Joshua Jaskson Ryon served in the 31st Cavalry in the civil war from 1861-1863 . Many years later, his son, T.J. Ryon moved to Fort Worth in 1883 and became a cattle buyer when the Fort Worth Stockyards first opened in 1887. T.J. purchased the first load of cattle that was brought into the stockyards by train. His son, Don Jackson Ryon Sr. was an auctioneer and earned the nickname “Windy,” his son, Don Jackson Ryon Jr., also known as “Little Windy” left Fort Worth during the depression in the 1930s at the age of 12.
He went to work for the Baccarache Ranch, owned by the Hearst family located in New Mexico. At the age of 18 he was able to come back to Fort Worth with the experience from working with the Hearst Ranch Vaqueros and other ranchers. After several years of rodeoing, he bought the Joe Edelbrock saddle shop. A few short years after that, he sold that shop and opened his own store, fondly named WIndy Ryon’s, in the Fort Worth Stockyards in 1944.