Antime Joseph “Tony” Meloche was born in Quebec, Canada in 1837. He left home at the tender age of eight. He lived in Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas and California before coming to NM, where he worked for several years as a muleskinner on trains carrying supplies to Fort Union. In 1861, he went to work on the Maxwell Land Grant, then, in 1864, Antime homesteaded on the Una de Gatto Creek, a site now the location of the TO Ranch office.
The first two letters in “Tony” are the brand and the name of the ranch. In 1883, Alexander Thompson of Scotland purchased a half interest in the 480-acre ranch, while Tony stayed on as ranch manager for many years. By 1920, it had grown to 64,000 acres, and by 1955 it was 128,000 acres.
Records show the 1930s were dry and windy, but it was the decade the ranch developed a reputation for Hereford cattle. The 1940s brought a good deal of moisture, except for 1949. During this decade, TO Ranch steers were taking first place trophies and winning Grand Championships, winning shows in Denver, Dallas, Chicago, Omaha and elsewhere.
The decade of the 1950s was dry again. In 1953, TO steers won top honors at the International in Chicago. In 1955, Alexander’s son, Adam G. Thompson, who built the herd to prize-winning excellence, passed away at 67. His sons, Alexander and Adam, took over the ranch. Then, in 1958, Adam’s plane went down on a flight between New Orleans and Florida. He was only 36. The decade of the 1960s saw the sale of the ranch to Jack Renfro from Hereford, Texas for $3.5 million. He passed away in 1964, and 3500 head of registered and commercial Herefords were sold.
In 1964, T.L. Roach from Amarillo purchased the ranch. In 1978, he sold the ranch to Jim Whittenburg, also from Amarillo. During the 1980s, Mr. Whittenburg built more than 250 earth dams and improved the livestock water. Between 1984-1999, the ranch was leased to several operators who ran yearlings. In 1999, John C. Malone of Parker, Colorado, purchased the ranch. From 1999 until now, the Malones have worked to restore the original beauty of the land. They have doubled the acreage to more than 200,000 acres. Roger Long is ranch manager.
Now approaching its 150th year, the TO stands as one of the most respected and beautiful ranches in the west.
Participants in the 2012 Gate-to-Plate Beef Tour: Ranching Along the Santa Fe Trail, had the good fortune to visit the TO this year, where they were treated to genuine ranch hospitality as they toured the area.
New Mexico Ranch Life 