Thomas F. George, known to most simply as Tommy, was born in 1939 into a fifth-generation Wyoming pioneer family. His grandfather was Emanual “Crazy Horse” George, an early Wyoming Pioneer. One of three sons born to Fred “Buzz” and Joyce George, Tommy spent his early years on the Diamond Ranch in Albany County, where his father was employed. Ranch life shaped him from a young age, instilling a work ethic, horsemanship, cow sense, and respect for the land that would define his life.
When Tommy was a boy, he had to deal with the unexpected death of his father following a horse accident. In the years that followed, Tommy continued his ranching education by living and working on the Parks Ranch in Albany County and the Fitzhugh Ranch in Converse County, learning firsthand the responsibilities and resilience required of a working cowboy.
After serving his country in the United States Navy, Tommy returned to Wyoming and went on to work for the Sims Ranch, Krueger Ranch, and Dodge Ranch. From 1957 to 1966, he was responsible for haying, feeding, calving, and doctoring cattle. Feeding was often done the traditional way, with a team and wagon, reflecting the era and the skills Tommy had acquired as a young man.
Beginning in 1979, Tommy managed the Carroll Ranches in Albany County, overseeing all phases of the operation, including haying, calving, feeding, and doctoring. The Carroll Ranch was the largest and oldest family-owned ranch at the time in the county. During this time, he wintered yearling calves at the Carroll Home Ranch, a responsibility that required extensive attention to doctoring and many long hours on horseback.
In 1982, Tommy began working for the Joe Miller Ranch in Albany County, where he served as Cow Boss. Responsible for summering 9,000 head of yearlings, Tommy operated across northern Albany County and southern Carbon County, spending seven days a week rotating grazing, doctoring cattle in the pasture, processing cattle in the spring, and shipping them in the fall. His horsemanship and understanding of livestock management were critical to the success of this phase of the ranch operation.
Since 2001, Tommy has worked for the historic Vee Bar Guest Ranch in Centennial. There, he guided guests on horseback, drove teams of horses, and cared for the ranch’s string of horses, sharing cowboy humor and stories with visitors from around the world. At age 86, Tommy continues to work for various ranches in the Centennial Valley, still doing day-work on horseback in the spring, summer, and fall.
During Tommy’s life he has worked and learned from some old-time cowboys like Glen Emerson, Ab Irene, Elmer Irene, Roy Simms, Ode Emerson, Don Simms, Gordan Fitzhugh, George Dodge, Adli Parks, Guy George, and Buzz George. Likewise, he has influenced many cowboys working in Albany County today.