John W. "Johnny Bill " Craig

 John William Craig, better known as “Johnny Bill” or “Bill”, depending on when you met him, was born to John Foster Craig III and Elizabeth Moxon Craig on June 13th, 1981. He was the second born out of four siblings, the others being Molly, Jacob, and Maggie. Even in his youth, Bill was wholly dedicated to the desire to be a rancher, and started partnering with his grandfather, John Foster Craig Jr., to run his own yearlings as young as sixteen years old. Bill loved traveling with his Grandpa to antique gun, bit and spur shows. He and his grandfather also attended conventions centered on learning about the stock market, as business and investing was something Bill always knew he wanted to pursue.

 Bill attended Limon Public School, graduating in 1999. He excelled in sports despite the fact that he often insisted that he was not a natural athlete. Instead, he felt his success in athletics was due to the fact that he was more willing to hit, and be hit, harder than his opponents. He was a fierce competitor with a true love for sport. During his senior year of high school, he was invited to play in an all American basketball league called the Down Under Invitational. The league’s focus is to break down cultural, economic and social barriers through athletics, and students were selected based not only on athletics but also personal character. Anyone who knew Bill knew that character was not something he was short on. Bill still holds a record at Limon Junior High School for 110 meter hurdles, set in 1995. Bill also had a great love for music, to the point of considering that as one of his options for collegiate training. He had many wonderful years participating as a trumpet player in the Limon band, the Eastern Colorado Honor Band, and State solo and ensemble events. 

 Bill was an active participant in the local 4-H community as well. He raised a herd of sheep and took home several distinctions with his entries, including the Grand Champion Breeding Ewe. He also excelled at leather working, which he learned through the guidance of Jim Caprero, who would remain a close friend thereafter. He made and sold horse tack locally during high school and college. He built and tooled two saddles; a roping saddle he used for himself, as well as a heavily decorated saddle for his mother, which won Grand Champion in 4H at the Colorado State Fair that year. He also fully restored the saddle used by his great grandfather and great great grandfather, and again won Grand Champion with his entry. 

 Perhaps his biggest passion, after ranching, was football. He played tight end for the Limon Badgers under coaches Mike O’Dwyer and Dave Grimes. He went on to play for Colorado College (1999-2002). There, he inspired his teammates to stay dedicated to improving themselves throughout the off season, and was voted Captain his senior year. This distinction meant so much to Bill, as his teammates were his closest friends, and it brought tears to his eyes when he mentioned having received it. He was also awarded Offensive Champion (2002), Most Improved Offensive Player (2000) and was a Four-Year Letter Winner. Despite the fact that his often repeated mantra concerning education was “D stands for diploma”, Bill distinguished himself academically as well as in athletics during his education at Colorado College. His thesis, “The Economic Impact of Consolidation of the Beef Packing Industry” was picked as one of the top in his class and has been referenced by other articles within the beef industry. 

 After college, Bill began his career in banking in Colorado Springs. He enjoyed telling the story of how he got his first banking job with Rob Alexander, just days after graduating college. Mr. Alexander thought that a kid raised on a ranch in conservative Eastern Colorado who could make it through four years at a liberal arts college like Colorado College would have to be tough. He took a chance on employing Bill, and they remained lifelong friends. He worked with four separate banking institutions over a period of 13 years, including the First National Bank of Colorado Springs, Bank of Colorado and the Bank at Broadmoor. Bill proved himself to be a capable and hardworking business person, with an uncanny ability to connect with customers from many different walks of life. He built a large book of business, and was very proud of the loans he was part of putting together for many Colorado Springs businesses. In 2010, he became Executive Vice President of Stockmens bank. He was a member of the Pikes Peak Range Riders, and volunteered for several years on committees for the Ride for the Brand Ranch Rodeo and Pikes Peak Or Bust Rodeo.

 Bill met his wife, Natalie Watson, in 2006, and they were married in July, 2009. After deciding that it was time to begin a family, they moved to Ramah, CO, just before the birth of their first son, John Watson Craig, in 2011. During this time, Bill commuted between Ramah and Colorado Springs as he continued his banking career at Stockmens. He also managed multiple cattle leases in Colorado and Kansas, and partnered with his Dad on cattle in Limon. His second son, William Jasper Craig, was born in 2014. Then in 2015, the opportunity to return to the ranch in Limon and run cattle full time was presented to Bill. Bill’s vision was always to return to the family ranch in Limon, despite the fact that it meant putting a successful banking career on hold. He oversaw the renovation of his Grandfather’s home on the ranch, and the family moved back to Limon in July 2015. 

 Bill owned and managed the ranch until his death in his home on December 17th, 2024. He said often that much of his success in the cattle business was due to the fact that he had an incredible crew behind him to help run his operation. He deeply valued the relationships he created through his careers in both finance and ranching. He was highly regarded in the yearling business for having a superior ability to navigate the cattle market’s many ups and downs, and to read commodities markets successfully. Always on the lookout for a good deal and never one to back down from a challenge, Bill built a beautiful life for his family, and took so much pride in being able to return home and raise his boys in Limon. He truly believed there was no better place to grow up.

He is survived by his wife, Natalie Craig, and sons, John Watson Craig and William Jasper Craig; siblings Molly Craig, Jacob Craig and Maggie Craig (Hackbarth); his father John Foster Craig III; niece GabiElle Hackbarth and nephews Lochlann Craig and Hawk Hackbarth. Bill is preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth Moxon Craig. 

A celebration of life will be held for Bill at the Hugo Fairground, January 30th, 2025 at 10:30am, officiated by Frank and Linda Hoover.