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Clinta Blackard Williams was recognized by Texas Department of Agriculture for her family’s century-old ranch. Dorward Ranch in Borden County was founded in 1917 by Williams’ grandfather James Clinton Dorward and has remained in the family ever since.
In 1917, James Clinton Dorward purchased land in Borden County that would remain in his family for more than a century.
On Nov. 7, Dorward Ranch of Borden County was recognized by the Texas Department of Agriculture for being owned and operated by the Dorward family for 100 years.
“It means a lot to our family to have this recognition,” Dorward’s granddaughter and current ranch owner Clinta Blackard Williams said.
Williams began the process of applying for the honor three years ago by collecting deeds and other information about the ranch. She went on to have the application signed by Borden County Judge Ross Sharp and submitted to the Texas Department of Agriculture for review.
At the beginning of September, Williams heard from Austin that her ranch was going to be recognized during a ceremony in early November.
“It doesn’t just happen,” Williams said. “You have to apply. And your land can’t be owned or leased to anybody else outside of your family.”
During the ceremony, families across the state of Texas were recognized for their ranch’s histories.
“There were four families who had ranches for 150 years and 60 families who had their ranches for 100 years,” Williams said. “They told a short history about each person when they were recognized.”
Each family received a certificate and attended a barbecue lunch.
“It was so touching to see all of these families with the different generations,” Williams said. “You would look around and see the grandfather, the son and the grandson, and you could tell that they were generations.”
Previously, Dorward Ranch was owned by Williams’ grandfather and Williams’ mother Ophelia Blackard after him. The ranch has always had cattle, but other forms of agriculture have come and gone at the ranch, as well.
“At one time, my grandmother had a hen house,” Williams said. “There’s also an old cistern for collecting water, and we’ve had some land cleared for grazing. You can’t have a ranch without grazing grass. Over the years, you just do maintenance and keep things running.”
While Williams owns Dorward Ranch, she shares its operation with Frank Menix, who tends to its upkeep.
“He worked about 16 years with my mother and decided to continue on with me,” Williams said. “He just continues to do what he had always been doing, and it works for both of us.”
According to Williams, there are only three other ranches in Borden County that have received the 100-year recognition.
“The other ranches that received this recognition were owned by Joe York, Ralph Miller and Robert Gray, and they had the York Ranch, the Miller Ranch, and the Gray Ranch,” she said. “They were all family friends. When Joe York was still alive, I was a young bride. They had sheep and used that wool to make a blanket for my wedding present. In the corner of the blanket is the branding symbol from their ranch.”
Williams said that these family connections are important to the area’s history.
“Everything is connected in some way,” she said. “Without these families living in the area for so long, we wouldn’t be able to make those connections.”