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Chester A. Reynolds Award
Awarded in 1994
George E. Martin
George Erwin Martin was born on October 28, 1905, in rural Valeda, Kansas, into a ranching family whose values shaped his future. He grew up working with livestock alongside his father and siblings, eventually forming a business partnership with his father and brother Harley to operate a stock ranch and farm. Those early years instilled in him a strong work ethic, an eye for cattle, and a belief that a handshake was as binding as any contract.
Around 1936, Martin left Kansas for Los Angeles, California, where he found work at the Union Stockyards. Within two years, he developed the skills of cattle buying—a profession that would define his life. He soon joined the Sterling Meat Corporation, marking the beginning of a long and respected career in the cattle industry.
During World War II, Martin served in the United States Army Infantry and returned to cattle buying after his discharge in 1945. Over the following decades, he worked for multiple major markets and companies, including Alpha Beta, California Cotton Oil Corporation, Luer Packing Company, Alakene Cattle Corporation, and the Jack Torpey Cattle Company. In 1965, he moved to Conway, Arkansas, where he continued buying cattle for Lewis Auction Barn for the next twenty years.
Martin earned a national reputation for honesty, fairness, and a flawless memory for livestock. Known among cattlemen for his integrity, he famously lived by the creed that his word was his bond—and that a handshake sealed a deal permanently. His reputation and contributions to the industry earned him one of the highest honors in the Western world: the Chester A. Reynolds Award from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in 1994. The award, presented to him by actor Hugh O’Brian, recognized Martin’s lifetime dedication to the cattle business.
His story was documented in the biography Handshakes and Heartaches: The Story of George Martin, Cattle Buyer, written in 1993 by his nephew, Gary Schaub. The book chronicles Martin’s hardworking spirit, colorful experiences in cattle yards and auctions across the West, and his unwavering commitment to doing business the right way.
Throughout his life, Martin remained connected to his Kansas roots, his family, and his values of honesty and hard work. He stands among the great cattle buyers of the 20th century—respected not only for his skill, but for the honor with which he practiced his trade.
George Erwin Martin was born on October 28, 1905, in rural Valeda, Kansas, into a ranching family whose values shaped his future. He grew up working with livestock alongside his father and siblings, eventually forming a business partnership with his father and brother Harley to operate a stock ranch and farm. Those early years instilled in him a strong work ethic, an eye for cattle, and a belief that a handshake was as binding as any contract.
Around 1936, Martin left Kansas for Los Angeles, California, where he found work at the Union Stockyards. Within two years, he developed the skills of cattle buying—a profession that would define his life. He soon joined the Sterling Meat Corporation, marking the beginning of a long and respected career in the cattle industry.
During World War II, Martin served in the United States Army Infantry and returned to cattle buying after his discharge in 1945. Over the following decades, he worked for multiple major markets and companies, including Alpha Beta, California Cotton Oil Corporation, Luer Packing Company, Alakene Cattle Corporation, and the Jack Torpey Cattle Company. In 1965, he moved to Conway, Arkansas, where he continued buying cattle for Lewis Auction Barn for the next twenty years.
Martin earned a national reputation for honesty, fairness, and a flawless memory for livestock. Known among cattlemen for his integrity, he famously lived by the creed that his word was his bond—and that a handshake sealed a deal permanently. His reputation and contributions to the industry earned him one of the highest honors in the Western world: the Chester A. Reynolds Award from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in 1994. The award, presented to him by actor Hugh O’Brian, recognized Martin’s lifetime dedication to the cattle business.
His story was documented in the biography Handshakes and Heartaches: The Story of George Martin, Cattle Buyer, written in 1993 by his nephew, Gary Schaub. The book chronicles Martin’s hardworking spirit, colorful experiences in cattle yards and auctions across the West, and his unwavering commitment to doing business the right way.
Throughout his life, Martin remained connected to his Kansas roots, his family, and his values of honesty and hard work. He stands among the great cattle buyers of the 20th century—respected not only for his skill, but for the honor with which he practiced his trade.
