Floyd "Buck" Wyatt 2012 Hall ofFame Inductee Biography for Buck

Floyd "Buck" Wyatt 2012 Hall of Fame Inductee Biography for Buck Wyatt (As described by Madelyn Wyatt) Floyd Wyatt's father (Walter) was an Oklahoma farmer who raised cotton, and managed the
horses, mules, goats, hogs and cows they owned. His Mother (Rebecca) was a Mid-Wife,
assisting the delivery of babies. Additionally she tended a garden, cooked, sewed and shouldered
all of the responsibilities a Mother of fifteen would have. When Buck was born she named him
Floyd, but by the time he was able to crawl she labeled him "Buck" because he "bucked" on his
belly making very little progress as he inched forward. She said it was so comical to watch him
'buck' across the floor. His fanrily began to call him Buck and the name remained with him
through his life.
As a little boy he would slip out to the pen and try to ride the goats. As he grew into his teen
years his older brothers and sisters were riding and roping goats and he wanted to ride too. They
thought it was fun to watch Buck get bucked off, which he often did. As time passed his family
became aware that he and his brother Raymond had a natural talent for riding bucking animals.
When Floyd was twenty years old their oldest brother, Monroe took him and his eighteen
year old brother Raymond to Omaha, Nebraska to live with him and his wife Josie. Monroe
worked at a meat packing house in South Omaha. When he had a weekend free he would ride
in local jack-pot rodeos in Nebraska and Iowa and many times he took Ray and Buck along.
August of 1930 Buck read an announcement in the newspaper about a jack-pot rodeo coming to
west Omaha the following week. When Monroe came in from work that evening he showed the
article to him and asked for his permission to go and watch it. After much persuasion Monroe
gave in, as well as he told him he could ride his horse named Woodrow, his pride, and joy.
He had gotten to the rodeo arena fence when an older cowboy came over and asked him if he
wanted to ride a bull. He asked him, "For how much?" "Three dollars a mount", the cowboy
replied. He couldn't believe that! He earned only a dollar for a full day's work on the farms
back home, so he said, "Yeah!"
The cowboys weren't very friendly, and didn't say much to him. When it was time for the bull
riding the same older cowboy said, "One of you boys loan the kid some spurs". The cowboys
looked from one to the other, but didn't make a move. Finally, one of them reluctantly removed
his spurs from his own boots and showed Buck how to strap them onto his. The cowboys were
aware that this cowboy was a real "Green Hom" in the rodeo arena, so the heckling began.
"Hey, Boy, you're wearin' them spurs three feet too low! Another one sneered, "Cowboy, you
better wear them spurs in your pockets!" One standing out in the arena yelled up to him, "Boy,
don't hurt this 'ole bull with them spurs! He said most of them were milling around the chutes
watching him get ready for his ride making snide remarks, laughing and slapping one another on
the back." Then they asked him ifhe knew how to get away from the bull when he got bucked
off. "Get away from the bull when I get bucked off, no, I sure don't", Buck answered.
The cowboys burst into laUghter, then they explained to him that the bull often attacks the rider
after he is thrown. "I'm not worried about that!" he announced to them as he was climbing over
into the wooden chute. A couple of the cowboys began to assist him as they explained how to
avoid letting the loose end of the rope get tangled around his hand as he was dismounting from
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the bull. The bull was bucking and twisting and turning from side to side in the chute while
Buck was getting situated. N, he lowered his body down on to the bull's back he said his heart
rate was probably faster than it had been in his entire life. This was not the time to have second
thoughts, or to be afraid! Finally the gate swung open and the bull jumped out of the chute
bucking and twisting with Buck swaying in a rhythmic motion on his back. He said he heard a
bell ringing, but the bull kept bucking, and he kept riding, unaware the ringing bell was a signal
that he had rode for the qualified time and could get off.
The bull must have worn himself out, because he fmally stopped bucking and stood still.
Buck flipped one leg over the bull's neck and slid off onto the ground landing on both feet. In a
flash the bull turned around. The bull Buck rode was named Herbert Hoover. The producer had
owned him for three or four years and he had bucked off every cowboy who had attempted to
ride him.
March of 1931, Jack Bowen, a Negro friend of Monroe's arranged for Buck to accompany a
load of horses from Grand Island to Avondale, Pa where Jack lived. Buck's job was to unload,
water, feed and re-load the horses at designated stops along the way. Jack met the train at
Philadelphia where they changed the horses from the train and loaded them onto trucks to be
transported on to Avondale. It was Buck's first salaried job away from home.
Jack had been riding in jack-pot rodeos at Woodstown, New Jersey every Saturday night for
three dollars a mount. The following Saturday he asked Buck to go with him. He talked the
producer into letting Buck ride also. He had heard of Brahma bulls before, but had never seen
one until now. The sight of 'the ugly rascals' set his heart to racing. He was anxious for the
rodeo to start because he wanted a shot at these 'son-of-a-guns,' and he SURE didn't intend to
leave with no broken bones either! Buck rode out ofthe chute on his first bull with a death grip
holding to the riggin with both hands. When he fmished his ride his heart swelled because he
didn't buck off. Then he noticed everyone was laughing at him! Jack eased over and quietly
asked him if he thought he could ride by holding on with only one hand. He told him he would
try. The next bull he rode with one hand swinging free. To his astonishment he rode as well
holding on with one hand as he did with two! It took a lot of explaining on Jack's part to
convince the rodeo crew that Buck was really a 'green-horn' cowboy, and not an experienced
rider. Honestly, it was not a set-up deal! He said he seemed gifted with a style of riding that
made it easy for him to stay on top of a Brahrna bull. He rode five of the first nine bulls that
bucked out of the chutes without bucking off, or sustaining a scratch. His chest swelled with
pride for his accomplishment. With each ride he became more enthusiastic, and determined to
pursue his career in the rodeo game.
At the end of the summer of 1932 his, and two other producers combined their cowboys and
stock to put on a big rodeo at Hagerstown, Maryland. There Buck met two Negro cowboys,
Felix Cooper and Lucky Boy Williams, who were riding for two other producers. He said their
performance and riding ability was very impressive. Felix rode saddle broncs and bulls and
Lucky rode saddle broncs and bull dogged. Buck continued to ride for the producer working for
a weekly salary plus receiving mount money for the exhibition rides he made. Jack-pot rodeos
were still popular, but he began to hear about contest shows going on also. The cowboys had
begun to form 'contest' rodeos and made up some rules for the competition.
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The fall of 1933 he went to a big contest show in Detroit, Michigan where he met Felix and
Lucky again. By this time the three young cowboys' riding ability was recognized in the
growing circuit. In Wild West Shows saddle broncs were ridden with two reins, so they rode
with one. It made the other cowboys look bad, but the producers liked it because it made a more
exciting show for them. The 'Champs' from California couldn't believe their eyes when they
saw Buck and Felix were actually 'spurring' bulls at the rodeo in Detroit. A cowboy was a real
'Champ' rider if he was capable of staying on a bull without getting bucked off, so it wasn't
necessary for him to spur also. Therefore, the other cowboys didn't take the risk of bucking off.
Buck and Felix took a lot of reckless chances in Wild West Shows because they were paid a
weekly salary and would get paid even ifthey got bucked off while trying something new. They
were learning how to try to tum away from the animal if they bucked off, and how to land on the
ground without injury. They continued to spur the bulls partly because they enjoyed the
personal thrill and satisfaction, and partly because it made their ride look better, and because in
a contest the judges would mark them higher. When the 'rules' said to spur the horse for the
fIrst three jumps out of the chute, or be disqualifIed [goose-egged] they began to practice it.
When they eventually got to ride in contest rodeos they knew the rules because they had been
preparing themselves for that time.
In 1936 the Rodeo Producers had been 'charging' the cowboys for the 'privilege' of
participating in a rodeo and the chance to 'win' the purses. The purses usually consisted of fifty
dollars fIrst money, thirty dollars second money and twenty dollars for third. The Producers kept
for themselves the more generous amount which included the entry fee and gate money. In
protest the cowboys went on strike, and organized an association, and named it the 'Cowboys
Turtle Association'. They chose officers, formed rules and regulations, laws, and by-laws. Each
of the CTA members were required to pay annual dues and was issued a membership card, pin
and rule book. The cowboys and the producers were required to comply with the rules or they
would be blacklisted, or barred from participating in a CTA rodeo. Every time a cowboy
completed a ride in a CTA rodeo he was scored points by the judges of the rodeo. The rodeo
secretary recorded the points and they were sent to the CTA headquarters, or office. At the end
of the rodeo season the points were totaled for each cowboy for each event. The one with the
highest score in more than one category was All-around Champion for that year. Each point was
equal to one dollar, so a cowboy could figure how much money he made for the season by the
number of points he made.
