Cowboy Conversations - April 29, 2026

BOOTS O’NEAL and TOM MOORHOUSE - with Moderator BUSTER FRIERSON94 year old Boots O’Neal, was born in 1932 in Clarendon, Texas, and is still riding today at the 6666 Ranch.  He started breaking horses for small ranches in 1947. He has spent almost 80 years in the saddle working for some of the largest ranches in West Texas.

From 1953 to 1955, Boots served in the United States Army. He worked in the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea on the 38th Parallel. He was trained as a demolition expert. He says this was the longest time he ever went without riding a horse.

Boots is currently employed by the Four Sixes Ranch at Guthrie, Texas. He has been involved in all phases of their cattle work for more than 30 years. He also holds a Texas Peace Officer’s Commission and in the past, has assisted with the security of the ranch.

Boots has received the “All Around Cowboy” award at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma,  the “Working Ranch Cowboy” award during the Texas Cowboy Reunion held in Stamford, Texas, the “Trailblazer” award during the Texas Rach Roundup held in Wichita Falls, Texas, the “Point Man” award from the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Waurika, Oklahoma, and the “Chester A. Reynolds” award at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in the Fort Worth Stockyards in 2023

TOM MOORHOUSE

A fifth-generation rancher and cowboy, Tom Moorhouse has dedicated his life to the land and livestock of West Texas. His long-standing commitment to stewardship, horsemanship, and traditional cowboy values makes him a fitting recipient of this prestigious award. Moorhouse’s career spans decades of work on historic ranches, including the famed Moorhouse Ranch, where he has played an instrumental role in preserving ranching practices that have shaped the region’s cultural and economic legacy.  Moorhouse's expertise in training and handling horses has earned him numerous accolades, notably being named All-Around Cowboy twice at the Texas Ranch Roundup in Wichita Falls, Texas. 

In 2005, Moorhouse was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, a testament to his significant contributions to the ranching industry.

​

Beyond his personal achievements, Moorhouse has played a pivotal role in preserving and advancing ranching practices. Alongside his family, he continues to operate the Moorhouse Ranch Company, maintaining cow/calf, farming, and stocker operations across West and Central Texas. His dedication to the land and livestock, coupled with his willingness to embrace progressive techniques, underscores his status as a respected leader in the ranching community.

BUSTER FRIERSON - FORT WORTH HERD ASSISTANT TRAIL BOSS.

Buster grew up  living the cowboy lifestyle in Roby, Texas, a town 65 miles from Abilene with a population of 416 people. . 

That early start led him into ranch rodeo, where real working cowboys test their everyday skills in the arena. Frierson has made nine trips to the Working Ranch Cowboys Association World Finals in Amarillo, earning accolades like Reserve World Champion Team in 2009, Top Horse in 2015 and 2020, and Reserve Top Hand in 2016, along the way.

He is a familiar face in western ads and television/movie productions.  He is now the Assistant Trail Boss for the Fort Worth Herd.  His friendship and knowledge with Boots and Tom will lead to spirited conversation.