Joe Kreger

Last updated

Joe Russel Kreger (born 1939 in Tonkawa, Oklahoma) [1] served twice as poet laureate of the American state of Oklahoma. [2] He was previously appointed in 1998 after the death of Betty Shipley, [3] and reappointed in 2021. [2] Kreger was the first poet laureate of the state to be considered primarily a "cowboy poet,", [2] preceding Eddie Wilcoxen (2011–2012) and Jay Snider (2023-2024). Born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, [2] Kreger has spent most of his life as a rancher. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

His poems have been published as Lookin' at Life (1997, Innovative Broadcast Corp) and Still Lookin' (2000, Doane Agricultural Service). [6] [7]

Early life

Joe Kreger was born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. [1] His father was a medical doctor who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. [1] Kreger earned a bachelor's degree in animal science in 1961 [7] and a master's in agricultural education in 1968 from Oklahoma State University. [8] He served in the U.S. Army Reserves, worked for Redbud Hereford Ranch, taught at Northern Oklahoma College, and then founded his own ranch, Kreger Ranch. [7]

Works

Collections

Publications

The High Plains Journal has published numerous poems by Kreger: [9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Browne, Archibalde (2 June 2021). "Oklahoma poet laureate Joe Kreger reflects on his life as a 'cowboy poet'". NonDoc. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Martin, Brandon (22 April 2021). "Joe Kreger named Oklahoma State Poet Laureate". KOKH. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  3. 1 2 Holliday, Shawn (2015). The Oklahoma Poets Laureate: A Soucebook, History, and Anthology. Norman, OK: Mongrel Empire Press. p. 202. ISBN   9780990320432.
  4. "Cowboy Poetry". Kreger Ranch. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  5. Root, Ken (30 May 2017). "Joe Kreger: My most unforgettable character". Iowa Agribusiness. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "Catalogue records". WorldCat. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 Burke, Mack (25 August 2021). "Joe Russell Kreger is Oklahoma's poet laureate again". Oklahoma State University. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  8. "Joe Kreger". Spears School of Business. November 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  9. "Cowboy Poetry by Joe Kreger". High Plains Journal. Retrieved 24 July 2022.