Spurs' rowels had to comply with the regulations. A cowboy could lose his membership if
the rowels had sharp points, or pins to lock them so they wouldn't spin. Buck said he would cut
and file his down to make sure they complied. The cowboys were so elated over their good
fortune they decided to pool their money to buy a 1930 Ford car. They drove from Hollywood to
Gresham, Oregon for a two-day rodeo. At Gilmore Stadium rumors were spreading about a
rodeo in Arizona. Thinking all of the top cowboys would go there, Buck said he and Felix
decided they would have a better chance at the rodeo in Gresham. When they arrived it seemed
that everyone had the same idea. It appeared there were more cowboys there than the Producer
had stock to ride. Discussing the matter they figured that each cowboy would probably get to
ride only one head of stock in each event for the whole rodeo, and that ride had to count! Their
decision was to remain and take their chances.
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They had a few days to lie around in the hotel before the rodeo would start. The cowboys
usually use this time to make any repairs on their equipment, get their cars serviced, do some
shopping, go to the movies and so forth. Buck said he was lying on his bed thinking of how he
could improve his spurring. He got out of bed, slipped his feet into his boots, strapped his spurs
on, sat in a chair and began to "spur" bending and jerking his knees back and forth as if riding a
horse. Much to his delight Buck had drawn a rank horse. Even though his expenses and
entering fee money was at stake, Buck said he decided to take a chance and test this new way of
spurring. When the chute gate opened Buck spurred the horse in the neck which drug his feet
up, with his toes pointed out. His knees came up toward his chin which created a rhythmic,
rocking motion. He said, "By golly! I rode that Rank son-of-a-gun and won the bareback horse
riding!" The judges and cowboys couldn't believe what they had just seen! They asked him
how in the world he could jerk his knees like that! He said he rode 'knee-jerking' style from that
day on, and as time went by the other cowboys began to practice it also. Whether he is credited
for it or not, Buck says he brought 'knee-jerking,' which is the present spurring technique, into
the rodeo game.
In September 1938 at Lakeview, Oregon the cowboys were eager to learn who had drawn an
'impossible' bull to ride named Droopy. In checking the board they saw that a cowboy with an
unfamiliar name was scheduled to ride him. Some of the cowboys asked Buck what he had
drawn to ride. He told them his name wasn't posted for him to ride that day. They told him he
had better check with the rodeo officials because each of them were to ride a bull for each
performance of the rodeo. In the meantime, the cowboys began to comment about how sorry
they were for the 'poor cowboy' who had drawn Droopy! The error was corrected by the
officials. It was supposed to have been Buck's name posted instead of the unknown cowboys'.
Now all of the attention was drawn to Buck. The cowboys began to razz him about being able to
ride this 'Muss Hog' of a bull. When the chute gate opened he came out 'hangin'it in him' just
as he promised he would. After all of the bragging he had done, and the ribbing he had endured
he knew he had to make a determined effort. After the bull had made three or four jumps out of
the chute he knew he was going to make his ride. Just to show off his skill he continued to ride
several seconds after the buzzer sounded. He said, that bull was one rank son-of-a-gun!
A Photographer was in the arena with a camera mounted on a tripod taking pictures. When
Buck came off of the bull and he was safely in the catch pen, the photographer left the camera
standing. He ran over, hugged Buck and spun him around and around and thanked him for the
'prize' action pictures he had just taken of him on Droopy. Buck asked him who he was, and he
told him he was taking 'thrill' pictures for the 1939 Golden State International Exposition at San
Francisco, California. On August 30th and 31 S\ 1977 this event was shown on 'Legacy Americana
Television channel 24 a local T.Y. Station. Buck had waited thirty-nine years to view himself in
action. To his knowledge, it is the only action picture of his rodeo riding in existence. It was
also shown in 'slow motion.' One can see just how strong and powerful a sixteen-hundred
pound bull really is. It also displays the rough ride and punishment the cowboy's muscles
endure during that eight seconds.
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He also rode a bull at the Roseburg, Oregon rodeo named Yellow Jacket. A fast spinning
bull that every cowboy who ever rode him made money on him. A nasty, mean rascal, and Buck
qualified on him every time he drew him, but never collected a dime for his rides. This was one
of the occasions when the judges were biased. He claimed to be one of the few cowboys who
could ride a fast spinning bull at that time, and he was usually spurring the bull while it was
spmnmg.
In January 1943, Buck received a draft notice from the Army. When the doctors examined
him they found a spot on his lung. He was rejected and given a Four-F Classification. This
meant he would not have to serve in the Armed Forces.
On the night of March 27,1943 Buck and I (Madelyn Montgomery) were married. A week
after we were married Buck got a notice from the Army to be re-examined. This time the
doctors found the scar on his lung was not from Tuberculosis, as they previously thought, but
from an injury. Buck said he thought the scar was caused by the fall he had at the Livermore
rodeo. The ninth of April Buck left for Camp Lee, Virginia and Basic Training in the Army. Our
flIst born was daughter Norma Jean, January 16, 1944 and daughter Janet was born March
12,1945. We were blessed with a healthy baby both times. Floyd "Buck" Wyatt was stationed
on Amchitka Island in the Aleutians. The only people on the Island were the Service men. Ice,
snow, polar bears and sea lions made up the scenery. He was also stationed on Attu and Kiska
Islands for awhile. On the Islands he drove a six-by-six truck hauling supplies from the ship to
the supply house.
In 1945 when Buck returned from overseas I showed him our bank book where I had saved
some of the G.!. Allotment checks. He was shocked. He had never had a bank book in his entire
life. During his rodeo days he would find an old, rusty, weather beaten fruit or vegetable can
and stuff a folded up wad of bills in it, step on it to make it flat and throw it in the luggage
compartment of his car. There were usually several ofthem in the car trunk. The cans went
unnoticed among the loose ropes, riggins, boots and all of the other stuff he hauled around. He
never lost count of how many cans were supposed to be in the trunk, or the total amount of
money in them.
After being discharged form the Army, Buck boarded the train for Red Bluff, California and
his flIst rodeo since the Fall of 1942. At thirty-six years of age and almost four years of absence
from the rodeo arena, he was feeling the pressure and anxiety. The awareness of not being
trained in any other family supporting field, and of the responsibility he had at home, he knew
he had to make it. The Cowboys Turtle Association had been changed to Rodeo Cowboys
Association, as well as the revision and addition of some new rules and regulations. The
cowboys eagerly filled him in on the changes. When his flIst horse was run into the chute the
rodeo announcer told the audience about his absence from the arena and he was going to attempt
to ride one of the top horses in the string.
As he threw his riggin over it's back he could feel his own heart throbbing. The years of
absence from the arena flashed through his mind. He wondered ifhe had lost 'his lick.' What if
he got hurt and wouldn't be able to support his family! He quickly dropped down onto the
bronc's back, gripped the hand hold, placed his spurs on the side of the horse's neck with his
toes pointed out, with a nod of his head signaled for the gate to be opened and they were in the
arena. The horse was jumping high, snorting, lunging and twisting into contortions. His feet
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were a driving force each time they hit the ground. The horse was doing his part, now it was up
to Buck to do his. Buck said he hung his spurs in the horse's neck as the gate was swinging
open, and he was raking so fast one could imagine sparks of fIre were present.
After the frrstjump out of the chute he knew he hadn't 'lost his lick' and was going to make
his ride. The bell sounded. The horse had worked himself into such a frenzy that he couldn't, or
wouldn't stop bucking, so he got extra jolts he didn't get paid for. The pick-up men had been
trying to get close enough to the bucking horse to grab Buck off. After a few more seconds of a
rough ride he was able to grasp the waist of one of the pick-up men and boost himself off and
over the other side of the horse to make a two-point landing. He said he knew he was grinning
from ear to ear with pure satisfaction as he reached down to pick his riggin up off of the ground.
He waved to the audience as they applauded fervently to show their approval. He won the
bareback horse riding and some of the bull riding purse. He went on to Fresno, BakersfIeld and
other California towns, winning a portion of the prize money at each one. At Las Vegas, Nevada
he won the bull riding and a beautiful, hand-tooled leather saddle.
At the Sidney, Iowa rodeo, Buck met a Colored cowboy named Marvel Rogers. He said he
was from Ida Belle, Oklahoma and this was his frrst trip to Sidney because he seldom rode in
rodeos out of his home State. He rode bulls, saddle broncs and bull dogged. He drew good
stock and qualifIed on every one of them. He made his competitors aware of his presence when
he won a chunk of the prize money. Marvel was a well-mannered, quiet, friendly and fun young
man. Buck said he was' one heck of a cowboy,' and he was really impressed with him.
