Douglas D. Bennett of Echo, OR passed away August 18, 2024, at the age of 91. Doug and twin brother Don were born May 8, 1933, to J.W. and Marie Bennett born on a cattle and wheat ranch in Winona, WA, the twins quickly followed the lead of their two older brothers Bill and Jack and the vision of J.W. and Marie continued. The four boys were soon spending countless hours on horseback in the rough Winona countryside learning the registered Shorthorn business. With J.W. at the helm showing cattle took center stage. The Bennetts started showing and garnering champions throughout the United States. It wasn’t long before these young Bennett boys were headed to Chicago in boxcars to exhibit the Grand Champion Shorthorn bull. This will set the stage for Doug’s life.

Doug graduated high school and served in the Navy for 2 years; in 1953 he married Gladys Hudson. With the GI bill and a growing family, Doug heads to Pullman to attend Washington State University. Upon graduation from WSU in 1960 he goes on to manage Lehn Brothers Hereford. During that time Doug purchases his first registered Herefords. He returns to Washington State to earn a master’s degree, teach animal science, and coach the livestock judging team. In 1967 Doug had the opportunity to join Howard Stone and manage Stone Hereford Ranch. He was able to continue to build his private herd with a unique agreement he had with Howard Stone. Stone Hereford became one of the premier Hereford operations both in the show ring and production sales. Doug utilized total performance records (TPR) and developed young sires by testing in Stone’s commercial herd and retrieving feedlot and carcass data. Stone Hereford Ranch had many ROM champions. Stone had Grand Champion bull in Kansas City with the Royal Saint who sold for $30,000 with 3/4 interest to John Mecon; he went on to be Grand Champion bull at Denver. Stone also had 2 Grand Champion carloads at the National Western in Denver.

Stone Hereford became the site for the All-American Hereford Field Day and brought together many top cattleman and youth from across the US. While Stone Hereford Ranch was thriving, Doug, Don, and Howard Stone established High Meadows Cattle Company in Wallowa, OR which Don would manage.

In 1976 brought the record setting dispersion sale of Stone Hereford Ranch with a cowherd selling for $2.2 million. The highlight of the sale was SR Big Arthur H201who brought $180,000 for ½ interest and sold to John Wayne and Louis Johnson of 26 Bar Ranch. On the conclusion of the dispersal, Doug & Don purchased Stone Hereford Ranch then renamed it to Oregon Hereford Ranch. And… Doug’s vision continued.

In 1979, Doug expanded by joining Sam Friedman to form Lone Star Hereford Ranch in Texas. Lone Star was quickly on the map with 2 Grand Champion bulls at the National Western in Denver as well as 7 Grand Champion carloads, and 2 Reserve Grand Champion carloads in Denver. The show program was strong with several champions at major shows. Doug’s mission was to produce high quality herd bulls to sell in their annual production sale as well as in Denver. Lonestar was one of the first herds to ultrasound yearly cattle for ribeye, marbling, and fat thickness as criteria for selection. These bulls included Star Mark 300C ($175,000 ½ int.), Star Mark Donald ET ($50,000 1/2int.), Star Donald 288D, Denver Grand Champion selling for $225,000. Then, Lonestar’s 335F became one of ABS’s top selling semen/certificates bull at over a million dollars.

Doug initiated many programs for youth which included the Texoma Beef Clinic and the Lonestar Heifer Futurity Show. The Texoma Beed Clinic brought over 700 participants to evaluate several classes of Hereford cattle. The Lonestar Heifer Futurity Show became a yearly event that provided an opportunity to showcase progeny purchased at Lonestar Hereford Ranch.

After the sale of Lonestar Hereford, Doug returns to his beloved Northwest and joins brother Don at Oregon Hereford. They dispersed the Hereford cowherd in the Fall to devote more time to their 4,000 head feedlot. Not ready to retire yet, Doug and Don purchased an Angus cowherd. They started selling bulls in Madras, Oregon with Greg Lechner forming many new friendships. In 2007 they sell the feedlot and a large portion of the ranch while retaining the main headquarters. In their final years Doug & Don reduced their cowherd to a few head and sold the headquarters to grandson Jordan.

Doug has also benefited the industry through serving in various leadership roles. He has served on the AHA Board, as president and director of the Oregon, Washington, N. Idaho Hereford Association (OWNI), as president of the Breed Improvement Federation (BIF) and as executive committee member of the Texas Hereford Association. He also won several awards including the 1994 Man of the Year in Texas Agriculture, Member of the Diamond Pioneer (an agricultural achievement award by Oregon State University) and was inducted into the American Hereford Association Hall of Fame in 2008.

Doug will be remembered for the profound impact he had on so many lives and all the friendships he made during his wonderful life.

Doug is survived by Ruth, Phyllis Bennett, Norma Bennett, Donna Bennet. Children: Doug (Kris) Bennett, Susan (Joe) Parks, Randy (Vanessa) Bennett, Mitch (Becky) Bennett. Grandchildren: Adrianne (Matt) Williams, Jordan (Betsy) Bennett, Alex (Allison) Bennett, Ty (Emily) Parks, Sam (Courtney)Parks, Ben (Kim) Parks, Monica (Scott) Warlick, Adam (Melissa) Bennett, Neil (Breanne) Bennett, Austin Bennett, Sophie Bennett, and Rachel Bennett. As well as several grand- grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by wife, Gladys Bennett, brothers Don Bennett, Jack Bennett, Bill Bennett and parents JW and Marie Bennett.