In 1900, William Orrin Rominger and his brother C.O. Rominger started their horse and mule business in the stockyards area of Fort Worth, Texas. Located on the Chisholm Trail (which stretched from Abilene, Kansas to San Antonio, Texas), Fort Worth was one of the most important livestock markets in those days. Fresh horses and strong mules were worth a lot to the men responsible for the great cattle drive. Charles Goodnight could hardly have driven the herds of Longhorns, Angus and Hereford had he not been able to have a readily available supply of fresh horses. The Stockyards Horse and Mule Commission Company, as their business was known, could handle 2,500 head at a time with auctions every Monday and Tuesday throughout the year. W.O. was the man to see when outfitting a trail drive, stocking your ranch, or winning a war. In fact his reputation as an accomplished horseman and honorable and ethical businessman led the U.S. Army to him in 1914. World War I was starting in Europe. WO, his brother C.O., and partner J.O. Hart contracted to provide horses and mules used by the American, English and French armies.

Back in Fort Worth the times were wild and exciting. People from many different lands and cultures were settling Texas. The towns and cattle yards along the Chisholm Trail were inhabited by a rough and tumble bunch of hooligans. Many a life was lost over Five Card Stud or winning the heart of a special lady of the evening. Cowboys, ranch hands and trail drivers of the day were accustomed to working hard, getting dirty and looking pretty rough, cleaning up only for those infamous Saturday nights. WO Rominger was a contradiction in this crowd, he wore a clean suit everyday with a tie and fresh starched shirt. His boots were polished and his hat was clean, uncreased and fresh out of the box (his trademark). He got a haircut and manicure weekly at the Stockyards Hotel Barbershop. WO and his family lived in an elegant home just south of the Stockyards on Samuels Avenue. Red velvet draperies hung from the 20 foot ceilings in his home adorned with European furniture, elegant winding staircases and a grand piano from Germany. For a special treat in 1914, Mr. Rominger organized a trip to New York city for his family and friends. Attired in the finest dress of the day, his party made their way around New York city in some of the first horseless carriages, dining at the famous Delmonico's Steakhouse, taking in the opera, plays, museums and the symphony.

In 1918 WO and a group of his fellow horsemen and cattlemen were called on to put a page in the history books. The Stock Show in Fort Worth, an annual event showcasing cattle, horses and various livestock breeds, had never made a profit. While the show brought people to town from all over, it had never operated at anything but a deficit. Late in 1917, show booster Ray McKinley, (then editor of the Daily Reporter and Sunday Ft. Worth News), suggested to Stock Show management an idea that led to the start of a competitive wild west attraction for the 1918 Stock Show. It was to be similar to the type that Buffalo Bill Cody was staging around the country. To work out the details, stock show Vice President Marion Sansom appointed a committee composed of livestock commission men, cattle and horse dealers to work with McKinley, namely, Buck Sansom, Stock Show Secretary-manager, Wad Ross, WO Rominger, JO Hart, Herbert Graves, Bob Tadlock, Ward Farmer. Tom Saunders reported that the results of the committee's efforts were presented at a meeting of the stock show directors and a discussion ensued to give the contest a name. Mr. Rominger suggested "Rodeo", pronouncing it Ro-day-o, a term given by Mexican cowboys for fun and games at the end of a cattle drive. Mr. Farmer asked how to spell it. The Chairman, Amon G. Carter, wrote "Rodeo" on the blackboard. Why, that's rodeo (he pronounced it ro-dee-o) Saunders recalled the reply by Farmer. So the contest was named "Ft. Worth Rodeo" with the latter pronunciation.

The first performances was inside the North Side Coliseum, built back in 1908 for livestock judging. A total purse of $3,000.00 was offered with two shows daily March 11-16, 1918. Contests included Ladies Bucking Bronco, Junior Steer Riding, Men's Steer Riding, Men's Bucking Bronco and Wild Horse Race (catch as catch can with no saddle). An estimated 23,000 people were on hand for the worlds first indoor rodeo. The Rodeo contest in addition to bringing the stock show into the economic black, also served to call attention to the new name for the show.

So today if you hear the word Rodeo and you are in California, it might conjure up thoughts of Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and the fine, elegant merchants along Rodeo Drive. In Texas it still means no-holds barred, snot slinging excitement and entertainment born in 1918 and still kicking today!

Just after World War I, Mr. Rominger purchased an 8,000 acre ranch in Bridgeport, west of Fort Worth. It was there he devoted all of his time and efforts to developing a large herd of Durham cattle on this vast expanse of rolling countryside. WO Rominger lived out the rest of his years at the ranch surrounded by family, friends and memories of a life that movies have been made about. It was on his Bridgeport Ranch in May 1926 that WO passed away while doing what he loved, working cattle. WO ROMINGER'S authentic AUSTIN TEXAS STYLE recipes commemorate and honor the memory of my great grandfather, his compadres and their life and times. We hope you enjoy these authentic Texas recipes and the lives and times behind them.

      Combining years of Texas food know-how
     with 3 centuries of Texas Ranching Heritage.

                         Strat and Lisa