Cibolo Creek Ranch- One man’s dream of owning a Big Bend Texas ranch.
John Poindexter is a third-generation Texan, a military veteran and a businessman who lives in the Big Bend region of West Texas and in Houston. In 1966, John received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with Honors, from the University of Arkansas. Subsequently, New York University conferred a Masters degree in Business Administration in 1971 and a Ph. D. in Economics and Finance in 1976. He taught economics and finance as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Long Island University while completing his doctoral dissertation at New York University.
Following his undergraduate education, John volunteered for the U.S. Army and for Officer Candidate School. After serving as President of his class and of the Student Brigade at Fort Knox, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in armor. In addition to two Purple Hearts, John was awarded a Silver Star, the Soldiers’ Medal, two Bronze Stars, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star and several other decorations.
After his military service and a portion of his graduate education, John began a financial career in New York City.
He joined Salomon Brothers as an investment banker in 1971, but within a few years transitioned into private equity investment as a principal. Later, he became a partner at Smith Barney Venture Corporation, an affiliate of Smith Barney, Harris Upham & Co. Later still, in 1983, he became Managing Partner of two investment partnerships, KD/P Equities and J.B. Poindexter & Co., L.P., which acquired companies with aggregate revenues of more than $1 billion.
Today, John is the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and sole owner of J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc., a diversified manufacturing company headquartered in Houston, Texas. JBPCO has six profitable subsidiaries with revenues approaching $800 million and approximately 4,850 valued team members. The company is the largest producer in the world of commercial truck bodies through its Morgan Corporation subsidiary. Its Leer, Century, Raider and Pace Edwards brands are prominent names in pickup truck caps and tonneaus, an industry of which it also is the world leader. JBPCO’s Morgan Olson subsidiary is the largest worldwide fabricator of high capacity
delivery vans for UPS, FedEx and others. Through its remaining subsidiaries, J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. produces highly machined components for energy and industrial applications; limousines and hearses; and, engineered packaging.
John’s home, the 30,000 acre Cibolo Creek Ranch, is a popular resort and the site of three restored adobe forts and other historical structures built beginning in the 1850s by Hispanic and Anglo pioneers. It has been awarded three listings in the National Register of Historic Places, displays five Texas State Historical Markers and has received three national and state awards for architecture among other honors. The ranch is utilized by local and statewide cultural,
academic, business and civic organizations for meetings and other functions. On display is a wide range of Hispanic, Native American and pioneer artifacts as well as items recovered during the the restoration of the property. John actively directed the development of the ranch from 1988 and has written a book, now in a second edition, describing its history.
In West Texas, John is a member of the Director’s Advisory Council of the Museum of the Big Bend and was Chairman of its Development Committee. Also, John has served as a member of the Board of Visitors of the McDonald Observatory, on the Council of Overseers of the Jones School of Management at Rice University, and as a Director of the YMCA of the Greater Houston Area, where he was Chairman of the Financial Development Committee.
What did your military experience teach you that has helped you succeed in business?
I learned in the military the value of organizational structure,attention to detail and exercising great care in selecting your colleagues. In the military your were selecting subordinates in so much as it allowed me. organizational structure is
important and never more important as it is today because of the complexity of running business enterprise. Attention to detail is not always on someone’ list because we always think of ourselves as big picture people. But in fact the big picture is a sum of the details. Those of us who are successful care about the key details. And finally the selection of good colleagues.. No amount of care is too great in selecting your colleagues and subordinates.
What advice would you give young people today to be successful in business?
In choosing your business activity or business career don’t choose something that simply provides an income. Choose something that you are genuinely interested in or excited by. For me when I began in investment banking and later
in venture capital, I was not markets or logically oriented. When i began my career in leveraged buyout I really found myself wanting to excel and perform my job. Now later in my career I am far more fascinated with building and running successful enterprise rather than buying.
How and why did you end up buying Cibolo Creek ranch?
I believe the desire to own large tracts of rural land was an inherited genetic deficiency on my father’s side. When he retired from a large successful business in Houston he bought a couple of ranches in Arkansas. When I returned from my career in New York City as an investment banker and venture capitalist back home to Houston where I was born and raised, my priority was the acquisition of a ranch. I looked around the state and found nothing until I encountered Big Bend, where it was love at first sight Then it was really a question of choosing the right ranch and that was Cibolo Creek Ranch for many reasons. For me it was principally the weather, highway access, historical appeal and scenery.
What do you enjoy the most about Cibolo Creek and what should visitors not miss when they come there?
I enjoy the development of the place and the demanding role both financially and from a time standpoint . Guests get to enjoy tall the development of restored ruins, landscaping and lakes. Guests should pay careful attention to the buildings which have been restored to their historical authenticity. Also enjoy the horseback rides, ranch tours, messages and hunting.
You are known for your hunting. What type of hunts are available?
Most popular are the mule and white tail deer hunts. We also offer elk hunts as well as mountain lion, javelina, varmints, Morrocan mountain sheep and even buffalo. For bird hunting which is my favorite we offer guided blue quail, pheasant, chukar and white wing dove hunts. These can be very special.