Thomas Lloyd Burnett (1871–1938) was a prominent Texas rancher who owned 449,415 acres of land and raised thousands of cattle. Born in Denton County, Texas, he was the son of Samuel Burk Burnett, owner of the famed 6666 Ranch, and Ruth (Lloyd) Burnett. Raised in Wichita County, Texas, he received his education at a private academy in St. Louis and the Virginia Military Institute.
Burnett began his career as a cowhand and wagon boss in Oklahoma, where he befriended Comanche leader Quanah Parker and learned the Comanche language. He served as a captain in the Spanish–American War in 1898. In 1912, after inheriting his maternal grandfather’s ranching interests, he established the Triangle Ranch in Wichita County, where he raised cattle and began oil drilling.
Over the next decade, Burnett expanded his holdings, acquiring several ranches across Texas, including the Pope, McAdams, Moon, YL, and 7L ranches. He owned 4,000 to 6,000 head of Hereford cattle and was a significant Iowa Park State Bank shareholder.
Burnett supported local rodeos and aided during the Great Depression by donating school lunches and helping struggling cowboys. He was married four times and had one daughter, Anne Valliant Burnett Tandy, who inherited his estate.
Burnett passed away in 1938 and was buried in Iowa Park, Texas. His legacy continued through his granddaughter, Anne Windfohr Marion, who managed the family’s ranches.
