Fort Worth is "the City of Cowboys and Culture"—and where the West begins. Its citizens highlight the Texas can-do spirit and the determination and compassion to make a difference, to be legendary. When Buckley (B.B.) Paddock persuaded the railroad to lay track west of Dallas, a city was born and so was opportunity. Cowboys like T.J. Ryon rode into town with their cattle. J. Frank Norris preached against the vices in Hell's Half Acre while Jennie Schueber tried to rally support for a free library. Feisty entrepreneurs like Ninnie Baird and John B. Laneri baked bread and sold pasta noodles. "Cowtown" also boasts such notables as Edna Gladney, who helped countless orphans find a home; the Clark brothers, who brought Texas Christian University home; and Claude R. Platte, who bravely served as a Tuskegee airman. These fine folks are just a sampling of Fort Worth's fascinating—and sometimes infamous—characters.
Emily White Youree is a freelance writer and editor with nearly two decades of publishing experience on both a local and national level. Joan Kurkowski-Gillen has written about the people and places of Fort Worth for more than 30 years. An award-winning journalist, her articles have appeared in numerous publications.