John D Holleyman

John D. Holleyman, 93, passed away on May 12, 2013 at the family ranch in Corona, NM. He was born on January 7, 1920 in Sipe Springs, TX., the son of Lon Holleyman and Lennie Lillian (Denton) Holleyman. John D.’s parents moved to Mertzon, TX where he attended school from third grade until he graduated in 1937. During the summers of 1934-1936 he worked on the ranch for John Robert Scott, Sr.; after graduating, he worked for the Noelke Estate and later the McElroy Ranch Company. It was during these years that he started riding colts and learning to rope. John D. entered the Army Air Corp in November 1941. He was an airplane mechanic for the B-26 medium bomber for the 12th Air Force where he served as crew chief. He served in England, N. Africa, Sardinia, Corsica, France and Germany before returning home in 1945. After the war he returned to Texas and began to work for Joe Davidson in Ozona, Texas. He ran some cows and Joe paid him to train horses and rope. He sponsored him until he could make it rodeoing on his own. He roped in New York at Madison Square Garden in the fall of 1946 where he met Eva Mae Wilken from Ysleta, TX. They married on July 9, 1947 and have shared 65 years together. John D. roped in the Cowboy Turtles Association in the early years. He was one of the top ropers in the calf roping and steer roping during the 1940s and 1950s. Some of his top winnings came at Cheyenne, Kansas City, Tucson, Sidney and Prescott. His best finishes were third in the Rodeo Cowboys Association standings in 1949 in the calf roping, third in the steer roping in 1951, and fourth in the calf roping in 1953. He is still remembered as one of the top match ropers of all time. In the fall of 1956 John D. bought a ranch in Corona with partner, Walton Poage. They ran both sheep and cattle until 1970 when they sold out the sheep and became primarily a cow and calf operation. John D. and Eva Mae raised three children: Lois Ann (Holleyman) Ratliff, Karen (Holleyman) Kibbe and Lon on the ranch. John D. continued to rope throughout his life. He won many Old Timers’ ropings and team ropings. He won his last saddle in 1991 at the age of 71 and continued to ride until the age of 90. One of the more unusual times in his life was when he roped on the movie set in Santa Fe with Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart on a western movie in the 1970s; he later judged the National High School Finals for several years. John D. was a community minded man and generously served others as a member of the Corona Board of Education and as an elder for the Corona Presbyterian Church. He was awarded the Foy Proctor Memorial Cowman’s Award in 2004. “These cowmen are recognized for a remarkable lifetime spent at the careful handling of cows and calves, for their art and proficiency at this work horseback, and in recognition of the wisdom and distinction they acquired in a lifetime devoted to the business of cattle. They are honored for their example of talent, spirit, and character at their work.” John D. lifelong ambition was to be a cowboy. He was able to rope off a few good horses at some of the biggest shows in the country; he bought a ranch and raised good cattle. He realized most of his dreams in a lifetime spent working on his ranch with his son Lon and wife Eva Mae. He is survived by his wife, Eva Mae; daughters Lois Ann and husband Darryl Ratliff; Karen and husband Dwayne Kibbe; Lon and wife Alvina Holleyman; He has six grandchildren: Kasi Holland and husband Brad; J.D. Kibbe, Jodi Kibbe, Karen Ratliff, Heather Ratliff, and Meriah Holleyman; two great-grandsons Jordan and Derrick Holland. He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.