Working Cowboy: Recollections of Ray Holmes

Recently retired octogenarian Ray Holmes has turned a hand to nearly every chore to be done on Wyoming ranches: haying, branding and herding cattle, breaking horses; he has worked briefly with sheep. Over three years, anthropologist Liberty taped his life story; she and Head, coproducers of the PBS documentary On the Cowboy Trail, featuring Holmes, offer an engaging narrative, a lively portrait of a cowboy. Chapters describing Holmes's life alternate with his commentary on such practical ranching matters as gear, dealing with ornery critters, training horses to adjust to humans and halters, calving, herd management. Holmes reminisces about the Depression years, droughts and blizzards. For him, cowboying has been a satisfying life. Readers will agree. Photos. (Mar.)