CASPER — On May 13, the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame (WCHF) announced the 23 inductees for the Class of 2025, including five men from Sublette County in region 10. Representing Sublette County are Luke Algeroy “Al” Osterhout, Big Piney; Garland Swain, Pinedale; Jesse Earl Chase, Big Piney; Martin Wardell, Big Piney; and Gerry Dean Endecott, Pinedale.

Regional committees in 10 different areas across Wyoming researched and scored more than 50 nominations and sent the top picks to the WCHF State Board of Directors for a final decision. The WCHF State Board of Directors voted on the nominees at its annual meeting on April 26. The 12th annual induction ceremony will take place at the Ramkota Hotel in Casper from September 26-27.

The Pinedale Roundup will highlight each of the local inductees for the next several weeks leading up to a planned celebration beginning at noon on August 31 at the Sommers Homestead Living History Museum. Their biographies are courtesy of local historian Jonita Sommers.

Al Osterhout

In 1882, at the age of sixteen, Al Osterhout left his home in Wanship, Utah to work as a cowboy for Ed Swan in Big Piney.  He later worked for Daniel Budd and Hugh McKay. Al rode the toughest broncs and grew a reputation of “having a way with people and animals.”
For many years, he served as a foreman for the Big Piney Roundup Association. After many years of riding for Ed Swan, and Budd and McKay, Al decided to give up the wage and took up a ranch for himself. In 1894, Al married Sadie Budd. Al and Sadie grubbed sagebrush by hand and dug irrigation ditches using a team of horses and a Fresno Scraper. Al and Sadie had two children. Their son, Chester, was born in 1895. He was tragically injured in a horse riding accident and died at the age of eight. In 1899, they had a daughter, Josephine, who married Harrison Guio in 1920. Al was well known for being a master with a rope. Al would invite all the neighboring ranchers and hands to come to his corral where they would partake in a Dehorning Bee. The event would consist of gathering around 400 large calves in a corral, roping them and cutting their horns off. Al would then return the favor during dehorning season by showing up at each neighboring ranch to lend his help roping.  Several times each year Al and three or four hands would trail around 600-800 head of cattle from the homestead in Big Piney to Opal, Wyo. to be shipped by train to market.  They stayed at ranches along the way during this roughly 70-mile trail.  Following is an excerpt from an old newspaper clipping with no dates or publication information that was found in the Osterhout home: “Osterhout Makes His Last Cattle Shipment for Year!—LARGEST ANNUAL SHIPMENT IN HIS 43 YEARS OF RANCHING—Al Osterhout on Wednesday of this week made his last shipment of cattle from Opal to the Omaha market for this season. The last shipment includes 354 head, and will be handled by the Allen Dudley Commission company.” 
Al obtained and ran a prosperous ranch using hard-working men and horsepower. Every acre that was harvested for hay was done with horse-drawn equipment. His original Double F brand is the oldest in the Green River Valley which has never been sold or traded outside of the family. Al’s ability as a stockman made the Double F cowherd prosperous. During his time, market cattle consisted of 3- to 4-year-old steers that brought 2 to 3 cents per pound.
Al passed away in May of 1941 at the Kemmerer hospital following a siege of pneumonia, but a heart ailment was the cause of his sudden passing. He was 75 years old at the time of his passing.
About the WCHF

Formed for historical, cultural, literary, and educational purposes, WCHF’s chief goal is to, “preserve, promote, perpetuate, publish and document Wyoming’s working cowboy and ranching history through researching, profiling and honoring individuals who broke the first trails and introduced that culture to this state. WCHF plans to collect, display and preserve the stories, photos and artifacts of such individuals and anything else that will honor and highlight their contributions to our history.”