RANCH HISTORY
The Tee Cross Ranches got it's beginning under the ownership of Robert C. Norris in 1950. The famous Tee Cross brand was the first brand registered in the State of Colorado and is synonymous with quality in both its' Quarter Horse and cattle operations.
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Robert C. "Bob" Norris has a rich and prestigious history in the cattle, cutting and Quarter Horse world. Serving as the President of the American Quarter Horse Association in 1982 was the culmination of year's of service to an industry he loves so much. Bob is also a past president of the Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association and is currently still a member and Honorary Vice President. He maintains his ties with the National Cutting Horse Association as an active member and competitor and served that association as a director. He currently holds memberships in a number of cattle and cutting horse associations.
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Bob received the Record Stockmen Livestock "Man of the Year" Award in 1982 and the Colorado State University Livestock Leader of the Year in 1992.
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In 1999, the Tee Cross Ranches were nominated for AQHA's Best Remuda Award. This award recognizes ranching operations that have produced their own breeding program of outstanding Quarter Horses used not only on the ranch, but having produced quality horses used in competition around the world.
THE ORIGINAL MARLBORO MAN
Robert "Bob" Norris, the original face of the "Marlboro Man," founded Tee Cross Ranch in 1950. He paid $50 for the T Cross brand, which was the first registered brand in Colorado.
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Through the years, he developed one of the largest Quarter Horse and Hereford cattle operations in Colorado, and became an active member of the horse industry and a philanthropist in his local community.
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He served as president of the American Quarter Horse Association in 1982 and in 2011 he received the AQHA Legacy Breeder Award for ranches that have bred Quarter Horses for 50 years or more.
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He also served as a director for the National Cutting Horse Association and on the board of directors for the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
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In the 1960s and ’70s, he was the first face of the “Marlboro Man” and appeared in numerous advertisements for the tobacco company.
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And now, more than 50 years later and Bob in his mid-90s, family and friends continue to gather every year and at Colorado's Tee Cross Ranches for it's annual spring branding.
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The crew consists not only of experienced cowboys who work for the ranch or a neighboring outfit, but also local military families, friends from all over the United States and representatives from Roundup for Autism, a non-profit organization Bobby Norris started in 1988.
Thank you for keeping The Cowboy Way alive and well, Norris family!