ORO GRANDE • Douglas Osborne, who dedicated himself to building one of the largest ostrich farms in the country, died Monday morning at Victor Valley Community Hospital. He was 67.
The cause was heart failure, according to his son, Douglas Osborne II. The owner of O.K. Corral Ostrich Farm in Oro Grande suffered a massive heart attack while working in his office and was taken to the hospital.
Osborne sold meat, eggs and jerky of the large flightless bird to wholesalers and high-end restaurants across the country. He and his ostriches appeared in the Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs,” a Jay Leno show and History Channel’s “Modern Marvels.”
Osborne was born July 18, 1945 in Rochester, N.Y. His family moved to California, and Osborne grew up around Covina.
He served in the Army from 1966 until 1969 before he got his bachelor’s degree in 1973 from San Diego State University, where he studied psychology, sociology and finance, according to his son.
Just three weeks before his death, Osborne told the Daily Press if he was going to die, he wished to die on the farm while working.
“I’m making good money and I love doing what I do,” Osborne said. “I don’t want anything. I just want to take care of my ostriches.”
He is survived by his two sons, Douglas Osborne II and Christopher Hosack, and his grandson, Christian Hosack. Osborne II said he hopes to keep the family ranch going.
Read more – HERE
Many Dirty Jobs viewers will remember Mr. Osborne from the Ostrich Farmer episode ~
Click here to watch the video.
4 Comments
I worked for Doug when he owned his own stock brokerage firm, travel agency and precious metals company. I can still remember the day he decided to buy his first pair of ostrich and how they got delivered to his mom’s house without any prior notice to her. Back when the Legg’s egg pantyhose where sold everywhere he wanted to mail the birth certificates as her official notice of their pending arrival. Oops the driver from the Yellow Rose Ostrich farm in Odessa, TX drove too fast and arrived early!
Within two years of the first arrivals he had his farm up and running with many mating pairs. Was quite an experience to get rid of the Wall Street business suite for jeans and a tee shirt and working 7 days a week 365 days a year.
He will certainly be missed by many.
Sad news. One of my favorite episodes. My condolences to the family.
How sad we are for your loss, our thoughts & prayers are with Douglas Osbourne’s family at ths time. Even though I didn’t know Douglas personally, I am saddened by the loss of a fellow trades person whom shared their “Apprentice Of The Day – Mike Rowe”, on the Dirty Jobs crusade! R I P Douglas, you will be sadly missed!
How sad. My prayers for his family.