The Hickman Legacy: How One Family Saved the Stockyards

Have you ever watched the Herd trot through the Fort Worth Stockyards in the twice-daily cattle drives? Or danced under the neon lights at Billy Bob’s? Maybe you have relaxed in rustic luxury at Hotel Drover. What if I told you one family is behind it all? A family whose commitment to legacy has transformed Fort Worth into a Western icon?

The Legacy of Holt Hickman

The Hickman family has dedicated generations to preserving the history and infrastructure of Fort Worth. It all began with Holt Hickman’s deep love for the area.

About nine million people from all over the world visit the Stockyards every year. Visitors come to see the cattle drive, the historic Cowtown Coliseum, and the Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum. The Hickman family played a huge role in preserving every one of these.

From Rundown to Renowned Destination

The Stockyards had its beginnings with the arrival of the railroads in Fort Worth in 1876. The area quickly became a place where cattle, hogs, and sheep could be sold, slaughtered, and packed. Today, the Stockyards have turned into a booming tourist destination known around the world. The district is a significant contributor to Fort Worth’s tourism economy, which had an economic impact of over $3.5 billion in 2024, according to Visit Fort Worth.

But it was not always this way. Just decades ago, the area was falling into disrepair. In 1988, Billy Bob’s dance hall filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors. The streets were lined with deteriorating buildings, and few ventured to this side of town.

Where It All Started

Growing up, Holt lived with his mother in Weatherford, Texas. But when he would visit his father, Cecil, they would head to the Fort Worth Stockyards to buy and sell cattle.

Holt crossed the Metroplex to attend Southern Methodist University (SMU), where he swam for his fraternity, Kappa Sigma, in intramural sports. He was discovered by SMU Hall of Fame swimming coach Red Barr and was given a full-ride scholarship. In his junior and senior years, he was the fastest freestyle swimmer in the Southwest Conference.

In 1954, after graduating from SMU, Holt married his high school sweetheart, Jo Aycock. But Fort Worth had a hold on Holt. Holt and Jo’s daughter, Brenda Hickman Kostohryz, shared, “The Stockyards have always held a special place in my father’s heart. It was always the Stockyards and us.”

When Holt heard about Billy Bob’s closing down, he partnered with Don Jury, Steve Murrin, and Billy Minick to reopen the honkytonk.

“That’s where it all started,” Brenda recalls. “He started with reopening Billy Bob’s, then he invested in the revitalization of the Stockyards, and he helped bring the cattle drive to the Stockyards.”

Restoring the Past, Building the Future

Between the 1980s and the 1990s, Hickman began buying derelict buildings, including the Livestock Exchange Building and the Mule Alley warehouses. Holt’s goal was to preserve the Western heritage of the area while also making it economically sustainable.

He envisioned the Stockyards as a walkable, family-friendly district full of history, shopping, rodeos, and cowboy culture. In 2001, Holt and his wife Jo played a significant role in bringing the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame to the Fort Worth Stockyards. Recognizing the potential to enhance Fort Worth’s Western heritage tourism, they bought the museum. They moved it into the historic horse and mule barns on Exchange Avenue, which they had restored as part of their broader revitalization efforts.

A Legacy Carried On

More than ten years after his passing, Holt’s son and daughter continue to carry on his legacy. Brad Hickman and Brenda Hickman Kostohryz have worked for the family business since graduating from college.

Brenda worked in the real estate division for nearly 40 years before partially retiring. “It was always known that I would graduate and work on the real estate side of the business,” recalls Brenda. “He taught me to work hard and treat everyone equally.”

“Business and family were the most important things to my dad,” Brenda recalls. “He was always at all the grandkids sporting events and birthdays. He took me and my girlfriends to Vegas for my 21^st birthday. That’s just the kind of man he was.”

Brad, who graduated from college with a degree in business, initially ran the manufacturing division before transitioning to real estate. His son, Brad Jr., has since joined him.

“My dad loved my mom and the Stockyards,” Brenda recalls when thinking about her father’s legacy.

Photo courtesy of Brenda Hickman Kostohryz

Modern Development with Historic Roots

Holt established the Fort Worth Heritage Development Company before his death. This joint venture between Hickman Companies and Majestic Realty Co. was designed to preserve the area’s Western heritage while introducing modern amenities.

Brenda and Brad continued the partnership with Majestic Realty, building on their father’s efforts with a $175 million project that transformed the historic horse and mule barns into a vibrant district filled with shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. In 2021, they opened Hotel Drover, a luxury boutique hotel that blends rustic charm with modern comfort, serving as a centerpiece of the Stockyards’ revitalization.

To preserve and honor their father’s legacy, Brad and Brenda are investing in the next chapter of the Stockyards story with a $630 million vision that blends Western tradition with modern hospitality. This next phase includes improvements to the Cowtown Coliseum, the Fort Worth Herd Facilities, and two below-ground parking garages. The plan will also add 300,000 square feet of commercial space, 500 hotel rooms, and about 300 apartments.

Shaping Fort Worth’s Future

This family business has not only shaped the Fort Worth of today; it continues to shape its future. With each project, the Hickmans honor their father’s memory, ensuring that the Fort Worth Stockyards remains a destination where the past is celebrated and the future is welcomed with a friendly “howdy.”