WILLCOX Cowboy Hall of Fame inductees
Ralph B. Kimble (126)
November 11, 1923 - July 12, 1991
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2020 COWBOY HALL OF FAME
They say country music reflects the American spirit. A good country song takes a page out of someone’s life and puts it to music. The lyrics to some songs do ring true. There is a current song out today that captures the life of Ralph Kimble almost exactly how Don, Ralph’s son, described his dad’s life. The words of the song are: Born here, Lived here, Died here. When I interviewed Don, his words about his dad were: Ralph Kimble was born to and died on the family ranch. Don’s description skipped the part about living so let me fill in the blanks.
Ralph B. Kimble was born November 11, 1923, to Charles and Sally Kimble, and yes, as a newborn he went home to the family ranch where he lived and worked for the next 67 years. He had one younger brother. His elementary schooling took place in the one room school house in Apache and he graduated from Douglas High School. It was in 1940 that he married his high school sweetheart, June Rhodes, and they had three kids, Larry, Don and Virginia.
Growing up on the family ranch Ralph learned to trap as a kid, went on hunts for mountain lions, and developed a strong work ethic in the process.
They said when Ralph was going on his first lion hunt, he slept in his clothes so he’d be ready the next morning. As a kid, Ralph had an entrepreneur spirt that he combined with his trapping skills. Ralph’s Grand-dad had told him if you are going to buy things you’ve got to make some money. So, what did Ralph do? He set up a trap line that he checked every day on his way to school. For years Ralph was running a trap line and saving the money. His bank account began to grow and grow to the point that when he bought a car, he paid cash. He could do about anything especially if he put his mind to it.
Ralph’s best friend was Ben Snure who lived on the neighboring ranch. Ben was a couple of years older but both went to elementary school in Apache and on to high school in Douglas. Ralph and Ben grew up together, raised their families and ranched side by side. Neighbors helping neighbors. When Ralph accidentally shot himself in the foot it was the Snures that came to the rescue. When the accident happened, it took a bit for Don to get his dad back to the house, but when he did, the first thing he did was call the Snures on the phone. Ben’s wife, Florence, answered and all Don said was Dad’s been shot and hung up. Well, it wasn’t long and here they came. Ben’s son, Rick, was driving his car and running about 80 miles an hour down the dirt road. They didn’t know how bad it was so Rick was in a hurry. They loaded Ralph in the car and headed for the hospital. I guess all’s well that ends well and life on the ranch went on.
Ralph liked horses and cattle and he liked to team rope. He never went down the road, but he was more than just a country roper. He and Ben Snure won second at the PRCA rodeo in Douglas. He roped with his son Don at a few rodeos and at a lot of jackpots. Ralph and Don went to a roping in Webb on Labor Day where Don won first with another partner but won second with his dad. The next roping they went to, Don again won first with another partner and won second with his dad. This prompted Ralph to ask, “Hey what would it take for you to win one with me?”
Ralph was a quiet man that didn’t cuss. Gosh dang, golly and darn it were his strongest outbursts. He was an honest, kind-hearted gentleman. Those who were around Ralph had this to say: “He was one of the nicest guys I was ever around. “I never heard Ralph say a bad word about anybody.” “He’s a fine man.” “A cow man.” A good cowboy.” “I never saw him out of sorts about anything.”
They say he never did age much and that where ever he went he could have a good time drinking a coke and eating Cheez-Its.
Ralph was a great family man that also loved his cattle, horses, team roping and his lion dogs. He was a good all-around worker and not afraid of hard work. He was a good neighbor and had a million friends. Ralph B. Kimble passed away on July 12, 1991.
Born here. Lived here. Died here.
Ralph B. Kimble…
Accepting on behalf of Ralph is his son, Don Kimble.