jack started as a check-in boy after school at the Parsons auction market where he continued until 1945 when he moved to Kansas City. Jack began traveling the state with Walter Jarbo. Walter bought cows and bulls for a meat packing plant and some light cattle for himself or on order. Jack was attracted to Walter because he did "big business," Walter handled lots of cattle and that meant lots of money. Jack began buying killing cows and bulls for Walter and trading an occasional load of calves for himself.
Jack was convinced early in life that the auction market was the best way to sell cattle. Large numbers of cattle sorted into uniform bunches, and offered to many different buyers which would ensure the highest possible prices. Two of the auction markets he found most intriguing were those of Amarillo, Texas and Dodge City, Kansas.
By today's standards, $5,200 a year may not sound very appealing, but in 1947 things were different. You could by a three-bedroom home for under $7,000, a new Ford for $1,000, gas for that car at $0.23 a gallon and the average income was $3,031 a year. Since that day in 1947, Jack, soon known as "Cowboy Jack" oversaw the marketing of 11 1/2 million cattle which represents over $2.5 billion in gross sales. Not bad for a young man that started as a dock boy in a small southeast Kansas auction in 1932.
Throughout Cowboy Jack's tenure Winter Livestock grew to be the largest independent cattle auction in America. By his example of hard work and dedication to true market discovery he led his team from selling an average of 175,000 cattle per year (1946-1955) to over 342,000 per year (1976-1985) and in 1986 sold 374,321 head of cattle. That takes teamwork, men and women working together following Jack's lead, putting the customer first and working hard to see that the customer and his cattle are taken care of.
However, most people knew Jack from his popular KGNO-AM daily 7:30 morning radio show, "Cowboy Jack's Market News and Views." Even after he retired, he wrote "Cowboy Jack Sez" for the regional High Plains Journal agricultural newspaper. When Jack's report came on the radio, the morning bustle across the listening area stopped and everyone paused to hear what Cowboy Jack had to say. He was an integral part of morning routines for decades.
Jack was a member of the Kansas Livestock Association and, in the 1950's, was a strong advocate in the effort to have the National Cowboy Hall of Fame located in Dodge City. Cowboy Jack was truly an ambassador for Dodge City and the cattle industry. He served as a member of the "Marshal's Posse" which rode in President John F. Kennedy's inaugural parade in 1961. In the early 1970's Jack was named Honorary Marshal of Dodge City. Jack was known for his kindness and contributions to the community. Neighborhood kids knew him as Santa Claus and he bought coats and shoes for children in need.
In 1943, he married Virginia Marie Graham of Parsons, Kansas. They had two children, John Steinmitz, Los Angeles and Lana Ross, Dodge City. He was also the proud grandfather of two, Tyler Ross and Sara Ross Kimbrel.
John E. "Cowboy Jack" Steinmitz died on June 6, 1999 in Dodge City, Kansas.