Farley was born in Saxton, Iowa and grew up in Elmore, Minnesota. He started playing semi-professional baseball as a teenager. Cal served in the United States Army during World War I with Company "C" Sixth Engineers, Third Army Division. While in the army, he competed as a wrestler and after the war became a professional wrestler. He was the World Welterweight Champion in the 1920s and has the distinction of 225 straight matches without a loss. Cal was the original Promotor of the NWA.
He moved to Amarillo, Texas in 1923 and took over a tire shop. In 1934, he started the Maverick Club, an athletic club for boys, and in 1939 founded the residential childcare facility known as Boys Ranch, located near Old Tascosa, a largely otherwise abandoned community in Oldham County north of Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle. Farley also founded Girlstown, U.S.A. near Whiteface about forty-five miles west of Lubbock. In 1944, Farley launched the annual Boys Ranch and Girlstown rodeo held over the Labor Day weekend.
The facilities have a strong spiritual program, with nondenominational Sunday morning chapel services and weekly Bible studies offered. The children are encouraged to participate in music ministry, read scripture, offer prayers, and serve as ushers. Education is provided by Boys Ranch Independent School District.
Farley was honored by the United States Postal Service with a Great Americans series 32¢ postage stamp. In 1989, the City of Amarillo renamed the Amarillo Civic Center coliseum for him.
Cal Farley suffered a cerebral hemmorage during a church service at the ranch's chapel and passed away. His wife, Mimi, passed away one month later. Cal and Mimi Farley were both buried at Llano Cemetery but were moved to the Boys Ranch in May of 1972 and are buried in front of the Julian Bivins Museum. Their beloved dog, Cricket, is buried at their feet.
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