Charlie Three and Eddie Wood. Col. Wood has cried the Y.O. Sales for 37 years.
Walter & Terr Charlie III, Joi Schreiner, Karol & Louis and Ch yce & Eddoe Wood, Griffin at the rissie Schreiner and son 1991 YO Sprin g Sale. ter Scott, Shahan, WalBall and J.W. py ap H ts n de TLBAA Presi iner, Jack Phillips, John Charlie Schre BAA Convention. Issacs at a TL
view. "It started out pretty small but has grown over the last 10 years. We've had everything from saddle sores to broken ribs, but folks keep coming back. They don't want to forget their Texas' roots either." The annual Y.O. trail drive continues to bring in large numbers of riders, all of whom learn about Texas Longhorn cattle. After Charlie Three's presidency was over, he continued to be an active force behind the Association and in the Texas Longhorn industry. Many Texas Longhorn breeders today got their start from the Y.O. herd or have Y.O. cattle in their pedigrees. Some were purchased at the Y.O.'s annual fall and spring production sales. The 28th Annual Spring Invitational Sale was to have been held May 12, 2001. In 1976, Charlie Three turned over the reins of the Y.O. to his sons. Although his son Walter managed the Longhorn herd, the older Schreiner continued to be actively involved. In 1985, the Y.O. and the Broken Arrow Ranches syndicated the great Bold Ruler for $2.5 million. A Butler-bred bull, Bold Ruler, was noted for his colorful offspring. Color was of interest to Charlie Schreiner. At one time, the Y.O. had worked on a system to predict color. "Just when we thought we had it figured out, a different colored calf would crop," he said. "We finally gave up." Schreiner didn't give up, however, on promotion and having fun. During the Bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence in 1976, he loaded an old Gatling gun, placed it on the ranch patio and celebrated by firing a few rounds. When the Y.O. celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1980, Schreiner delighted guests by sashaying into the ballroom astride a Longhorn. Eventually, Schreiner's foresight would pay off. He helped to establish the Exotic Wildlife Association in the mid-sixties. His mother had sold the first hunting rights on the Y.O. Ranch and set the standard for the Texas hunting industry. The first game hunts for pay on the Y.O. were for white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkey. Guaranteed hunting-no kill, no pay-originated here. But Schreiner looked further. He and his sons were not the first to have exotics, but they pioneered exotic game ranching, and eventually the hunting of exotic game supplemented their whitetail season. The Y.O. also offers summer wilderness camps. Hunting, the camps and tourism bring more than 20,000 visitors to the ranch each year. And, of course, they all become acquainted with Texas Longhorn cattle. In 1986, the Y.O. began offering 100-acre parcels for sale to
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people who built weekend homes. He sent invitations to 1,000 people to look over 75 100-acre parcels that were being sold from the Y.O. Ranch. It rained buckets that day. Roads were impassable and buyers were stopped at the gates, but Schreiner wasn't daunted. "Bad luck? Hell, we got 8 to 10 inches of rain out here," he said. Despite hunting, real estate projects including building the YO Hilton in Kerrville, Charlie Schreiner continued his involvement with Texas Longhorns. He and his wife, Karol, were founding members of the WR Cattle Company in 1991and he served on the first Board of Directors. The Texas Longhorn cattle that Charlie Schreiner saved for posterity continue to hold up their end of the ranch, but it is estimated that "people" account for 80 percent of the ranch's income. Somehow that seems to sum up Charlie Three's life: Longhorn cattle and people. "Charlie was a gentleman. He had a great deal of foresight for the Longhorn cattle. Without his knowledge and foresight, we wouldn't have the breed association we have today. He loved the cattle and the people. When you talked to Charlie about life and Longhorn cattle, you could see the sparkle in his eye. He was a great friend to Joyce and me, and we're gong to dearly miss him. He always treated us like part of his family. We loved him dearly."-- Col. Eddie Wood
Charlie Three delighted guests at the Y.O.’s 100th Anniversary Celebration by riding in on a Longhorn steer.