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	It began in the mist of the Great Depression and it stood through two World Wars and its share of natural disasters.
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The Lawton Ranch has survived many trials through the years. It began in the mist of the Great Depression and it stood through two World Wars and its share of natural disasters. The Lawton family has endured through each struggle but the two hurricanes that came though in 1957 and 2005 might have been two of the greatest challenges to the cattle and horses themselves.
 

In June 1957, Hurricane Audrey virtually wiped out Cameron Parish, killing 425. Thousands of heads of cattle drowned or were killed by the winds. If it had not been for the rescue efforts of the local cattleman, more would have perished. Those that had managed to survive the storm were dying from dehydration. The land and the water were drenched in salt from the massive amounts of ocean water Audrey had deposited. It took many years to build up their herds again and plant new crops after the devastating wake of Hurricane Audrey.


In September 2005, forty-eight years later, Hurricane Rita again wiped out Cameron Parish and caused widespread devastation to Calcasieu Parish. Almost every building in Cameron was destroyed; even the ones that managed to survive the surge and force of Audrey. Just like so many times before, the Lawton’s and other Southwest Louisiana ranchers stepped in to help each other and rescue the livestock. They took the damage and the process of rebuilding in stride. They know what being a rancher is and that nature can not be controlled so they just pick up and go on.

Information on this page has been quoted or excerpted from "The Lawton Ranch of Southwest Louisiana" written by Nola Mae Ross and Susan McFillen