Harry Wilmot Drackert Papers

Harry Wilmot Drackert was born on December 23, 1904 in Pony, Montana. His parents were Charles Edmond (1875-1938) and Alice (Allie) Richtmyer Drackert (1887-1963).

Harry grew up in ranch country and by the age of sixteen was working the local rodeo circuit and attaining the finals of events he entered. He also ran track for his high school, Gallatin County High School, Montana, from which he graduated in 1924. After graduation he continued to enter rodeos, eventually becoming Champion Cowboy of America at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Drackert gained a reputation for being able to deal well with horses and people and eventually went to work for Grace Miller who ran the Elkhorn Ranch, a dude ranch at West Yellowstone, Montana. He also tried a stint as a cowboy in Hollywood and although he didn't become a star, he did work as a wrangler for western movie productions. Years later, in 1974, he was hired as an extra for the movie "California Split," a part of which was filmed in Nevada.

In 1931 Harry quit the rodeo circuit for good and moved to Reno, Nevada, where he was a riding instructor for Baker's Riding Stables on South Virginia Street; owned Town House Stables (1938) on West 1st Street; operated the Drackert's Stables at Brockway, Lake Tahoe (1940); and then managed the St. Francis Riding Club in San Francisco, California (1941). During the years 1941-1942 (and perhaps longer) he was a member of the International Brotherhood of Boiler Makers, Iron Ship Builders and Helpers of America and worked in San Francisco at one of the ship yards.

After World War II, Harry returned to Reno where he owned the Mt. Rose Guest Ranch. From 1945-1956 he ran the Pyramid Lake Guest Ranch which catered to easterners establishing their Nevada residency for the purpose of a divorce. Drackert began breeding horses in 1948, raising thoroughbreds and quarter horses for both racing and dude ranching.

Harry married Joan Abry Deeley in 1950. She had been his ranch hostess and continued during their forty-year marriage to be his both his hostess and manager in later business ventures.

After the Drackerts left the Pyramid Lake Ranch, they worked briefly as managers of the new Riverhouse Hotel and Bundox Restaurant on Lake Street and the Truckee River in Reno. In 1959 the Drackerts took over the operation of the historic Donner Trail Guest Ranch in Verdi, where Joan managed the business and Harry operated the outdoor aspects of the Ranch, including stock raising and racing. In 1970 the Drackerts suddenly lost their lease and were forced to move at short notice. Neither of the Drackerts was ready to retire yet, so in 1971 they became partners with Warren Nelson and his wife and purchased the Silver Circle Guest Ranch, which they sold in 1976. Two years before that sale they used their personal interest in the Native American crafts of the southwest to establish Indian Territory, Inc. at 130 North Virginia Street, Reno, where they sold quality Indian jewelry, baskets, pottery, and Navajo rugs. They continued to operate that business until 1986, when they finally retired.

In addition to his business interests, Harry was a director of the Reno Rodeo Association from its inception and president of the Association until 1968. He was one of the first members of Reno's Prospectors' Club.

Harry Drackert died on December 26, 1990.

Joan Abry Deeley Drackert was born at Morelands, the Abry family farm in Talbot County, Maryland, in 1914. She had two younger sisters, Phillis Abry Kaplan, and Betty Abry Arensberg. When Joan was thirteen, the family moved to Dayton, Ohio, and then in 1929 to Kansas City, Missouri. There she became an excellent trap shooter and by 1935 was entering and winning women's competitions. During that time, she spent summers in Evergreen, Colorado, where she learned to ride horses and fell in love with the west. She visited Santa Fe, New Mexico, for the first time in the early 1930s, beginning her lifelong love of both that city and its arts.

Joan returned to Maryland for a few years and there in 1938 began flying lessons. She received her pilot's license in July of 1939.

By 1940 Joan had moved to New York City where she a fashion model for the famous Powers Agency. Interestingly enough, although she was "in the Powers books," Joan characterized this modeling stint in her brief 1989 memoirs as an "unsuccessful stab." During World War II she worked at the Quarter Masters' Depot in Bellemead, New Jersey. She was also married for three years to Major Robert Emmett Deeley.

Joan moved to Reno, Nevada in 1946 in order to obtain a divorce (Harry had also been divorced). While establishing her Nevada residency she lived at the Mr. Rose Lodge and because of financial necessity worked there as well. The Mt. Rose Lodge is where she met Harry, although by that time Harry was managing the Pyramid Lake Guest Ranch. In 1947 and 1948 Joan was employed as a ranch hostess by John C. Fugitt, owner of the Donner Trail Ranch. Then she went to work as a hostess at Pyramid Lake. Joan and Harry were married in 1950.

During forty years of marriage Joan successfully managed three guest ranch businesses and a retail Indian crafts store. Joan's charm and skill as a hostess is reflected in the letters she received from appreciative guests and friends, who were grateful for her assistance in restoring their self-confidence and for turning an often painful experience into a restful vacation.

During her years on the ranches, Joan happily participated in the outdoor entertainment of guests, which included horseback riding and hunting (in season). In 1965 she was persuaded by Harry to try shooting traps again to help improve her duck shooting and loved it so much that she began to practice whenever her schedule allowed. She was very competitive and rose to the top of her sport to win numerous competitions, including state singles champion in 1966 and 1968, and ladies doubles in 1968. She was on the PITA All-Star Team in 1968 and 1969 and served as president of the Nevada State Amateur Trapshooting Association.

Mrs. Drackert's interest in art lead to her participation as a docent and board member of the Nevada Museum and Art. She was instrumental in that capacity in arranging a major Reno showing of the Durango collection of Navajo weaving in 1985. She was a member of several southwest arts organizations.

Joan Drackert died October 2, 1991.