Forever a Cowboy

Longtime Old Agoura resident sports lots of Old West memorabilia



PHOTOS GALORE—Buck Wicall possesses thousands of photos of friends and famous cowboys such as Clayton Moore, who played the Lone Ranger on television in the 1940s and ‘50s as well as in two feature movies.

PHOTOS GALORE—Buck Wicall possesses thousands of photos of friends and famous cowboys such as Clayton Moore, who played the Lone Ranger on television in the 1940s and ‘50s as well as in two feature movies.

Buck Wicall is a young-at-heart cowboy who could give folks far younger than he a lesson or two about the keys to happiness.

Wicall has been a fixture in the Conejo Valley equestrian community since 1964, when he opened Calabasas Hay and Grain. And, for the past 25 years, he has owned and operated West Valley Horse Center in Agoura Hills.

Wicall built his home on a half-acre property in Old Agoura over 30 years ago, and little by little he bought adjoining pieces of land to house his horses and his collection of cowboy memorabilia. In addition to a saddle that was owned and used by former President Ronald Reagan, he also has paintings by famed western artists like Walt Larue and one-of-a-kind pieces of rugged, carved furniture that speak of Wicall’s love of the Old West.

At 82, Wicall continues his daily work at the tack store with his daughter, Adrian, and cares for his horses with a little help from his neighbor and friend, Deb Newton. Wicall’s oldest horse, 24-year-old Elvis, is the only one he still rides. His other horses are Chick, Boots, Hottie and her filly, and two miniature horses named Half Pint and Misty. Luanne, Wicall’s wife of 42 years, died in 2015. “She came into work six days a week,” and was the backbone of the business and the light of his life, he said.

His memorabilia collection also contains a who’s who of Western films. Photographs strewn on a table in the bunkhouse include those signed by Montie Montana, a trick roper, actor and stuntman, and Jack Roddy, a world-champion steer wrestler.

Other famous showbiz cowboys who were friends with Wicall are Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Slim Pickens and Clayton Moore, the Lone Ranger from the long running ’50s TV show.

Wicall, whose father died when he was 11, graduated from Canoga Park High School in 1952. He said when he was 17 he was befriended by Harry Warner, one of the co-founders of Warner Bros. Studios.

“Warner took a liking to me,” Wicall said. “He wanted me to go to Pierce College. I said I didn’t want to.”

Over the years Warner gave advice to Wicall as a father would to a son.

“He gave me a talking to about ‘your word is your bond’ and told me to always be interested in your fellow man.” Warner suggested he ask people questions and really listen to what they have to say.

Warner shared more than advice with the youngster, telling stories about his own life as the son of a Polish Jew who made a living as a shoe cobbler.

“He put his arm around me, and his cheek to mine, and whispered that he was born to slaves, Jewish slaves,” Wicall said of Warner.

“Some days I’d almost cry. I just loved that man. I was 17 and needed someone to kick me in the butt.”

Warner introduced Wicall to Ronald Reagan when he was working as an actor. Over time, the two became friends and in the 1970s were among the 500 people participating in an annual horse ride called Rancheros Visitadores in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Wicall owns whole photo albums filled with pictures of Reagan, and his hallway is lined with photographs documenting other friendships as well as the history of the Conejo Valley.

He said he doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon. He loves his job, adores his friends and can’t get enough of his horses.

One of those friends, Newton, said Wicall “entertains and amazes me with his life journey.”

“He loved working hard, and he built a successful business that has been around for years. He’s a real character who loves the cowboy lifestyle and the West Valley and knows its history,” she said.


A PAIR OF OLD TIMERS— Wicall considers 24-year-old Elvis to be his favorite horse.

A PAIR OF OLD TIMERS— Wicall considers 24-year-old Elvis to be his favorite horse.

SADDLE UP COWBOY—Among the treasures in his collection of Old West paraphernalia, Wicall owns this saddle given to him by President Ronald Reagan.

SADDLE UP COWBOY—Among the treasures in his collection of Old West paraphernalia, Wicall owns this saddle given to him by President Ronald Reagan.

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