Graham Land & Cattle Co. founder ‘Doc’ Graham dead at 92

A legend in the beef cattle and horse breeding and racing industry has ascended to the greener pastures of Heaven.

Dr. Charles W. “Doc” Graham passed away at the age of 92 on Saturday, June 21 following a battle with cancer.

Graham, a licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, established the Elgin Veterinary Clinic as well as Southwest Stallion Station with the help of Dr. W.H. Cardwell after the former’s graduation from Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine in 1961. His practice became one of the pre-eminent equine surgical and reproductive centers in the United States and the breeding program saw the siring of many prominent bloodlines throughout the Southwest and the nation.

In 1976, Graham became co-owner of Heritage Place Sale Company in Oklahoma City, which helped reshape the commercial quarter horse industry in the Southwest as a premier auction house for racing stock.

Graham then purchased the former Harrell Cattle Co. feedyard in Gonzales in 1987 and rebranded it as Graham Land & Cattle Co., which has been serving South Texas cattle feeders for nearly 40 years and has grown to a capacity for 30,000 head with additional background for 15,000 more head of cattle. Graham also established Sunset Livestock Carrier Inc. in order to improve upon cattle transportation, making use of the nearby I-10 corridor.

As a leader for the Texas Quarter Horse Association, Texas Thoroughbred Breeders Association and the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, Graham was one of the leading voices behind the successful movement to pass pari-mutuel wagering for horse racing in Texas. His operations would breed 78 winners, seven stakes winners and earners of more than $1.4 million from 161 starters.

Graham would go on to be named an adjunct professor of the Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at his alma mater, the Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He received the 2013 Texas A&M AgriLife Distinguished Texan in Agriculture Award, the 2010 College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Outstanding Alumnus Award, and the 1991 CVMBS Outstanding Alumnus Award.

In 2018, it was announced that the new, Canyon-based Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory would bear Dr. Graham’s name.

Dr. Graham was the only individual to serve as president for both the Texas Quarter Horse Association and the Texas Thoroughbred Association. He was also the only person to be selected as Horseman of the Year by both associations. In addition to the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame, Dr. Graham is also a member of the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.