Alfred Barby from Meade was inducted into the Hall of Fame as the cattleman/rancher for 2008.

Barby was born in Oklahoma in 1915. He graduated from Dodge City Commercial Business College, then worked for Robbins Ranch Company as a foreman and bookkeeper for 15 years.

Barby purchased the W Long Ranch south of Meade and joined his family’s ranching operations. In 1971, he bought part of a ranch near Ashland and ran as many as 2,000 head of cattle on more than 30,000 acres.

Barby’s first wife, Dorothy Allen, passed away. In 1958, he married Gwenda Lea Wheeler. He also had two sons and a daughter.

He was a member of many organizations, including the Kansas Livestock Association, the Texas Southwest Cattle Raisers Association, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, the Meade County Fair Board and the American and Kansas Hereford Associations.

Barby served on the Kansas Livestock Association board of directors. He received the Meade County Western Heritage Award in 1999 and the KLA Cattleman of the Century Award.

Gwenda died Dec. 4, 2001, in Meade. Barby passed away Oct. 2, 2005, in Laverne, Okla., at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered by many.