Bob Fudge was the real deal when it comes to cowboys. During his long colorful career Bob Fudge drove contract cattle herds from Texas to the Montana range, worked on several cattle ranches in Montana and later settled in Powder River Country in southeastern Montana.

History is blessed by the fact Bob was especially good at relating stories of what he'd seen and done throughout his time as a cattleman. Knowing the life he and other remarkable figures like him had known and loved was becoming a thing of the past, Bob had author James Russell spend the winter of 1932, handwriting notes that would become Bob Fudge: Texas Trail Driver, Montana - Wyoming Cowboy 1862 - 1933. Bob Fudge lived the American West of the late 18 and early 19 hundreds. Russell's book is fascinating reading with accounts of the era that anyone with an interest in cowboy life and historical times of the Old American West will treasure and read again and again.

Stories of life with the Indians, stampeding cattle herds, round ups and cowboys caring for their cattle as they trail them from Texas to the lush grasses of Montana territory along the Yellowstone range. There's nail biting excitement and danger around every bend, real true stories with lives lost. Cold, lonely winters and wildfires burning up the ground. Wild unbroken stallions and crossing flooded rivers. These things were all part of a cowboy's life in the Real Wild West. Bob Fudge and the others who drove those herds helped settle the northern states. They lived a true cowboy life and enjoyed every minute to the fullest.

Bob had for a time worked for a Frank Wilbur in Montana and they became great friends. Bob willed Frank's daughter Charlotte Wilbur Broaddus part of his ranch and the rights to Russell's book. Almost 50 years later copyright to the Bob Fudge Book was purchased by Walter and Ethelda Clark of Forsyth Montana who sold copies by mail order for over 25 years.

In 2002 Legendary Singer-Songwriter Ian Tyson released a CD album entitled "Live At Longview" and paid tribute to Bob Fudge with a song of the same name. The success of the CD and song "Bob Fudge" prompted many new fans to buy Bob Fudge: Texas Trail Driver, Montana - Wyoming Cowboy 1862 - 1933. Recently the Clarks sold publishing rights to Raymond and Diann Tucker of Fort Scott, Kansas, so they could insure the books availabilty to true cowboy and western culture fans for generations to come. The Tucker's commissioned another printing of the book with a beautiful new jacket by Designing Edge Graphics.

 Click image for larger view of book and cover.