George Lane (1856–1925) was a legendary figure in Western Canadian ranching, known for his leadership, business acumen, and contributions to the cattle industry. Born in Boonville, Iowa, Lane began his adventurous life at 16, following his father to the Montana goldfields and later serving as a dispatch rider and scout for the U.S. Army. By his twenties, he became an experienced ranch hand and, in 1883, led a cattle drive from Montana to Alberta for Conrad Kohrs. His reputation led to his appointment as foreman of the Bar U Ranch in Alberta, where he demonstrated his leadership and earned respect as a “strict autocrat” among cowboys.
Lane became an independent cattle buyer and, by 1897, a partner in a successful cattle operation. In 1902, he and his partners purchased the Bar U Ranch, expanding his holdings to include the YT Ranch and Willow Creek Ranch. Lane ran 16,000 to 18,000 cattle and built the world’s largest purebred Percheron horse herd.
Lane’s influence extended beyond ranching. He co-founded the Calgary Stampede with the “Big Four” and welcomed the Prince of Wales to his Bar U Ranch in 1919. He was a key figure in several stockmen’s organizations and represented cattlemen’s interests in Ottawa.
Lane passed away in 1925, leaving a lasting legacy in ranching and Western Canadian history. In 2016, he became the first Canadian inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
