Herbert Conner

Herbert ?Herb? was born on January 2, 1931, and died on August 12, 2006 at the Bob Stump VA Hospital in Prescott, Arizona.  Herb was born in California where his father worked as a stuntman for Warner Brothers Studio.  Herb spent his early years happily playing around the studio property and going with his Dad to haul Jack Warner and Will Roger?s polo horses.  His family returned to Arizona where his father got a job as a cowboy on the Orme Ranch and Herb attended the 1-room school there.  Herb, a natural rider from the beginning, helped with the branding, moving and other cowboy jobs. His picutre was on the cover of Porter Saddle Catalog, holding down a calf during branding.  Herb went to work for Boquillas Cattle Company for Leland Larson. He moved to Seligman, Arizona in 1949.  Herb was on the ranch living in various camps, Pica, Black Tank, Keseha, Sixteen, Rose Wells, etc., for the next 21 years, including the 3 years he spent in the Marine Corps which he joined in 1951, during the Korean War.  While in the Service he helped put on the first rodeo in Kodiak, Alaska where he spent l8 months.  He returned to the ranch in 1954 where he continued to cowboy and rodeo when he could, always being a forked bareback and saddlebronc rider, as well as riding the ?rough string? on the ranch.  During the July 1955 rodeo he was riding saddle broncs. That is where  he met his wife, Virginia. In 1971 Herb joined the Operator's Engineering Union Herb was  preceeded in death by his Parents; Pete (JH) Conner and Alberta (Wheeler) Conner. Herb is survived by his son, Mark Conner of Dewey; Daughters; Reta Conner of Black Canyon City, and Julie Conner of Dewey, Arizona.  Herb has 3 grandchildren; Chase and Haley Conner and Brooke Martin.