R.I.P. ‘Mad Cowboy’: Howard Lyman, former cattle rancher-turned-vegan activist is dead

For 20 years Howard Lyman raised both dairy and beef cattle, pigs, and chickens. Diagnosed with a spinal tumor in 1979, and facing the possibility of paralysis, Lyman turned to organic farming. By that time, Lyman had begun to investigate ‘mad cow disease,’ and again was suffering health issues. Lyman credited turning vegetarian, and later vegan, with his recovery. In 1998, Lyman wrote the foreword to Erik Marcus’s book ‘Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating’  and  published his first book, ‘Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won’t Eat Meat’. According to PETA, ‘Howard Lyman set an example for farmers and kind people everywhere: once you open your eyes to animals’ suffering, you can change. You can grow vegan foods, eat vegan, and choose kindness.’

MERRITT CLIFTON: “It is with extreme sadness that I report the passing this morning of Howard Lyman at age 88,” VegNews founder and former publisher Joseph Connelly posted to Facebook on October 27, 2026. “Howard was a former cattle rancher-turned-vegan activist and the most powerful voice the animal rights and vegan movements had for many years,” Connelly assessed…

For the next 20 years Lyman raised both dairy and beef cattle, pigs, chickens, hay, and feed grains. Diagnosed with a spinal tumor in 1979, facing the possibility of paralysis, Lyman turned to organic farming… By that time Lyman had begun to investigate “mad cow disease,” formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, and again was suffering health issues. Lyman credited turning vegetarian, and later vegan, with his recovery…

In 1995, the Humane Society of the U.S. introduced an “Eating with a Conscience” campaign, directed by Lyman. In that capacity, Lyman on April 16, 1996 made a guest appearance on the Oprah Winfrey television talk show. Asked by Oprah Winfrey to explain what “mad cow disease” is, Lyman “described the irresponsible industry practice of feeding dead cows to live cows,” recalled Farm Sanctuary founder Gene Baur. Responded Winfrey, “You have just stopped me cold from eating another burger.” Six Texas cattle companies sued Lyman and Winfrey for defamation of beef. Lyman and Winfrey won the case in 1998, and won again on appeal in February 2000…

Lyman was later in 1996 elected president of the International Vegetarian Union, serving through 1999; was awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in 1997; and in 1998 became a founding member of the Organic Consumers Association policy board. Lyman also in 1998 wrote the foreword to Erik Marcus’s book Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating. On June 3, 1998, Scribner published Lyman’s first book, Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won’t Eat Meat, co-authored with Glen Merzer…

Remembered People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), “Howard Lyman set an example for farmers and kind people everywhere: once you open your eyes to animals’ suffering, you can change. You can grow vegan foods, eat vegan, and choose kindness. We’ll remember his courage and decades of speaking up for animals.” Concluded Gene Baur, “He was a longtime friend who often spoke at Farm Sanctuary and collaborated with us in numerous ways”. SOURCE

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