PRESIDIO — Johnny Weisman is the founder of the Flying W Ranch — formerly the Lely Ranch, which he purchased in 2024. His life has been shaped by ranching, farming, and a deep love for the land.
His father managed a dairy farm and ranch for the Oblate Fathers where they lived as a young child with his other five siblings and worked the farm. Johnny learned how to run tractors starting at 7-years-old for 25 cents per hour, and then as a teenager worked for road contractors running heavy equipment, before putting himself through college at Texas State University working three jobs and taking 15 hours of coursework.
In his early thirties, Johnny founded what is now Hunter Industries. From a small paving contractor, it has grown to become a major road builder and heavy highway construction company in Texas.
In 1994, Johnny fulfilled his and his father’s dream of ranch ownership by beginning his first purchase of land that became the Flying W Ranch in Uvalde. In 2007, Johnny purchased the former Meriwether Ranch north of Alpine. He has always loved Far West Texas, where he would go with his father on hunting trips and then as a hunting guide across the entire area.
In 2024, Johnny purchased the former Lely Ranch, stretching from Presidio to Shafter. He and his wife, Nathali, knew it was a special place as soon as they stepped onto the land and into the area. Johnny and Nathali love Presidio.
Nathali Weisman shares Johnny’s deep appreciation of cattle ranching, hunting, and preserving the land — having grown up and regularly being on her grandad’s ranch in Hugo, Oklahoma. She has a long lineage of cattle and livestock ranchers and traders and is a proud citizen of the Chickasaw Nation.
Together, Johnny and Nathali’s philanthropic efforts are driven by a deep passion for supporting children and fostering a better Texas. They actively support many organizations in the communities they love and are committed to improving the communities around them and ensuring a brighter future for the next generation.
Nathali and Johnny Weisman recognize the importance of hard work, learning a skill or trade, getting a higher education and translating what you learn into the world to be proud, productive citizens.
They are impressed by and dedicated to helping hard working and qualified students graduating from Presidio High School by granting a one-time $2,500 scholarship to nine 2025 Presidio High School graduates — the first “Weisman-Flying W Ranch” scholarships. The scholarships will help them pursue their dreams of college degrees and trade school skills. Hopefully, as each student pursues their dreams, they will also remember to give back to others as they go forward in life.
The first recipients of the Presidio High School Weisman-Flying W Ranch scholarships for 2025 are: Abdiel Bustamante, Daniel Chaparro, Sebastian Franco, Rio Morales, Jaeli Nunez, Alexa Samaniego, Luis Sanchez, Miranda Sotelo and Luz Soto
The Weisman’s look forward to meeting each of the students and their families in person this summer before they all leave to start their college careers. Congratulations graduates!