Claude LeRoy Douglas worked as a newspaper man in Fort Worth. He loved the history of his state and wrote a number of books about it. He wrote a book on the Texas Navy, another on Texas feuds, and a history of the Texas Rangers.

In this book he set out to chronicle the history of the great cattlemen of Texas. Douglas had a dream team of advisors to help him accomplish that task. J. Frank Dobie assisted with the chapters on Shanghai Pierce and the other coastal cattle kings. John Mackenzie of Matador Land and Cattle Company gave him exclusive access to company records. Phil Maverick, John Hendrix, J. Frank Norfleet, W. D. Smithers and Erwin E. Smith also lent a hand. The result is a readable cattle and ranch history that spurs readers to build on the knowledge they gain from its pages.