The term “sidewalk cattleman” was invented by the 1941 Madisonville Meteor editor, Henry Fox, well known for his wit. Fox wrote about people wearing cowboy boots around town and discussing cattle who didn’t own any cows. The name took the fancy of local doctor Jesse B. Heath, who organized the first meeting of the Madisonville Sidewalk Cattlemen’s association on March 25, 1941. The idea took hold and an organization was formed complete with rules for wearing cowboy boots and penalties to be assessed for infractions of those rules. The Associated Press and the United Press wire services picked up the story and the young Madisonville movers and shakers took advantage of the publicity creating an organization that has run continuously up to the present day affording the town of Madisonville an air of good humor and fun.