Buck won day money for one-hundred-fifty dollars in the bull riding and fourth in the bareback
horse riding for two-hundred-eight dollars. After each cowboy has had a turn in the event for
that day it is called a 'go-round'. The frrst, second, and tlllrd winner of the event is called 'day­
money'. By the time the rodeo was over Buck had talked Marvel into traveling with him. They
made rodeos in the western part of the country where each of them had a successful season. In
the Fall they returned to Omaha for the AK SAR BEN rodeo. Marvel won two nice hand-tooled
leather saddles. One saddle was for winning the saddle bronc riding and one was for being the
All-Round Champion of the rodeo.
I was elated when Buck told me to pack and come along with him to make some rodeos in
the Eastern States. We stopped in Pottsville, Pennsylvania and visited the Jim Watson family
then on to Homestead, Pennsylvania to visit Al and Alma Harrel, more good friends. Jim drew
cartoons for the Pittsburgh Courier, a noted Negro Newspaper. He drew, and published a
cartoon of Buck riding a horse so ornery that it looked like the last ride of his life.
Buck had expressed his dislike for driving in New York and I could understand his feelings.
The traffic was very congested, the people drove like they were on a race track, the skyscraper
buildings made the streets seem narrower, and there was so much to see to distract the driver.
He had enough nerve to challenge a two thousand pound bull, but not enough nerve to drive his
car around New York. He said he felt it was cheaper in the long run to store his car in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and ride the bus into New York, as he usually did.
Naturally, Madison Square Garden drew the top cowboys from all over the Nation, Australia
and Canada. As we walked into the building some of the cowboys greeted us and excitedly told
Buck he had drawn one of Mr. Colburn's 'most impossible' rankest bulls to ride the frrst day of
the rodeo.
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Buck was ecstatic when he checked the bulletin board and saw it there for himself! The bull had
the reputation of being a fast spinner, the kind that Buck liked to challenge. For the rest of the
day and on into the night, and, even into the next day he talked of how he was going to 'hang it
in him' and win the bull riding! Needless to say he was in high spirits! Some of the cowboys
were as happy as he was. They respected his ability to ride fast spinning bulls and felt he had a
great chance to win the bull riding. As a matter of fact, some of them enjoyed seeing an
impossible bull being rode, even if it did mean money out of their pockets. It was some of the
thrill and enjoyment of the sport.
At last it was Buck's turn to ride his bull. He stood on the top edge ofthe chute straddling the
space above the bull. The announcer informed the audience of the bull's reputation. He
explained to them a rank bull like him would buck out of the chute about one hundred times and
get ridden about two of those times. The bull had no more than cleared the chute gate when he
went into a tornado-like spin. Buck's left hand was clearly visible over the top of his head. The
audience was hushed and spell bound as the bull continued the furious bucking and spinning.
When the buzzer sounded the bull was still spinning and Buck was still riding, way past the time
limit. Listening to the mood of the crowd there was no doubt in anyone mind's that he had
definitely made a qualified ride on that bull!
The audience went mad, whistling, stomping, yelling and clapping! Buck was grinning from
ear to ear as he stood in the arena waving his hat as the clapping and roaring continued. Almost
everyone was on their feet. The cowboys were hugging him in the arena, shaking his hand and
slapping him on his back. A number of the cowboys commenting about the ride, and they said if
Buck rode this bull he would be sitting on at least two-thousand dollars! If he didn't make
another dime at the rodeo that was a lot of money!
The following day a couple of the cowboys were waiting for them at the Garden. They told
Buck he had been'goose-egged' [disqualified] on the bull. One of the judges said Buck had
touched the animal with his free hand. Buck immediately knew which judge had 'egged' him
without being told, because he had done this to him on other occasions. Sure enough, he was the
one, alright! Buck was furious and protested to the judges and producers, but once the points
were marked they could not be changed. Everyone except the prejudiced judge felt it was an
unfair decision. Even though a number of the cowboys argued loudly in Buck's behalf the
decision was not reversed. Buck voiced his decision to leave the Garden stating that if he had
known the prejudiced judge would be judging there he wouldn't have been there in the first
place. Gene Autry, who was the Star of the rodeo, and the producers expressed their
dissatisfaction and tried to persuade him to stay on for the duration of the rodeo. Even though he
was grateful for the concern and support of the cowboys, Gene, and the producers he felt it
would be fruitless to remain.
On the third day of the thirty-day rodeo we packed up and drove to Chicago for the rodeo at
the Chicago Stadium. He never rode in another rodeo where that man was judging.
Buck said there were times when the Colored Cowboys would get into scrapes with the White
ones, but there was always some who wouldn't allow them to gang up on them so they got a fair
fight. The Colored Cowboys were particular about their behavior, who they hung around with,
and where they went. They treated people with respect so they could demand, and receive
respect themselves. On the other hand, if, and when they had to, they were usually capable of
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holding their own on a one to one fight. When the judges marked the scores unfairly sometimes
the White cowboys would protest, and argue, and at times fight in their behalf.
We arrived in Chicago in time for the rodeo. Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and the Sons of the
Pioneers were the Stars, or Draw Cards of the rodeo and Col. Jim Eskew was the producer. I
was introduced to Roy and some of the Sons of The Pioneers, who were all very warm and
friendly to me. Roy sat Janet in the saddle in front of him on Trigger and he rode around and
around the lot with her. She was a cute little eighteen month old baby, dressed in a red and
white fringed cowgirl skirt and bolero, white blouse, red hat and red cowboy boots. It was
obvious they were enjoying their ride.
Buck was lucky at Chicago and won a nice sum of money. Our next rodeo was Boston
Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Once again Buck drew good stock, marked high and was
pleased with his winnings, that is until a bull he was riding threw his head back and hit him in
the mouth. He said he wasn't a good money bull, but he looked good while he was bucking. He
would sling his head from side to side while he was jumping from side to side. The cowboys
hated to draw him because he was dangerous to ride.
Cowboys usually clamp their teeth together to avoid biting their tongue, but there is no
defense for this kind of injury. The doctor told Buck it would be necessary for him to go to the
dentist to have his teeth repaired. It took much persuasion to talk the hotel manager into loaning
him a pair of pliers. With the aid of a mirror and the pliers, Buck straightened his teeth back
into place before the effect of the anesthesia from the stitching wore off For the next week he
drank soups and other liquids from a straw. In time his teeth straightened up with no further
problems. In the meantime, the rodeo committee was good enough to hold his stock back until
the following day. He was grateful to them because he felt better by then and qualified on his
rides that placed him in the money. By the way, he made money on the abusive bull, as well.
When the rodeo was over we headed for home. This was the last contest rodeo he could
enter this season. Pro rodeos were going on in the Southern States, but the Dusky cowboys were
still being barred from participating as contestants. If they chose their next rodeo would be in
January at the Denver Stock Show in Denver, Colorado. We left Boston having made over
twenty three hundred dollars.
When we returned from Boston a letter from his Mother was waiting for us. His Dad
(Walter Wyatt Sr) was ill, and Mother Wyatt wanted us to come to Oklahoma to spend
Christmas with them. A few days before Cluistmas we drove to Oklahoma to his parents' home.
Even though he was weak and didn't feel up to much activity his dad enjoyed the hustle and
bustle of the Holiday. In March he returned to the rodeo circuit. His dad passed away in April
so he returned to attend the funeral. Back out on the road again the horses and bulls were
bucking good. He was staying on top and his winnings were adding up.
July 4th 1947 at St Paul, Oregon a horse fell on him as he bucked out of the chute,
fracturing his right ankle. He was due to ride at Mollala, Oregon that night, which was about
thirty miles away. The rule book stated that a cowboy must wear two spurs and come out of the
chute spurring the animal with both spurs. He said he knew if he went to the doctor he would
put an cast on so he couldn't wear his boot and spur. He used his pocket knife to cut the inner
seam of his boot down below his ankle. Cutting the boot in this manner would relieve some of
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the discomfort, give ease of moving it and prevent further injury. By cutting the seam he could
have it re-stitched when the ankle healed.
One of the concerned cowboys went to the drug store to purchase a pair of crutches, some
tape, cotton and a can of Ether for him. Five minutes before it was time for him to ride he
wrapped cotton around the ankle, poured the Ether onto the cotton, carefully eased the boot on
then wrapped the tape around the boot to hold the opened seam together, then strapped his spur
onto the boot. This procedure had an anesthetic effect on the ankle, which gave him ample time
to get onto his mount and make his ride before the effects wore off and the pain started again. It
was necessary for him to make sure everything was right, or it would cost him 'points' This is
one of those times when a cowboy calls upon his reserve energy, and needs to be aware of his
physical ability and endurance. When he fmished his ride one of the cowboys would be right
there with his crutches and would help him get back into his car. He didn't dare buck off
because it would really complicate his injury, so he had to make a greater effort to stay on his
mount.
