Arthur Morgan Brown, III
Year Inducted: 2017
Kahuā Ranch | Hawai'i
Keauhou Ranch | Hawai'i
A Lazy B Ranch | Hawai'i
Born in 1927 in Hilo, Arthur Morgan Brown III was raised on Keauhou Ranch in Volcano. His father, Arthur Morgan Brown, Jr. worked for Keauhou Ranch until moving his family to Waimea in 1937. The family settled near the large pu’u behind Waimea town and the landmark hill eventually became known as “Buster Brown” after Morgan’s father. The Brown family established the A Lazy B Ranch in the late 1930’s and originally raised Angus cattle.
Morgan attended school locally until finishing his last 2 years at Thatcher, a boarding school in the Sierra Mountains in California. Upon graduating in 1945, he was drafted and honorably discharged in 1947 having served 2 years as an MP in the U.S. Army. Morgan then returned to Hawaiʻi Island and earnestly began his ranching career. He started at Kahuā Ranch with the cowboy gang. He eventually moved through the ranks to assistant manager under Rally Greenwell. Because of his upbringing, cattle handling skills were second-nature to Morgan, but he gained valuable lessons in how to work with people from Rally.
In 1954, Morgan’s father passed on and it was time for Morgan to return home and take up the reins of the A Lazy B Ranch. At that time, the ranch was running primarily Angus cattle in Waimea pastures. Morgan recognized the value heterosis and cross breeding would bring and became one of the first ranches in Hawaiʻi to import Charolais cattle from the Mainland. Morgan was an active member of HCA and served as the transportation chair for the Bull Sale.
In the late 1970’s, Kohala Sugar became one of the first plantations to shutter its doors. In a bold move, Morgan negotiated with Kohala Corporation to obtain former cane land that he planned to convert to pasture. This was unchartered territory and the learning curve was steep. Water systems, cross fencing, and working facilities needed to be developed. Livestock needed time to adapt to the new environment and create “cattle trails.” Eventually, the improvements paid off and the land became highly productive grazing areas that are still being used for livestock today.
Morgan was an avid record keeper. He maintained Record of Performance data on both of his purebred Hereford and Charolais herds. He partnered with University of Hawaiʻi’s beef specialist, Dr. Jim Nolan and the Animal Science curriculum at University of Hawaiʻi-Hilo. Morgan and his family hosted workshops in animal breeding, horsemanship and cattle production. Always a fan of youth development, Morgan was also a supporter of the Hawaiʻi County 4-H Livestock Club. Many members acquired their beef steers from the ranch, including a couple Oʻahu competitors – Bud Gibson and his son, Cory.
In addition to cattle, Morgan also had a passion for horses--roping horses, cow horses and race horses. He was a charter member of the Hawaiʻi Saddle Club that started the Honoka’a Rodeo. He was also one of the original founders of the Hawaiʻi Quarter Horse Association along with Jack Greenwell, Dr. Max Smith, Pinky Nolan, and Peter Baldwin. He sponsored several relay teams at both the Panaewa Racetrack, formerly known as Ho‘olulu, and the Paniolo Park racetrack. Some of his best-known jockeys included Paniolo Hall of Fame members Willie Andrade and Donny DeSilva. He mentored many of the community youth, freely giving his time and offering his horses for them to learn to ride.
When Morgan’s mother, Adele, passed in 1985, it allowed him the chance to relocate to the Mainland and pursue his love of cattle and horses. The A Lazy B lives on in Catheys Valley, California where Morgan and his family raise Beefmaster and commercial beef cattle and show Paint and Quarter Horses. In Hawaiʻi, A Lazy B lives on in the many people and organizations he encouraged and supported throughout the years.