Edward Paul Waggoner (April 9, 1889 – March 3, 1967), born in Decatur, Texas, was an American rancher, and one of the three original heirs to the W.T. Waggoner Estate in North Texas. After forming the estate, Tom Waggoner appointed his three children, E. Paul, Guy and Electra, to the board of directors. He was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame posthumously, in 1991.
E. Paul Waggoner | |
|---|---|
| Born | Edward Paul Waggoner April 9, 1889 Decatur, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | March 3, 1967 |
| Resting place | Sherman, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Rancher, horsebreeder |
| Spouse | Helen Buck |
| Children | Electra Waggoner Biggs |
| Parent(s) | William Thomas Waggoner Ella (Halsell) Waggoner |
| Relatives | Electra Waggoner (sister) Guy Waggoner (brother) |
Early life edit
Edward Paul Waggoner, best known as E. Paul, was born in 1889 to Ella (Halsell) and William Thomas Waggoner.[1] Tom Waggoner was an infant when his father Daniel Waggoner acquired land south of the Red River near Vernon, Texas and started a ranch with a few hundred head of longhorn cattle and some horses.[2] At the time, the Red River separated Texas from what was known as Indian Territory; it was an area where the Comanche and Kiowa made frequent raids.[2] Tom was instrumental in expanding their land holdings into what became the sprawling Waggoner Ranch, the largest ranch under one fence in the United States. E. Paul had two siblings, a brother Guy Waggoner and sister Electra Waggoner. They were raised in the Waggoner Mansion (a.k.a. 'El Castile') in Decatur, Texas but also spent time on the Waggoner Ranch which was headquartered near Vernon, Texas.[1] Their horse program headquarters was referred to as Whiteface.[3]
Career edit
Waggoner inherited one-fourth of the Waggoner Ranch, known as the 'Santa Rosa' subsection, where he bred Quarter Horses.[1][4] An extension of his ranch holdings included 3D Stock Farm which was also home to Arlington Downs, a multimillion-dollar racetrack facility his father had built, gambling that parimutuel betting would be legalized in Texas; the latter of which did occur in 1933 but the law was repealed in 1937, and wasn't legalized again in Texas until 1987.[5]
E. Paul purchased Poco Bueno as a long yearling in 1945 from Jess Hankins at the Hankins Auction Sale in San Angelo, Texas for US$5,700.[6] The sire went on to win many halter and cutting competitions.[2] Poco Bueno sired Poco Lena, Poco Stampede, Poco Mona and Poco Pine, won many equine competitions in the United States.[2] Other national champions bred by Waggoner were Jessie James and Pep Up.
Waggoner was the owner of the rodeo grounds in Vernon.[7] In 1946, he led the first rodeo parade in the town.[7]
Personal life edit
Waggoner married Helen Buck,[1] and had a daughter, Electra Waggoner Biggs, who became a sculptor.[1]
Death and legacy edit
Waggoner died in 1967. He was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame posthumously, in 1991.[8][2]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Gary Cartwright (January 2004). "Showdown at Waggoner Ranch". Texas Monthly. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Jim Jennings. "Waggoner Ranch: 1994 Best Remuda Winner". The Quarter Horse Journal. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ "The Poco Bueno Story". January 16, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ The Portal to Texas History: E. Paul Waggoner with a Quarter Horses at Waggoner Ranch
- ^ Gary Jacobson (May 30, 2016). "A Last Hurrah For Texas Horse Racing?". Business. Dallas. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ "Poco Bueno". American Quarter Horse Association. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ^ a b Preston Cary, Vernon, Arcadia Publishing, 2013, p. 102
- ^ "E. Paul Waggoner". American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. American Quarter Horse Association. Retrieved June 24, 2019.