Most of all, he had to depend upon the pick-up men to get him off safely, and without
dropping him. When a cowboy sticks it out with the clock he attempts to get off safely. The
pick-up men ride out on their horses and attempt to get close enough to the bucking horse to pick
the rider off safely. He was especially grateful to them on this occasion for their concern for his
safety. Between the two towns Buck had to ride seven head of stock, and he finished in top
money on every one.
Few people will argue that any other sport will surpass that of the courageous, reckless
cowboys! Endangered, they continue to ride. They continue to perform with broken legs, arms,
necks, sore muscles, strains, sprains, against the doctor's orders, the elements and their wives
and families' wishes. They persistently give self-medication and treatment when possible,
theorizing that what's good for the animals must be good for humans! They usually begin riding
at an early age, hanging up their spurs only when Mother Nature forces him to.
The Calgary Stampede started two days after the St Paul and Mollala, Oregon rodeos. It
was one of the hardest drives to make due to the time and distance between them. Buck said he
had to drive like mad, all of the while using his left foot to control the brakes, clutch and pedal
At Calgary he drew good stock and marked high to win a good share of the purse as he continued
to use the cotton-Ether procedure. Whenever possible he rested and elevated the ankle. It
seemed to be healing well and without complications.
The last day of the rodeo he got a telegram from home announcing the arrival of a son born
on the eleventh. He said he was so happy to get another boy he couldn't wait for the rodeo to be
over so he could head straight for Omaha! Gary was born July 11,1947 and was three weeks old
when he met his daddy for the first time. Buck relaxed around home for a few more days to
allow his ankle to heal a little more and wait for the Sidney rodeo to start. He did very well at
Sidney. When he fmished there he hit the road again. After a few more weeks out on the road
he stopped by home long enough for me to pack for myself and the baby to go to Chicago with
him. It was a surprise to meet Marvel in Chicago. As usual, he and Buck won a chunk of the
prize money.
While we were there a representative for the noted Negro Johnson Publishing Company came
out to the rodeo and interviewed Buck and Marvel about their rodeo careers. The article
Page 9 of 13
appeared in the February 1948 issue of the noted Negro Ebony Magazine. The family was
disappointed that the writer misquoted Buck about his yearly income and added his or her, own
reflections instead of what was actually said in the interview.
During that same period Buck received a letter that was forwarded to him in care of the
rodeo. It was from one of his friends in California telling him he had been asked to inform him
of plans to produce a Negro Western film in Hollywood. They wanted him to participate in the
movie. Back home again he began to make plans to go to California. The second week in
December he packed the car and hooked the trailer onto it. He drove through inclement weather
and treacherous icy mountains and roads to California to learn more about the Negro Western
Movie. The movie was never made. Buck didn't agree with the conditions of the contract, and
apparently some of the other would be participants didn't either.
Buck continued to cover the rodeo circuit as before. The children had grown to school age
so I remained at home. He would participate in the Eastern shows in the Spring. In May he
would come back to California, Washington, Oregon and other Western States and Canada. In
the Fall he would return to Chicago, Detroit, Boston and other Eastern states. On the way to
New York, Boston and other Eastern States he continued to store his car in Pittsburgh then ride
the bus into New York, and other towns.
At the Missoula, Montana rodeo in 1949 he won the bull riding. He said he was a rank-son­
of-a-gun. He also won the bareback horse riding. A Levi-Strauss representative presented him
with two belt buckles for winning the two events. One had a gold bucking horse with an inlaid
Ruby Stud and the other had a gold bucking bull with a Ruby Stud inlaid in the center of square
engraved silver buckles. Another Company gave him a hand-tooled leather saddle as the prize
for being the All-Round Cowboy of the Rodeo. The following day the rodeo office illegally
changed the scores. They made Buck return the saddle because they said he didn't win first
place, but rather second place instead! He was allowed to keep the first place prize money and
the belt buckles. His, and some of the cowboys' protests were to no avail. The rodeo committee
told him he would be blacklisted from riding in RCA rodeos ifhe kept the saddle. He returned
the saddle and was given a worthless receipt for the saddle, which we still have.
Around the fourth of July 1949 at Reno, Nevada the cowboys went on strike because the City
Businessmen, Stores, Clubs and others donated a large sum of money. The cowboys were given
the impression the money was supposed to be added to their prize money. The last day of the
rodeo the cowboys learned the money was not going to be added to their prizes so they went on
strike. They refused to ride until the Committee agreed to add the money to the prize pot.
The donators, unaware of the affect it would have on the cowboys, agreed to testify in court that
they donated the money to the Rodeo Committee. All of the cowboys who had won money at
that rodeo were forced to return their winnings or be Blacklisted from riding RCA Rodeos.
Buck won the bareback horse riding and second in the bull riding. He returned his winnings
which amounted to three hundred-thirty-two dollars.
Having made the last rodeo of the season and while driving home alone gave him time to
think. It suddenly occurred to him he was being deprived of seeing his children grow up. Each
time he left to go out on the road it was more and more difficult to leave them. It tore at his
heart to see them cry for him when he kissed them and drove away. Realizing he was growing
older, the competition was getting rougher in the rodeo arenas, the miles were getting longer
Page 10 of 13
between shows, and he knew he would eventually lose his 'lick.', he told himself he had to fmd
another way to support his family.
Taking advantage of his G.!. Bill, he enrolled in a Plastering School in Los Angeles. To
make extra money he parked cars at a private club every week-end until he fmished the course.
February 1950 he entered the bull riding at the Palm Springs, California Rodeo. He bucked off
of the Musk-hog-of-a-bull named Gentleman Jim. He was a big, nasty critter. The following
week Gentleman Jim killed a cowboy who attempted to ride him. Rodeo Brahmas are often very
dangerous. Cowboys say 'they will bite a plug out of you, and then kick the plug. '
Once again we were blessed with another healthy baby girl. Linda was born on April 24th
,1950. At this point he was willing to work at anything, experienced, or not. Norton Air Force
Base in San Bernardino, California was hiring and training people in their sheet metal
department to work on airplanes. In April of 1951 Buck applied and was hired. At fIrst it was
diffIcult for him to determine the thickness, stress, and other things necessary for him to know
about sheet metal. He was required to use fractions and decimals in his homework. Growing up
he was allowed to go to school only on the days the weather was foul, or, when the crops didn't
need attending. The one room schoolhouse he attended had one teacher who taught children
from primary through eighth grade. His formal education was the equivalency of about the
fourth grade. In spite of his meager education he could fIgure faster, and more accurate without
a pencil and paper than a lot of people could with it. Fractions and percentages were out of the
question, but he was required to use them on his daily assignments as part of his training course.
At fIrst he was discouraged, but he caught on fast so it took only a few weeks of my patience and
his concentration and determination. Eventually he was capable of doing what was required of
him and he enjoyed his work.
He went to RCA rodeos that were close enough for him to leave after work on Friday
evening and be back to work on Monday morning. Several of those week-ends between 1951
and 1955 he and another cowboy named Zeke Bowers fought bulls for the Wilford Cline rodeos
at Yermo, Lone Pine, and Red Mountain, California and Yarrington, Nevada. On some of his
free week-ends he loaded the family into the car and we would take in Jack-pot rodeos in Norco,
Corona, Saugus, Newhall and Corriganville Ranch, California. It was a nice outing as well as he
picked up a few extra dollars. At times the jack-pot rodeos were as exciting and some of the
stock was as rank as at any of the big rodeos.
The summer of 1951 a committee in Bellflower, California contracted him to fIght bulls for
their rodeo. After viewing his performance a committee from Artesia, California also contracted
him to fIght bulls at their celebrations. They were held on the fIrst and last week-end of the
month. I made two new capes for him to fIght the bulls with. They were made of satin fabric,
fire engine red on one side, and bright sunshine yellow on the other. After the first night they
weren't quite so pretty! We went to the Thrift Shops and purchased a purple and red, ankle
length, full circle taffeta skirt which he wore over his Levis. An orange tee shirt was pulled over
a voluptuous bust line made with tissue paper stuffed into a women's bra. Bright orange rouge
was applied to his cheeks, blood red lipstick on his lips, a red bandana tied snugly on his head
and bracelet earrings hung on his ears. He looked just like a lady sitting on the fence! When the
first bull bucked out the announcer kept complaining about the lady sitting on the fence and
asking her to fmd a safer place to sit. But, she didn't budge! He kept pleading with her to get
Page 11 of 13
off of the fence because the bulls were dangerous and she could get hurt if she fell into the
arena, or something.
