Charles Randall “Tuffy” Van Patten

Charles Randall “Tuffy” Van Patten was born in Lander and grew up on his parents’ ranch. He spent most of his time in the saddle. He broke horses, herded cattle, and ran wild horses. Many of them become his saddle horses. As an adult, he worked for many ranchers including the Graham Ranch where he participated in roundups and trailing the cattle from the Sweetwater to Hudson to be put on the train to ship to Omaha or Sioux City. He also worked on the Scarlett Ranch on the Sweetwater and worked for Clarence Grieves before he became partners with his dad on a ranch in Lyons Valley. He later became a member of the Dubois Grazing Association. At age 65 Tuffy began to rodeo in the old timers rodeos, participating as a team roper and a calf roper. He qualified for nationals for a couple of years but then retired from rodeo. He enjoyed it but preferred to be working on a ranch. In 1978, Tuffy sold his ranch in Lyons Valley and moved to Lander, but during the summer months he would live in cow camp on Sheridan Creek and keep the cattle scattered and where they were supposed to be. He really enjoyed it there and spent the summers working and driving cattle until age 87. The owner who had purchased the Dubois Grazing Rights and had employed Tuffy for about five years became worried about his welfare on the mountain and would not send him back to the mountain job.