Charles Addington: Doc by Day.. Bison rancher by choice

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Happy Bison Month!! It's Friday, amost to the weekend yet again!

Gonna do my best to actually keep this one short... will have a full one tomorrow though. I am on packing duty today, staff is off on Fridays... So, I had better get to actual work. We are grateful for every order and thank you! Keeping us busy.

I am pretty well committed to getting through this month and getting some more stories told. Have some more great ones coming up.. just have to actually write them. It's been fun learning more about our rancher friends.

Hope you aren't bored yet.

Hope you have a truly great day!

Ron & T, and the crew here at the BWC

From a friend, and yes, I laughed...

Doc by Day, Bison Boss Always: The Charles Addington Story

Picture this: A respected West Texas physician walks out of the clinic, trades his white coat for work boots, and heads out to check on a herd of shaggy, 2,000-pound icons of the American prairie.

That’s Dr. Charles Addington — or “Doc” to those who know him in the bison world. By profession, he’s a physician with Texas Physician Group. A native of the Wolfforth area, he has been actively involved in city leadership since first being elected to the City Council in 1999 and has served multiple terms as mayor. In addition to his role as mayor, Dr. Addington practices family medicine in Lubbock and serves as Chief Administrative Medical Examiner for Lubbock County. Dr. Addington brings a unique blend of medical expertise, ranching experience, and dedicated civic leadership to the area he calls home

By passion (and family legacy), he’s the driving force behind Addington Buffalo Company, a family-owned operation raising quality bison across West Texas and Oklahoma.And if that weren’t cool enough, one of his bison calves grew up to become a university mascot.

From Stethoscope to Shaggy Coats

Charles Addington has built a life that bridges two very different worlds — healing people and stewarding one of North America’s most iconic animals.

His Addington Buffalo Company is headquartered in Wolfforth, Texas (just southwest of Lubbock), with a significant herd also running near Holdenville in southeastern Oklahoma. The family raises bison for premium meat while maintaining strong cow/calf production. They’re known for quality animals that perform well at shows and sales across the region.It’s a true multigenerational effort. Charles’s son Chase Addington (along with ranch hands like Robert Merriman) is deeply involved in the day-to-day work — sorting herds, showing animals, and keeping everything running smoothly. Family posts often highlight the teamwork it takes to manage these powerful animals.

The Heartwarming “Sally” StoryOne of the most special chapters in the Addington story happened in Holdenville, Oklahoma. A bison calf named Thunder XVI — affectionately called “Sally” — was born on Charles’s ranch. Tragically, her mother passed away shortly after. Instead of letting the story end there, Charles reached out to West Texas A&M University. The WT Herdsmen stepped up.

Sally arrived on campus, was bottle-raised with care, and is now training alongside Thunder XV to become the next live buffalo mascot for the Buffs. She’s already winning hearts and representing regional pride. It’s the perfect example of how Addington Buffalo Company isn’t just about raising animals — it’s about giving back to the community and creating moments that connect people with these magnificent creatures.

Ranch Life, Shows & the Bison Brotherhood

Running bison isn’t for the faint of heart. These animals can spend 4–11 hours a day foraging (and they do it their own way — not like typical cattle). Charles and the team know this firsthand from working large groups, including one memorable session handling over 200 head in Oklahoma.The family stays active in the bison community:

Member of the Texas Bison Association
Board member of the Oklahoma Bison Association
Regular participants in shows, sales, and the National Bison Association’s Gold Trophy Show & Sale

They’ve brought home some “bling” from competitions and are respected for producing solid, well-managed animals. Bison meat is available through local channels (including farmers markets in the Wolfforth area when schedules allow).

Why It Matters,

In a world of big corporate agriculture, Addington Buffalo Company stands out as a genuine family operation. They focus on quality, animal care, and sustainability while balancing demanding careers and ranch life.

Charles proves you don’t have to choose between healing humans and honoring the heritage of the West — you can do both. Whether he’s delivering babies at the clinic or delivering a healthy bison herd to the next generation (or a university mascot), Doc Addington is all in.So next time you see a shaggy bison grazing on the High Plains or catch Sally the mascot charging across the WTAMU field, remember the physician-rancher who helped make it happen.

Mayor Addington was first elected to the City Council in 1999 and has held positions of both City Councilman and Mayor during that time. He has been involved with Wolfforth Fire and EMS for over 20 years and still participates as an advisor. He is one of Wolfforth’s finest leaders, and has led Wolfforth through many changes during his tenure as an elected official. He is extremely proud of Wolfforth and its advancement and growth, and is committed to its future.

He and his wife Louanne have been married for 32 years. They have two children, Chase and his wife Brittany and grandson Carter, and daughter Ashley Houchin, her husband Ky and their three grandchildren Kaybri Jo, Krew, and Kopper.

Wolfforth, Texas (with operations in Holdenville, OK)

Find them on Facebook: Addington Buffalo Company