When the cowboy fmished his ride Buck climbed down into the arena, took the cape from
the fence and fought the bull. The audience had a fit to see the lady bullfighter! It wasn't until
later when Buck dropped his skirt, climbed down into the chute and came out riding his bull that
they were aware he was not a lady! The bull was a small, wiry Brahma. He was quick and
rough, jumped from side to side, would spin one way, stop suddenly, change direction and buck
high into the air, but he was unable to dump his mount. When the bell rang another cowboy
distracted the bull which gave Buck the chance to dismount safely. He grabbed the cape and
fought the charging bull.
Our family continued to grow as God blessed us with more healthy children. Kenneth, was
born August 27,1952, and Sydney, was born April 2,1954. The impact of how much he was
missing his family really hit him. In 1954 Buck and family moved to San Bernardino to be
closer to his job. April 1955 we purchased a new four bedroom home in San Bernardino to
accommodate our large family.
In May of 1955 Buck entered the bull riding at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona and
won it. In August he entered the rodeo in Riverside, but the stock didn't buck well enough, so
he didn't make any money. Another healthy son, Rodney, was born September 20, 1955. So, at
forty-five years of age and twenty-five years of driving the highways and enduring physical
punishment in the rodeo arenas he made a final decision to hang his spurs up.
He began the role of Father and husband, but a new era began right behind our back yard.
He operated a horse riding academy and raised hogs and beef to go into the freezer to provide for
our large family. For a time he also grew hay for the horses. Young and old came to Mr. Buck's
place out in the river wash to get an experience in horseback riding. When school was out
Mothers could rest assured their children were either at Mr. Buck's horse riding stables or on
their way there. For a radius of one and a half miles away you would see boys and girls or both
sometimes holding to the hands of the younger ones headed toward the wash at ninth and
Pennsylvania. Whether the weather was hot, cold windy or raining, was of no concern to them.
It was important to them to get there as soon as possible so they could spend more time before
darkness sent them home. Mr. Buck's was a unique place that attracted riders of all ages.
Would-be cowboys and cowgirls of all ages, educational and ethnical backgrounds could be seen
on prancing horses.
Mr. Buck had about ninety head of horses for renting to ride, as well as he boarded several
for private owners. In the evening, after the stock had been fed, watered, groomed and retired
for the night groups of people sat around listening to Buck relate stories from his 'Rodeo Days',
as he referred them. Even though the 'regulars' had heard many of the stories before, they
seemed to never grow tired of him re-telling them. His manner of relating each event with a lot
of comedy added would hold his audiences' attention, sometimes well past midnight. It was
obvious they never grew tired of probing him into hours of entertainment. Our children were
often a part of his audience and were always eager to have a more detailed account of their
Dad's rodeo life. It was also their hopes, and dreams that this material would also serve as a
historical account of these real cowboys who fill the void in our Black History. There was no
T.Y. to give the early Professional Rodeo Cowboys publicity or exposure. Only the throngs of
Page 12 of 13
people who saw them in action would remember them. These cowboys had no 'role models' or
'mentors' for them to follow. Only their undying love of the sport kept them competing.
Nevertheless, they leave a legacy as the "Pioneers' and 'Veterans' who paved the way for all
of the future Black Professional Cowboys of America who followed. Buck said if he could live
his life over, it would probably be the same, except he might not have been so reckless with his
money. He said, "He lived for 'today' and it was easy come, and easier go." He was "thankful
to his Mother for her prayers and to Almighty God for a full, healthy, happy life, and an
understanding family. Rodeo will always be in my blood!"
After their retirements from the rodeo arenas Felix and Buck attended a Reunion in 1986 for
Veteran Cowboys in Las Vegas, Nevada. There they received their coveted, and well earned
Professional Rodeo Cowboys of America Gold Cards.
Floyd "Buck" Wyatt died November 11, 1997.
Page 13 of 13
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Hom e BOlrs to Tack~e
Bucking Broncs at
Ranch Show
CONTINUES At L WEEK!
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" West came East la;st night, wl).eu·
the grand opening. o.f.c the ' Roosevelt
Post, American Leg1on~ '" rodeo took
place on Delsea Drive, at 'South ' Vine.
lanil. Cowboys and 'coWgIrls, with
much good~loo,Jrin'g d.ttl-e ; and stock, I
part ·i'll ' the· adi:vities:
I
ooreback brQ~ICo busting was
the features .:' o!
evenIng.
Buck Wyatt was tue wInner of first
second, and:
boe Lucas, third.
f
I Ii'ancy rop,ing was next offeree!' hy I
Buddy Medford and \V'e aver Gray. Vir. '
I Blackstone tool, first prize ill the calf
J'c'9ing COB test with Doc 'L ltcas, sec.
i ond , ani! Harry Drack-ert, third.
, The dangerous steer bulldogging,
·conteSlt wall captured by Punch Horn. '
e1' with Harry Drackert, second, and
I Jack Jackson, third,
The wild s teer
riding event was won by Tom Horner
with Punch Horner and Frank Clancy
finishing in that order. .
) Probll!bly the most thrilling even t ·of
Ith~ evening was the wild hor~e race,
in which Doc Lucas was the winner.
~..J:YYatt was second in the event. .
: Sh<loting by Stack I"ee, cowgirl rid· 1
ing by Ruhy Roberts and Jean I<il'by, i
wild ' mare milJring, trick riding and
auto hurdle were other features.
The rodeo will be put on again to.
night, one sbow only.
~l'ize; Everett Vassar,
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I
The bellowing of llIadctenod
steers, the crack of pistol shots
and the clanking of spurs will fur­
nish a glamorous baGkgronnd for
the periol'ma.ncc of Bnddy Purvis,
Charlottesville youth who will
maj,c the dangerous uttempt to
rille 1111brol~ell longhorn steers and
bucktng brollcoes in the Oklahoma;
S.h ow, to be held
liel'!' Augnst 23, 24, 25 f or th e ben­
efi t of the Athletic ball team.
I
Purvis ifin't going into the peril 'l
'of the ring with his eyes shut. s
He's been wittl the rodeo shows
before and claims that the moun ts I ve
will ha ve to be real buckers to
I throw him. Other local talent WIll,
be on ' the bronco-busting program "
~~~ a lJother sta.r 'per­ !
, former ot' the rodeo, is known
!the "dusky demon froD! Okl'aho- ,'
I ma. "
He has the repu ta tiou of I
08111g a top-haud, having won first,
in a number of large contests.
'1'lle beau ty with the. beasts is
fllrnished by pretty Rodeo Rose,
Babe Noonan and Pegg)" Adams
strange and wonderf ul
standing
galloping
I
·
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I'll .
as)
Ulen's string of bucking horses.
"White Man," the world's great­
"Rt. high-julllping horse, will give
spectators a thrill when he
mps ovel' an automobile.
A special feature of the nightly
'Performance will be the competi-'
tion for local riders who will ride
wild horses and steers for
ranging frolll $3 to $50,
.
.
Oklahoma 'Ranch Rodeo HeTe.
'To Feature ·18 Ri-ding Stars:
Oklahoma Ranch Rod~O fea-I est $core~' last year, .in the Western
Ul'jng Buck Wyatt, Bareb-;,;ck Bet- Rodeo tIlts.
He IS best known
Y' Morg;;-:- Rod~ Rose, Mexi('an for the wa.y he rIdes the wildest
3i1ly. G. Montana Dale and 13 oth~r star riders from th& West will
givE:' a three-day performance at
he athletk pal'k for the benefit ot
h~ Althfetic Ball team, August 23,
24, 25. .
beasts. . He alljo . rides the ' P()ny
Express a.l.Jd is a -triek horseman.
Rodeo Rose is the lady who
rides R{}ntan style ' sta.nding, and
loes other trick stunts. Mexican
Billy has roped 7 horses abreast.
He can spin ropes'il:nc1"liU£s Oll.a
pistol shooting act whe'n he out­
Jines tile form of a girl standing
against a board.
The Rodeo, orie unit of tbe Ok­
a,h()ma. Ranch . Rodeo, which ha.s
leenon' perf(}vroance in the Bos­
on Gardens, has 18 riders and 18
' The · horses with the outfit, are
n-ote,,; orth~r in , that one of them
<;an high jump 5 feet and broad
.jump 32. Anot·her jumps OVe}' an
automobile.
teer.
