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Chester A. Reynolds Award
Awarded in 2022
James F. Hoy
Dr. James “Jim” F. Hoy participated in and preserved the art and culture of the American West in a multitude of ways. Jim is widely known across the central plains as a folklorist and folk singer, and for his work preserving, interpreting and promoting cowboy folklore. He has authored more than a dozen books dealing with ranching and cowboy folklore. Growing up on a ranch in Cassoday, Kansas, Jim learned to work with horses and cattle and competed in rodeo events. Jim has also taught as an English professor and spoken as an expert on cowboy lore to academic institutions around the world.
A distinguished author, professor, and historian, he devoted much of his life to preserving and promoting the history and folklore of the Kansas Flint Hills. His academic interests included medieval English literature, Western American literature, Australian Outback folklife, and Great Plains folklore. He authored over a dozen books and numerous articles, both scholarly and journalistic. Some of his notable works include “Flint Hills Cowboys: Tales from the Tallgrass Prairie” and “Cowboy’s Lament: A Life on the Open Range.” He was also a founding board member of Pioneer Bluffs, a historic property dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Flint Hills.
In addition to his academic achievements, he remained a working cowboy all his life, often joining his son, Josh, and daughter-in-law, Gwen, to help out on their ranch, the Flying W in Chase County, well into his 80s.
Dr. James “Jim” F. Hoy participated in and preserved the art and culture of the American West in a multitude of ways. Jim is widely known across the central plains as a folklorist and folk singer, and for his work preserving, interpreting and promoting cowboy folklore. He has authored more than a dozen books dealing with ranching and cowboy folklore. Growing up on a ranch in Cassoday, Kansas, Jim learned to work with horses and cattle and competed in rodeo events. Jim has also taught as an English professor and spoken as an expert on cowboy lore to academic institutions around the world.
A distinguished author, professor, and historian, he devoted much of his life to preserving and promoting the history and folklore of the Kansas Flint Hills. His academic interests included medieval English literature, Western American literature, Australian Outback folklife, and Great Plains folklore. He authored over a dozen books and numerous articles, both scholarly and journalistic. Some of his notable works include “Flint Hills Cowboys: Tales from the Tallgrass Prairie” and “Cowboy’s Lament: A Life on the Open Range.” He was also a founding board member of Pioneer Bluffs, a historic property dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Flint Hills.
In addition to his academic achievements, he remained a working cowboy all his life, often joining his son, Josh, and daughter-in-law, Gwen, to help out on their ranch, the Flying W in Chase County, well into his 80s.
