brand. In 1912, Herbert L. Kokernot
purchased land and established the
Kokernot 06 Ranch, grazing top quali-
ty Hereford cattle on the strong grama
grass of the Davis Mountains.
Herbert L. Kokernot, Jr. continued
running the ranch and also started the
Alpine Cowboys semi-pro baseball
team. In addition to serving as Jeff
Davis County Commissioner for 65
years, “Mr. Herbert” gave five water
wells to Alpine, and endowed many
scholarships to SRSU. Chris Lacy,
grandson of Herbert L. Kokernot, Jr.,
now manages the 06 Ranch and is
part-owner with his sisters, Elizabeth
Winn, Ann Brown and Golda Brown,
representing six generations in the
ranching business.
Chris Lacy was born in Waco on
August 10, 1948, the son of Lawrence
Lacy and Mary Ann Kokernot, known
as “Koko.” Schooling was in Waco,
and he graduated from high school in
1967.
He continued to Texas
Christian University, “Not a good stu-
dent,” he recalls, but a useful line-
backer. He graduated with a BA in
Ranch Management, and continued
for another year on a business course,
finishing in 1971.
That same year he married Diane
Masters in San Antonio. Their two
children were home schooled through
12th grade. Kristin (born 1973) is
today the owner of Ellyson Abstract in
Alpine, and Lance (born 1974) handles
the hunting side of the 06 ranch and
works in investments in Boerne, Texas.
Diane, a talented photographer of
ranch life and particularly of quarter
horses, has won many awards for her
pictures and also gained a reputation as
a movie scout.
As a city boy, Lacy faced problems
of being accepted by the 06 cowboys
when his grandfather made him ranch
manager in 1973. He had to earn their
respect, and he did so the hard way – in
the saddle working the cattle and doing
routine cowboy chores. His grandfa-
ther was “always there for him,” he
says. Later, with his three sisters, he
became joint owner.
Forty years on, the 06 Ranch is pre-
eminent in the region, raising and sell-
ing cattle, offering trophy hunting to
serious hunters, and working quarter
horses. Lacy and Diane divorced, and
in 2010 he married Dawn Gill, of dairy
farming stock in Wisconsin. They live
on Limpia Creek near Wild Rose Pass.
In a modest way and with a ready
smile, Lacy reflects on what is needed
today to be a successful rancher. “You
can make a living, but watch what you
spend. Fencing costs $20,000 a mile.
The market fluctuates, but you can
make it. Rain is vital.” 2011 was a dis-
astrous year: two-thirds of the 06 stock
had to be sold. Normally, the 06
Ranch, with the advantage of size, has
more options for moving cattle around
to best advantage. This year, beef
prices are up. “All I do is to better the
place,” Lacy adds.
Like his grandfather before him,
Lacy has numerous professional and
local responsibilities: director of beef
industry associations and, previously,
Jeff Davis County Commissioner.
There is not much time left for time in
the saddle, perhaps one day a week.
Running a ranch is like running any
large business with multiple complexi-
ties, but more complicated due to the
weather factor. “You need to anticipate
Cenizo
problems,” Lacy says, “and watch out
for the government.”
Lacy, relaxed and courteous in man-
ner, continues with reflections on
ranching life. “Cowboying is still a liv-
ing. I let my cowboys do the job their
way. Only a horse will get you to the
beef. Don’t stress the cows.” There are
no helicopters during round ups.
Instead, the 06 does the twice-yearly
roundups, for branding and for selling,
the traditional way: 15 to 17 cowboys
sleep in teepees and eat off the chuck
wagon for up to a month, with a remu-
da of 100 horses.
With excellent Hereford cows,
many acres of good grass and working
cowboys who can’t wait to be picked
for round up, the 06 Ranch is in com-
petent hands. His Kokernot ancestors
would approve of Chris Lacy. Joel
Nelson, local ranch partner, cowboy
and cowboy poet, who first worked for
the 06 Ranch in 1970, says: “I have
never worked for a better man.”
First Quarter 2016
13