A speCial ~ea.tUl'e of the nightly
Among the steeors with the ()ut­ performa.nce lS thE.'
fit Is one know!) as Tom Brown,
riders who ride 'wild
which 'has never been ridden by forl{}ca-I
.
any man with the exeeption of horses a·nd steel' tor prizes
" . Wyatt. Wyatt was the hjgh~ ing froll1 ~3 t1J $50.
animals. including wild horse-s,
trick horses and steers, broken
The : steers are a
el'ocious breed, be·ing a. C1'OSS be­
ween water buffalo and Texas
I
900 people attended the
Ranch Rodeo last ,night,
in Front Royal, presented by· the
All-Stars baseball club, and attend­
ed the riding of bucking steers,
bronchos and mules, trick and
fancy riding,' pony express land
novetyridillg, rope spinning and
whip P9Pping.
.
.
. Howard Klohe, George Craig,
Robert Gfferand Gilbert Smith, of
Front Eoyal Remount Depot, a·n d
Herman' Figgins, of Front 'Royal,
.
bucking st~ers and bronc;hos
rides and rated well with
LaMont and Buck W~tt,
professional rodeo riders
by the Rodeo managemerit.
bro.nc ho failed to unseat
. " .Keyser, of Front
also -Vade.
.
'
,It°.de.o mana.gem~nt offers
anyone $2!;) who WIll nde Jack
BroWlL, a big Longhorn bucking'
.steer. Buck Wyatt failed t.o com­
p.lete the route on him la,st night.
"Bare~.back Betty" Morgan - was
temporarily out of the show last
night,from a spi-lI in an effort: to
ride Buffalo, a bucking steer, but
revived to assist Billy Gee in a
skillful de'm onstration of whill
popping.
,
.
~ck W~~t demo.nstrated the
old-hme western pony express, but
was uIlhorsed bya local rimle which .
he attemptea to ride. With Charles
La,MOllt, he gave an excellent exhi­
hition of trick and fancy· ' riding,
LaMont doing the "<!ouble croup-.
er/' a difficult riding feat. Gilbert
Smith and George Craig a-lso dem­
onstrated fanCY riding. Bald Hor- I
net and I'll-Be-Damned are two
rodeo bronchos that gave
.
.
plenty of .trouble.
. There were many persons from ,
distant sections present last nieght.
.'
. . d
. '.
' . The rodeo Wlll. be contl.nue
mghtly through ' thIS week, WIth a
matiilee on Satm'day afternoon.
'Troop 11 .of :Pottsville- was
recent,meeiing by ~~
.Wyatt, an Oklahoma Cowboy who
is ' visiting friends here~ The boys
were treated to an exh\bition of
fancy rope spinning 'andl!:not· tying
as practice~ on the westernplain.s,
" Mr, _~~~tJ; kept the meeting in
'uproar of laughter with tales of
life and humorous stories of
own boyhoOd on his fa~her's
ranch l}.ear Kendricks, Okla.
was of; the time his older brothers
tied rum onto the back of a Texas
longhorn calf... ~uek c1a.iins that he
has never been able to get baek all
the "hi.cte" t.h at was knocked oft"
him before .that ride was over.
?o4I.:,:':,W~t took part in the County
Fair Rodeo last JaIl and the boys
who saw, him .perform are t:HljJlli:ll,lC .
in their opinion ,that "Buck is a.
riclill'. ··btonc stompin, buckaroo."
.tll.ln~dat a,
'ITOoPll and the.boys of Cub age,
who wiHsoon register, enjoyed a
. long ruke and bird nest b'unt
Suhqay. Tl}e Cubs went ahead of
the Tr<x>p, .who 'endeavored to ' tl;ail
them; the Pack was led by Dick
White" a Troop Committeeman,
'while the'IToop .was in charge of
Williall) Harvey~ Scoutmaster.
'Plans .were started at a meeting
of the Council .Activities Commit­
~e held last ' week for the 1934
Camporee, wruch will be held at
Camp Blue . Mountain on .F riday
and· Saturday, June 2~th and 30th.
. The Camporee is 'a 24 hour camp­
ing contest which is partiCipated in
by the Troops of the Council by ,
Patrols. . Each Troop can send,· as
many Patrols as desire'd, but each
unit entel'ed must be a natural
Patrol ,of .the Troop;
District . Camporees will be held,
first in· June, and then tho:!e who
not rate standard will " have a
g
or Rodeo, At
F: r()nf- ~Ro: yal
. ~'''' .AN•
.'
.Outstanding Riders To ~e'
Seen In Action In 4.,I)ay
Rodeo In An~Star Stadium
Carpenters .havepractically com­
pleted constl'uction of chutes .and
corrals, a,n'd electricians ljavein­
sta~led electrical equipment, intj1.e
A,lI Stars Stadium ip Front R'Qyal
for , the Oklahoma Ranch, :Rod'eo
which will begin tonight at 8:15,
lor" the benefit of the All-Stars
Baseball Club.
The Rodeo inanagenient an­
nounced yesterday that Pxivates :
EowaTd Klohe and Robert E­
of Front Royal Remount'
wiII attempt to !'ide some of .
,
premium stock. Several other boys
including members of the All-Stars,
whos e names are ' withheld;. have
also agreed to ride, it waf:i stated.
Helen Morgan, better known ' as
" Bareback Betty," 'arrived pn Moil-.
day .night from a California l'odeo. .
Bareback Betty" rides steers and.
. ' horses an,d will be given
opportunity to ' show her met­
tonight. . "BJ!~I(~1Yy.~~, ' Il;n
VK,laJ1Qlna colored,' boy who iss-aId
only colored boy that nas
big money at the I;u'ge.r snows,
the only rider tba't has , ii:dd'tm
.
as
cowgirls from;\!
Ad'a ms, ' Ros~
les Lamont,
Peters and
,,,".T .roqpll :Qf '- PottS~l~~-. was en ',
.t;a.i;qect aXa
,i~eceh.t,.m~eting. b11i.U..Q~
an '-OklahQ~a
W~att.: ..
Cowboy . who
visiting ·friends here. "rhe boys
were treated to an ' exhibition- of
fan·cy top~, .§pi~nin:g .a.n d knot , tying.
.a s '
" .on .tl1e western, plain.s.
k€pt the meeting in
of' laughter with ' tales of '
"n'l'l'1'hli....· Ufe and humorous stories Of.
own ' boyhood on his father's.
near Kendricks, ' Okla.. One
was of ·t he :.time · his .older
;t1e 4 :hinf.on ,to the 'back: bf 'a, Te~a$'
longhQrn ,calf:. ': Buckc1a.iins that, hB'
.has 'll€yer . been
to get ba.ck all .
t:n.e'~nld¢". .that was knocked Off
hhn' ·b:efQre ,that ' ride was over.
, M,1:::':.W~; took part in the County
Fair "Rodeo la:!;t fall and the ' boys
who Sa.w..hhn ,perform are'€mpha,tic
'in their opinion that '.'Buck is a
riqii'l,'. ·:bi~onc
. stonlpin,buckaroo."
..
able'
"
"
'
.;
.
~
. . Tr6QP 11and-the"boys of Cub ~ge,
who will . soon . register, enjoyed a­
Ip:Q.g .:hike, and blrd' rte~t J:iunt .
.Sutiqay.,. : 'rile ' .GuQs wentahe~d of
,the : Troop, ,who endeavO,red:' to 'trail
them; the Pack was led by Dick
White; a Troop ' CoulJ;nitteeman,
.while' the .Troop ' was in . charge of
. Willia~
.
.
'.
·.Harvey,
.. 'Scoutmaster.
.
Plans .were", started 'at a meeting'.
of ' the :Council·' Activities Commit;..
tee he14 , la·s t · week for th.€ 1934
Campor.ee., Which will be helq' at
,Camp .- :Blue ',.Mountain on ' .F riday
and: Saturday, ,JUl"l€ 29th and , 30th.
. '1'he.'camp()ree ls 'a 24 h'o ur ca-mR"~
ing ,contest whi-ch is participated tn
by . the' Tl~{)OPS , of the Council by
Fatro.Is~· · Each Troop can send.' as
mapy ·. Patrols ' as d€sire"d,but each
unit ente.redmust be a natural
Patrol 'of the Ttoop.
