Posted on: Thursday, April 12, 2001

Cattleman John Medeiros dead at 74

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HONOMALINO, Hawai'i — West Hawai'i cattleman John B. "Johnny" Medeiros, 74, died April 2 at Straub Clinic and Hospital on O'ahu following a long illness.

Medeiros was noted for his work with capturing wild cattle early in his career and later for pioneering techniques such as artificial insemination.

"As a ranch manager, he was at the forefront of modern production techniques such as pregnancy testing of large cow herds," according to veterinarian Billy Bergin of Waimea, also head of the Hawai'i Paniolo Preservation Society.

Medeiros was born on Kealakekua Ranch in 1927, the fourth in a family of nine children.

As a teenager, he worked as a cowboy at C.Q. Yee Hop Ranch in South Kona and later became livestock manager at the Pu'uwa'awa'a Ranch between Kailua and Waimea.

While in the Army, he won recognition as a champion boxer.

The Hawai'i Rodeo Cowboys Association honored Medeiros as Man of the Year in 1978. After retirement, he managed his own cow herd and coffee farm in Honomalino.

Medeiros is survived by his wife of 50 years, Margie; sons Rodney of Hilo and Johnny Jr. and Alika of Kona; daughters Shirley Kanehailua of Hilo and Diana Aukai of Kona; brothers Albert of Ho'okena, Eddie of Keauhou-Kona and Lawrence of California; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will begin at 8:30 a.m. April 28 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Kailua-Kona, with Mass at 10 a.m. Borthwick Mortuary is handling arrangements.