Beef industry pioneer, inventor, and entrepreneur, William Cline “Bill” Pratt, 77, of rural Canyon, Texas, passed away Wednesday, October 21, 2020. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 26, at the First United Methodist Church in Canyon. Please use the entrance on the west side of the church only. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 25 at Brooks Chapel. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 29, at Pappin Cemetery in rural Osage County near Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The Pratt family invites friends to come and share memories with them.
Bill Pratt was born November 5, 1942 in San Antonio, TX to Lt. Kenneth Pratt and
Virginia (Cline) Pratt. He was reared in Pawhuska, OK with siblings Hal and Kathleen
and ranched there with his father and brother. He graduated from high school in 1960
and earned a B.S. in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University in 1965. Bill
married the love of his life, Linda Kay Brooks, in Ft. Collins, CO, Nov. 10, 1963. Serving
in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1966-73 in artillery and armored units, he attained
the rank of Sergeant.
In 1971, Bill Pratt founded Micro Chemical, Inc. with Linda in Amarillo, TX. “Micro” was
based on Bill’s new invention, a revolutionary, patented, highly-precise system for
measuring and delivering the critical, highly-concentrated micro feed ingredients
necessary for feedyard cattle health, nutrition, and gain. Bill applied his novel
philosophy of combining unique technology, consumable feed products, and service all
from one company. He innovated many patented, computerized systems revolutionizing
the beef industry in nutrition, health, information, and marketing. Micro’s reach
expanded into the ranching, packing, and retailing sectors. Micro sold feed additives
and animal health products also. The company became Micro Beef Technologies in
1999. Micro grew with acquisitions and moved into the dairy industry and into Canada.
When Bill merged Micro with MWI Veterinary Supply of Boise, Idaho in 2011, he had
been awarded 88 U.S., Canadian, Australian, U.K., and E.U. patents for his inventions.
By 2011, it had grown to be the largest company in the world of its type with 235
employees and over $230,000,000 in annual revenue. Bill’s systems created
incalculable value for the beef and dairy production chains measured in the billions of
dollars while making beef and dairy products wholesome and safe for consumers.
It is believed that Bill Pratt invented more technologies and was awarded more U.S. and
foreign patents than any other individual in the history of the beef industry. Today, Bill’s
systems are still used as the standard in beef and dairy operations across the U.S. and
Canada with an estimated 2/3rds of all fed beef managed by them. Bill has been
referred to as “The Thomas Edison of the Beef Industry” for his enormous impact with
Micro being the primary reason Amarillo has been called “The Silicon Valley of Beef.”
Bill also founded Amarillo Steel Fabricators in 1973 in Amarillo, Panther Lake Ranch in
1976, Bluestem Ford in 1977, Pawhuska Dozer and Field Service in 1978, and Latigo
Oil Company in 1978, all in Oklahoma, and Bill’s Backyard Classics in 2015 in Amarillo.
Bill possessed an impeccable work ethic rising very early, often working well into the
night, and working far from home. Bill began each day with calisthenics and walked or
swam everyday. He was never without a yellow notepad and pen whether in his car, at
dinner, or at the bedside. Bill was a humble man with a reserved demeanor, highly
intelligent, serious, thoughtful, and fair. He did not seek attention for himself. He always
drove practical vehicles for work. Bill dressed simply in his “uniform” of starched
wranglers, long-sleeved blue dress shirt, tennis shoes, and Micro cap. His shirt pocket
always held a calculator, small calendar, pen, and a folded piece of yellow notepad
paper showing the four-step problem-solving process and his listed life goals in his own
famously indecipherable handwriting.
Bill took time to mentor budding inventors and entrepreneurs. Bill and Linda both took
great pride when an employee “graduated” from “Micro University” and went on to start
their own business or other venture. Bill was very patriotic. He was proud of serving in
the military and supported many military and veterans-support organizations. He
supported numerous agriculture organizations. Bill cared for everyone around him as
extended family even providing cars and homes for relatives and paying end-of-life
expenses for some employees. Bill expressed “fundamental fairness” in relationships.
He never allowed a person to be spoken ill of and always gave a man a second chance.
Bill possessed the heart of an explorer and became a lay expert on a wide variety of
historical and other subjects. Bill’s solo flying adventures in land and float planes ranged
from the eastern Carribean Sea, to north of the Arctic Circle, and along the Santa Fe
Trail. Bill raced in the Sports Car Club of America’s Formula Atlantic series winning the
majority of his races. Bill’s “dare deviling” resulted in several plane and race car crashes
and even hospitalization.
Bill often cited his loving wife, Linda, as the reason for his success and as his full
partner in all endeavours and accomplishments whether in life, love, business, or fun.
Many times did he say, “I couldn’t have done it without my Lindy!”
Bill came to know the Lord in baptism at the Methodist church as a boy. His faith was
very personal. He did not preach it. He lived it in countless ways, all strong, kind, and
with an old-fashioned sense of decency.
Bill Pratt’s legacy lives on not only throughout the beef industry as a ground-breaking
pioneer, but in the lives of all the countless people he touched.
Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years, Linda, 77, of rural Canyon; two surviving sons,
Fred, 62, and wife Linda of rural Bushland, TX, and Glen, 53, and wife Natalia of
Amarillo, TX, son Bryan, 60, passed away in September in Amarillo; a sister, Kathleen
Jackson, 73, of Goliad, TX; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; many
nieces and nephews; and many former colleagues from Micro and the beef community
and Bill’s Backyard Classics.
Condolence cards and letters may be sent to Linda Pratt P.O. Box 94 Canyon, TX
79015.
In lieu of memorials or donations, the Pratt Family asks friends to do what Bill would
wish them to do -- hug your family, be good to all you meet, make the world better than
you found it, and keep learning, exploring, and adventuring.
FUNERAL SERVICE LIVE STREAM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewJpEbYFQTc