Herb Pownall wanted to see the world. So he boarded a ship bound for Europe…along with 800 cows.
Herb Pownall at his home. Credit Ali Grossman
Photos taken by Herb during his time in Newport News, Va., on the sea, and in Germany.
Featured Music
The Mooche – Duke Ellington
All of Me – Count Basie
Mood Indigo – Duke Ellington
La Mer (Beyond the Sea) – Django Reinhardt
Creole Rhapsody – Duke Ellington
Solitude – Duke Ellington
East St. Louis Toodle-oo – Duke Ellington
Jeep’s Blues – Duke Ellington
Flamenco Sketches (alternate take) – Miles Davis
Cotton Tail – Duke Ellington
Flamenco Sketches – Miles Davis
I’ll Be Seeing You – Billie Holiday
Subscribe
Dear Caroline and Micah, Splendid! Exciting! Fun to explore your outstanding production! It is amazing to relive – – narrative and photos – AGAIN !
When I get connected with the media in better order – – and learn how to use it, I want to let a number of folks know bout how to call your programs in to hear and view Humanature.
Congratulations! to you and my gratitude is to be shared with Mr. Bill Anderson, who had the foresight to tell you folks about my long ago adventure. Thanks, Herb
So super, it is to hear Herb’s story in total. I witnessed snippets of the story when I worked for Herb at University of Wyoming Photo Service. The snippet from Herb that stands strongest in my mind is the picture of the German farmer who placed a garland around his new cow’s neck, tears welling to his cheeks. Herb’s administrative abilities are strong, his lead was with grace and dignity through a confusing (for me) world. My youthful dreams eventually matured, in no small part, because I had a faithful friend, Herb Pownall, to walk with. John Henberg
Herb and Quita: great people and friends dating back to 1959 when I rented ” a room” from them and they took me in like a son. Then I kept bothering Herb to take photos of our soccer action at U WYO until I got some published in the Boomerang…Herb you are still so sharp it is scary. However, I wanted to see you in a cowboy outfit in the movie )-:. Miss you both. Love Dieter
Caroline, thank you for this entertaining and informative interview with Herb Pownall. I’ve been researching, writing, and speaking about the “seagoing cowboys” of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and the Heifer Project (today’s Heifer International) for nearly 15 years, and I’m always interested in discovering another living cowboy. I’ll be sure to link this interview to the cowboy stories on my seagoingcowboys.com website and highlight it in an upcoming blog post so my followers can hear the story, as well. Thanks for helping to preserve this wonderful little-known history!
Thank you so much for sharing this episode Peggy! We’re happy to help with preserving history and letting Herb’s story go out in the world.
Wonderful to hear this story and hear it in Herb’s voice. I’m his nephew and had never heard the tale until now. Thank you to both Human Nature and to Herb for sharing it!