10/06/2022
Memo To: Chance Takers and Memory Makers! Rodeo Producers!
From: T. L Bush
Date: 10/5/2022
Re: Stock Contractors
Stock Contractor Salute
As the world saddles up and we start our ride into a New Tomorrow. We slowly turn and longingly look back at where we’ve been.
Today, as in the past, as well as into the future, the rodeo business depends on the quality, integrity and devotion of the stock contractor. The World’s Toughest Rodeo congratulates and salutes the Stock Contractors of both the United States and Canada for their contribution and dedication to the sport of rodeo.
“The quality of the stock can make or break a rodeo. There are no “thrills” or “spills” without superior stock, and there are no” great rides” either. Good stock and good rodeo go hand and hand.
Gene Autry 1997
William F. Cody, better known as “Buffalo Bill” was one of the first to realize that people everywhere were entranced by the romance and the lore of the wild, wild west. From his first performance in 1872 in North Platte , Nebraska, known as the “Old Glory Blow-out” Buffalo Bill would play his “Wild West Show and Rodeos” before Kings and Queens, Presidents and Politicians and the ones he loved the most, the every day common family for over twenty years.
In 1905 three brothers would follow the lead of Cody and created their own show. Joe, Zack and George Miller started the “101 Ranch real Wild West Show.” This would be the forerunner of what we now know as competitive rodeo. Several famous cowboys got their start with the Miller brothers. Will Rogers, Tom Mix and Hoot Gibson were just a few. The 101 Ranch Real Wild West Show traveled the country until 1929 when they were forced to close.
Canada too was getting into the rodeo state of mind. In 1902 the first Canadian rodeo was done in Raymond, Alberta. The success of Ray Knight would lead to more rodeos wherever he could trail stock. And when a former member of Buffalo Bill’s, Pawnee Bill’s and one of the Miller brothers “Wild Bunch” shows wanted to start a “stampede” Ray was one of the first to say yes.
This cowboy, from Rochester, New York was named Guy Weadick and the “stampede” is still going today. The legendary, Calgary Stampede.
Back in the states rodeo was still on the climb. The challenge to produce bigger and better rodeos was ongoing. In 1922 a rodeo producer named Tex Austin promoted the first “World Championship Rodeo” at Madison square Garden. In New York city. Johnnie Mullins, Ed McCarthy and Verne Elliott provided the stock. There was twenty performances and the prize money was a whopping $25,000. Tex would do shows in Wichita, Chicago, Oklahoma City, Boston and even Hollywood. It soon became apparent that rodeo was here to stay and in 1929 the Rodeo Association of America was formed by a bunch of rodeo producers.
In the late twenties another rodeo producer stock contractor began producing rodeos. Colonel W.T. Johnson from San Antonio, Texas. His “grand production” rodeos blanketed the East primarily along the coast. He would later take on the big one at Madison square Garden. It looked like everything was going his way until 1936. 61 contestants protested his refusal to pay entries and what they considered a low paying purse and walked out of his biggest rodeo, the “Boston Gardens “.
The cowboys formed what was known as the “Cowboy Turtle Association”. It was given this name because it took them so long to organize and they finally stuck their necks out to get what they wanted. In 1945 the Association was reorganized and became the Rodeo Cowboy’s Association. That’s how it stayed until 1975 when it was renamed the Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association that we know today.
Many stock contractors have played important roles in the development of professional rodeo. Too many to give proper attention to here.
Rodeo got another boost in 1942 when “The Flying A Ranch Rodeo” owned by Gene Autry, merged with Everett Colborn, M. T. and W. J. Clemans and Harry Knight of the Lightning C Rodeo Company. This merger became the Legendary “World’s Championship Rodeo” and broke attendance records everywhere they performed.
Rodeo slowed during World War 2, but by the late forties it was, “Swing that gate and let’er buck” rodeo was back to stay.
People like, Burr Andrews, Andrews Ranch Rodeo, G. S. Garcia founder of the Elko, NV rodeo, Albert Harris, Elliott Calhoun-H&C Rodeo Stock Contractors, C. O. “Dogtown Slim” Leuschner, Fred Lowry, Monroe and Bill Veach - Lowry-Veach Rodeo Company, K. P. “Red” Lyons, Walter Plugge – Rafter W Bar Rodeo, and many others, all early day contractors, kept rodeo before the waiting public.Later Oral Zumwalt – Zumwalt Rodeo, Bob Nordtome and Jack Bloxham of Big Sky Rodeo fame, Fred Dorenkamp -–Dorenkamp Rodeo, Matt Dryden _ Circle D Rodeo, Stony and Howard Harris the 3rd – Cowtown Rodeo, Hoss Inman – Flying I Ranch Rodeo, Jim Houston – Jackson Hole Rodeo Company, E. C. Hunt – H Bar H Rodeo,
AND THERE’S A LOT OF GOOD ONES OUT THERE TODAY!
LOT OF GOOD ONES OUT THERE TODAY! THEY LEARNED FROM THE BEST!