,,··:tHstriet- Camporees wIn be held,
, first ili ,Juhe, ·and then those wh o
',riot ' r.ate . standar'
­ d Win , h~v~' a
22
HOOFS
--------==-~"-==-:-:.===
AND
HORNS
FEBRUARY. 1947
--- . =..:==-~~.~=='=--=-=-=-=-~=-===;=========
F LAS H I,
Ma.ncrd Gayler. Tucson. Arl7.ona.
who it'd t·he team Lying to win SlOO.OO
1.R.A. 1946 Cha.mpions
tl'Ophy given by Hoof,~ and HOrll~,
I tim'11 ­
Not t.oo mnny years ago t,le
publil;,hed by Mrs. Ethel Hopkins,
ing pony express and relay races
Gene RamiJo of Shannon. Cu.\i(ol'­ Tucson, Arlwna.
were mR.jo~ events at IHfmy rodeos, ni.. won lhe All Around Grnnd
Wild cow milkinll ch"mpion.<hip
and the event;., ~hrmselves were Champion Cowboy Awarrl wilh was won by Gene Rambo. Shandon,
packed from sL:ut t.o finish wil.h fi,714 point,<, to)lping Bud Llndcr­ C",!ifornia, topping Clay Carr h:;
t.hrills, spills and tlghtillr: finishes lll(lll. RI'!l LodJ;e.. Montana, who only 338 points_
t·hat, had the crowds screaming on
, . It
· t I
., w
nn
go., elg-1 1'010.' (,SS, 1" a:;
­
R. J. Hofmann. President of Inter­
their feet.
110Ull('('d lod:lY hy Fred S. M<;Cal'. .
Wornell were ~.~ proticknt. In this IInr, S"cr('tlll'Y of the Inl.cmat,lon!l.l national Ro~~Q A..<SOC1RtlOll of Chcy­
fit'ld as the men, (Inr\ nwny or the Roclco !\.,-~ociatiOll, Saliflll~, C<lJl ­ ·cnne. WyomIng announced that ro:
riders were women who could spring (nmb1-. Geno Rambo wins $1.000 lmd ~ were onc of the bp.st a.tten<ien
nimbly from one horse's back to au- :1. ~llld and "lIver ben buckle given sports e.v~ts of the cou~try, and the
HAROLD & HOWARD
other and ride hell-bent for clec- bv Ltvi SLraul>.~ & Compauy, San I .RA. InVIte.. . commercial frrms to
O'NEILL (Twins)
tion.
Frandsco, Cnlif.. makers of the donate $l.~OO or mor(' for I!ach one
Fcaiurinl: Their Educated The return of ICl!a.Ii7.ed racing in rnm011.< Levi'~, He aI~o wins a $350 of the V~IPS.
Mules Skimmilk & .Janie California ouring t·he ht,t·cr part of ~llver mounted !;addlc awarded by SANTA RITA nOTEJ. RUN FOR
They G" From The Rldicnlous To 1933 and the early pnrt of 1934 the Row~l\ Saddle Company of HayTltf'! Suhlime Clowning caused mnny fail'S alld rodeos to warc!. CnUL Rambo and Lin(\erman
HORSEMEN BY nORSEMEN
And Bull Fighting drop t.lle relay and pOlly "xpress W'-'I'C nl'r.k and neck up unLit JauuThe Sal1~a Rita Hotcl In Tuc.,~on
Now Available - Book E;lrly e~'e!lU; from t.he PT~mm due, In 'II'Y 1 when the Illst point.s came in hll~ long neell the ga~h()rlng spot for
Rt. 1. Rox 491 J)ltT~. Lo the lo:;s of t.alent who t.urned from m~mbel' ~ho\\'s.
SOl~thwestern hon;e and catt1!'meu.
Fait· 0:111;5. Calif. to the "bitr apple" for larger pur:;es.
Cnrl Mendes of Visalia. CaliL. won Thi.~ year the Santa Rita will again
The depression YCEU'S of the 19308 25t.h pl"ce in Lhc al1 around grand plllY- 'hos~ to them during the Live­
had sWI more t.o do wit.h t.he drop- chn.mplon:<hip contest which ga.ve ~t.o('k RI'\('I Quarte\' Horse Show the
ping of tllc..~e events since (l-l! gate him t.he dil'Linr.lirm of rl)ceivlng the latter part of January, One Quar­
receipts were (lown "nrl ~he show Hamley Saddle Company award of tel' horse show Is now Ule large:;t
• PichJI"O", deccnp.io"L P¥Q& on
manngrm; pulled in their belts to $lnO.O{l. bent,ing ou~ Dan Poore who of its kind in the world .
lOWTenC9 $addles ... ,toncord
cut down operating expem;cs. The wa~ IInforLullat<: enough to get three
The Arl7.Qna Quarter Hon;e Br~erl­
~ipme"l of WeVern ridef1; 'Sinee
outcome of all of this was the loss pl)jnt.~ too mnl1Y find Clay Carr who ers will have their annual dinner
1857. Write fb¥ your frf!e copy.
oC n. feature of shOWl; that had a. h(l(\ tw~nty IJOint.s too few,
at t.he Sant.a Rita. the evenlnr: of
SOLD ON EASY TERMS
huge ({mwing power.
Jr.>frv Ambler of Glenwood, WaSh ., January 22, and olle Am~riC'll1
Todav t,he time WM never more won \.il(' brrmc riding championship QURrtel' Racing RSSocll\tlon will han­
ripe fry!- the ,,,Idltion of lhE'sc p.vpnt.~, ami $1.000 check award given by quet there on the evening of Janu­
"The Bes1- in lVesum Garb"
"\1(1 rnanv fair m<l11ag['r~ coulrl be SC\7.llick International Studio, pro- ary 25.
Made by
indllced io ndd J'<!lay imrl pony cx­ ducl'l':, of "Duel in tIle Sun," beaUng
Tlie Santa Rita Hotel I:; manager!
pr"S5 mcc,< to their programs if out Bill McMackin of Chandler, Ari- by ~hat excellent horseman, Nick:
the horse.~ and talent werc ~,vail­ mHa by almost 1.000 J>Oint.~.
I-l'aU. Niek. his beautiful golden
nble,
Dick Gl'lfTlt,h of SC(\lt.~d:<If>, J\ri7~. P",)omlno ~Ch3mp" bred by WITt
To get, this talent InL<> t.raining' \\;on Lhe bull "Kling championship Bowman, and an enormous sJlvcr
~lld ready for t.he lIpring circnit Is :<nd t.\'OPh..v of $200.00 given by Mont- mounted saddle and bridle nrc a.
1\ problem bllt no~ nn \1n~nrmOlll1t- ·'omen' Ward &; Company, elimln­
familiar Sight around Tucson,
able one. Good t..'\leut is everywhere ~lill~ Glfon Tyler 01 Mode~Lo, CI\Iif..
The Santa Rita Hotel st"bles wUl
Roilco
Cowboy
[or the dE'velopillg, and the m<lco by 400 pnints. but, Glen was awarded show two of Its 1946 get In this
Wild West
Cowgirl
world has t.he lal.1l:p.st source t.Q draw a.-ehee~or- $.l25,OO for ~CC011d
_ ; year's Quart.er horse show-a. filly
MoYie ADd
Dude Ranoh [rom. Rodeo a!.!;o has the !.Ylle of Bur-k Wyat.t oC Omaha. Np.m·a..,<ka, "HanRover" by "'nl~ee Bars" out <If
H,o, VE YOU R RIDING CLOTHES rider needed beca.llsc he or she nmde thi~d place winning the Mont­ a half-bred polo mare, and a colt
MADE BY A COWHAND--SEND FOR tbrlvp.~ on excitement and 10:Lds
gomery Waro. prize of $75.00.
"Tho Virginian" by uJoe Reid II"
lLLUSTRATED ORDER BLANK
act,ion.
'I---H1t<l~6i-ftch:!rllr.n~.o!.JU?J;i-Lo<il!e. OIJt of a if. thorobrCd maTe.
3<16 W, ~tb SL
New York. N.Y,
Fair m:lnagerl; ill California nre Montana, won tIle bare-back riding
The Hotel aLso owns b"o dL<;t.anr~~
1 blk 01 Madison Square GvdeD cry1ng fot' entert.alnment thaL call champKlUMlp and $100.00 trophy runners-"Circle Home," a gray 4­
draw the crowds through the gates, dDnated by Western Horsem.'ll1, pub- year-old t'hol'obred geldillg' by "Royal
... ..
and '" form of enterLalnment that !i~h{'(l by Grnhnm DeRn of Reno. Disturb," hI' by "Roy~ Ford," he by
r··--:- ,-...-----.....
:
call be arlnpt<:d to the nnmerous Ncv;l-da. Thl~ beat Wag Blc..<;sing "Roi Herro" out of "Louise Hobe­
f/uaTter-aml half -mil~ track:;. Many by 724 points.
