Obituaries

IN MEMORY

STEVE TELLAM

William Stephen Tellam

died unexpectantly in the hospital January 19, after contracting a catastrophic viral illness. Steve was 66 years old and in vigorous good health, living the life he loved as a successful cattleman, an exceptional cowboy and a steward of the land, its animals and cattle ranching. Steve represented the fourth generation of his family in the cattle business in San Diego County. Steve’s greatgrandfather was George Sawday, one of the true California cattle barons, who owned or leased most of the land that is now San Diego County to raise thousands of cattle.

Steve’s grandfather, Hans Starr was hired as the ranch foreman because of his expertise in moving cattle, supervising operations at the ranch and his knowledge of horses and horsemanship. Hans continued in the cattle business after George Sawday died and his son, Willie Tellam, Steve’s father, continued the family tradition in East County as an iconic cattleman, cowboy and businessman.

Willie and Steve formed the nucleus of a crew that won ten World Championship Cattle Team Penning competitions and two national championships. Steve was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the United States Team Penning Association in Fort Worth, Texas in 2016. He particularly enjoyed raising and training many of his penning horses and traveling the country to competitions where he made many friends and taught courses on team penning.

Steve was fiercely competitive and independent; he aspired to be the best at everything he did. He was an excellent speaker, teacher and advocate for the cattlemen and their interests. These skills are evident on the video entitled “The Last Cowboy” on You Tube, Los Angeles Times, April 21, 2009. Steve’s early education was in the Julian school system where in high school he played football, baseball and basketball. He was active in 4-H and was an FFA Star Farmer. Daily activities centered around raising cattle, riding horses and competing with his three brothers.

Steve graduated in 1973 from Julian High School was followed by two semesters at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as an agriculture business major followed by on the job training with two working cow horse trainers, rubbing shoulders with the son of a president and a permanent return to the cattle business with his family in San Diego County.

Steve was a real cowboy, working sunup to sundown, seven days a week. He considered himself to be a “bovine pediatrician,” loving the animals that were under his care. He took great pride on being a steward of the land and often said “we take care of the land and it takes care of us.”

Steve was president of the San Diego Imperial County Cattlemen’s Association. He was also a member of the Rancheros Vistadores (Los Flojos Camp) and Los Senderos riding associations.

Steve leaves behind his wife, Sherrie, his business partner, and love of his life. Steve also leaves three younger brothers, Michael, John, Allan and his mother Eileen. Also left are aunts Martha Masch and Kathryn Starr, and uncle Robert Redding and Aunt Martha Gwen Thum. There are many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Plans for a celebration of life are being formulated. Memorial donations may be sent to the Ramona Ag Boosters, Attn Mary Martineau, PO Box 2057, Ramona, California 92065 or the Julian Union High School Ag Department, Attn Curtis Martineau, PO Box 417, Julian, CA 92036.

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