American cattleman (1836-1929). Born in Macoupin County, Illinois, he moved to Texas where he worked as a guide and served with the Texas Rangers during the Civil War. Goodnight helped move cattle ranching across Texas and into New Mexico in 1866; he also established the Goodnight Trail and the New Goodnight Trail. He helped found the gigantic JA Ranch with John Adair -- 100,000 head of cattle on a million acres of land!
He crossed Angus cattle with buffalo to produce an animal called the cattalo -- a semi-domesticated animal that was much hardier and better able to survive freezing nights on the prairie. Goodnight remained a very powerful figure in Texas until his death and is still one of the more revered historical figures in West Texas.