/;on;" and HFair Warrior," a. blnck
Homel' Pettigrew of Grady, New 6-Yell-l'-0Id gelding by "ScOJ.ltma-~ter"
of these lairS arc not equipped wit.h
pati- mutu,-,! facilities, but have the Mexico, won the calf roping chrunp- by "campfire" out of "li,<\ir Avis."
housing need,-,d for relay and pony iOl1~hip giving him lhp. $100.00 ~rophy The latter horse Is known in Tucson
el(prc.<;.~ .~trings . Alw the winter and "- vnhmhle saddle presented by circles for his tremendQus move in
quarters to put both horses and rid- Port..r Saddle Company of Tucson t.ho last .~ mJle In a. 11/16 mile
en; into training.
and Phoenix, Ariz., also S100.00 given race.
By getting the limelJght again fo­ by West-Holliday Co., Inc., San
The Slll1ta Rita posses.<;es "Cherry
cused on their particular fi~ld of Francisco publishers' repl'(?sentatiV6S. TwIg," bred by J. Kinney of lied
racln~ In California.. Interest would def"1lting ChUck Sheppard.
Rock. by the thorobred stallion
\Je awakened In other states. The
The wInner of the steer wrestling "Scorpion" by uCherry Tree" ollt
whole Rodeo field would gOoin championship was Dave Campbell, of an unkuown mare. "C her r y
through new talent developed.
Las Vegas, Nevada, Who rece1ves Twig" is well known on thc hllnt
It takes bu~ !\ few months of trophy of S100.00 givcn by Johu B. coun;e and In the llhow ring jn
training in the early spring to Sl.et.~on Hl\t COmpllny. This topped Tucson. He Is Invarlably ridden by
" . ~.
deve10p a cracking good relay or ex­ Hank MlIls of Pueblo, Colo.• by 1000 John K, (Jack) Goodma.n. SOD of
press rider 3.5 well a.s a. well trained point.~.
the OWller of the Santa Rita. and Is
. '_ ..J string of horses,
L
Bud Spence of Okanogan, Wa.~h., one of the few hornes in Arizona.
The use of Qua.rtel· hor.;e.~ for this won the steer decorating champion- who wm jump collSistently over five
JORDAN & SONS
~ype of racing :<hould be cncouraged, ship and $100.00 award given by the feet In height on a triple bar.
for this is the bref:d t.hat hp_<; t.he Howard Automobile Company of
When the horsemen of the South­
SADDLE MAKERS
levclhe:1dednc.'<S and speed needed, Sa.l1 Francisco and Los Alli!;e1es, de­ west stay a.t the Santa Rita" they
Alamogordo, New Mexico
and many former Lime rccOIl'ds featint( Tom Knight. Cody, Wyo,
a¥e residing at the only hostelry In
Ot.her winners and runners up Arizona t11&t Is able to cater to
~;:;-::-:.-=-=--::=========::...:~; I would be lowered by seconds by t.'hp.
\.iS1! of tbe favorite Rodeo horse of were:
their need.~ because It is the Hotel
today.
,John Bnwman, Oakdale. CaHfor­ run by Norsemen for Horsemcll and
To crea te demand for the return nia winner of single stopping event Ca.ttlemen.
~
VJh~ recelvr.d U'ophy of S25().OO silver
_ _ _I ) . - ­
SAFE AND LOCK WORK
of pony express rar.ing is the first monnted /laddIe offered by Keyst.Qn
257 N, Stone Avenue
movement, but a very sitnple task to Bro.~., San li'rRRcll;Co by t.opplng
VisItor-You don't moan to tell
perform. By writing to fair and
me that you 'have lived In thL~ out­
PhODQ 1455 ruCSOH. AJUZONA
Rodeo man!lgel's the fell-t could be Hugh Bennett of Falcon. ColoTaoo of-the-way place far over thIrty
414' polnt.s.
accOO1pllslJert in Sllllt-~cCOlld orde1'.
Lcd En~lc..mo.n, San ,To.<;e, CBllfor­ years?
InhnbU,anl.-I'ave.
'Sir, YOU poked your unlbrello. In It'~ up to !.he riders to ask for the nil\.. winner of t.ealn stopping con­
Teturn of these events on tIle Pl'O­ t.c~t.<;.
my eye!"
Visitor-But, really, I cannot see
grams,
"Panlon me. but I did not. ThL~
Cotlnn Lee 01 F~. Sumner, New wbat you can find to keep you busy,
-Reba Perry.
umbrella belongs t.o a neighbor 01
Inhabitant-NeJther can I-tbat'!;
Mexico winner of single steer tyillg
mine named Postlethwaite,"
Yuba City, Gaur,
event.
why I llve here.
RODEOS FOREMOST CLOWNS LET'S BRING U:\CK 'tHE l'ONl"
EXl'RESS
- -: . - - ~
,.
FUOCO'S KEY SHOP
ft
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - T h e BUCKBOARD, Decem6er,
T94~
PUYALLUP, WASHINGTON
/.
;;I.'ptt'mher 18·26, 1948
Announcer: Geof)!'t! Prescott Jud~e!l: Fred Hurry and Jim E~an Timers: Larry I>nlli<>l!! and Bob Williams Clowns: ~lim Pickens and Bill )rarkley Trick Hopers: Uuck Abbott and Paul St. Croy Trick Riders: Blick Abbott. Jeanne God­ shall. I>aul St. Croy and :'orade St. Croy Stock Contractors! Hank & Bobbie Chril'tensen Roden Secrf'tar:v: June Bartley
J. H. )[drur-ray-)1gr.
SADDLE RROXC RlDrXG
Average-
Ronny Tureman ............................... .$368.00 Gene Pruitt ...................... ................ 184.01) R. Dollarhide .:.................................. 184.00 Cn.l'C)· Tibbs .................................... .. 184.0(J IIPorterl s Own l l
BiiREnACK RlDrXG
WASHABLE
N~W
CORD SHIRT
A"-CI'31le­
Sonnv Turcman ...._... _ .............. ......3374.40 (iUiI Unrtley ...... ............_...._ ........... 280.80 Bill H!lrtman .........._........................ 1H7.20 Casey Tibbs ..............................;....... !):l.60 Blrr I IUD rXG
'"
• ••
'
Pwi~ht Milddox: ..................... ......... .. $174,(/\ 1 \ Blick \'Vyatt ...................................... 280.80 '
.hck l\-Iorgiln ....._..._....._ ................ 187.20 /
'\, .Wilf Gl.'rl~t7; ..•.- .................•~.. . .. ...... . . 9:l.(lO, W.
I
I
This Russi." ribbed co,d
coHo" mat.ri.1 ",,,d. jnto ..
Western shiit_tylecl by Po,.
f ...,-is NEWl
It will wea,
.nd ...
and weor. Th. thr••
point yoke b.ck. heavy pe.,1
SMPS, h"nd hfo,m fit toilohrin g
make t is t • • hi,t '1011 ..... bb~n
iling fo.·. 100'0 wuh. ..,r
.....
41
~:Io,s-t .. n and ...hite
0' co.
~J.
CAI.F ROpr:-'G
~
blue .. nd ... ha. dripes.
Avera~e- '
.
~
5iun-ll'h to II.
PHO~NIX. ARIZONA Chuck Sheppard .............................. $4~3.60 "
P,ice-$ I 2.50.
Write for Free Catalog
Claude Hl'nson ......_.......... ........... ... a25.20 , Pan I'oore ................. ....................... 216.80
.~
Shl'l'man Sullens .......................... .... 108.40 .
~TEER
WRESTLrXG
= .--.. .---.
=- - -.....
=
A'.'I'I':1Ite-­
nil! H:lI'tman .................................... $4·U.8() ,slim Pickens ...._ ............................ . :I:I:l.r.o [)an Poore ...............................,........ 222.40 V("'n Cnstro ........... .. ....._................... 111.2!J r~~~~~~i~~!JS"--'
CITY STREETS, STORES
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122 w.. t Esch"~9. Av •.• fort Worth
LEON HARRIS
GLENN HARRIS
Own.,.
M.".ger
w
.:-.
c
HARRIS TAILORING COMPANY
£-t
en
a:
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U
E-t
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u
= c.:s
­t:
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•
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0
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ac
I:C
I
Q
DATE BANNERS
5" SALES OR RENTALS
ANYWHERE, ANY TIME l.
EGll~~t.~v.l2:~l CO. I
WRITE TODAY
-FOR­
PRICE LISTS
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FRESNO. CALIFORNrA
.
~
.:
1117 Sinclair Building, Fort Worth, Texas
Enclosed is $2.00 for which please enter one years subscription
,
to THE BUCKBOARD•
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