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By GORDON HANSON PIERRE (AP) — Profession al rodeo came galloping out of the west in a big way more than a decade ago, loping along on a mythical drone named “Big Money.” The critter grew larger each year and is now of such stature that few persons—other than true rodeo fans — know the size he's reached. RODEO TODAY is a major league sport, and in South Da kota it is big business. There were 69 rodeos in the state last year — ranging from junior rodeo to high school and collegiate competition, and into the pro ranks of the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA) and the Northwest Ranch Cowboys Association. And the state is foremost in the nation on the beauty side of the sport. THE 1965 Miss Rodeo Ameri ca is pretty Pat Koren of Rap id City, who won the state tile at the 1964 Black Hills Round up in Belle Fourche, and then garnered the national honor a few months later in Las Vegas, New. South Dakota has three cow boys who are currently carry ing its laurels. Veteran of the trio is Jack Buschbom of Mobridge, who was the world champion bare back bronc rider in 1949, 1959 and 1960, and he never finished below fourth in the event from 1948 through 1961. JIM BAUSCH of Rapid City has earned nearly $20,000 a year the past two seasons, working three events. He finish ed third in bareback bronc standings last year. Lowell James, also of Rapid City, is a top bull rider and al so competes in bareback bronc riding. He pocketed $15,268 in 1964. One of South Dakota’s main claims to fame in rodeo is the incomparable Casey Tibbs of Fort Pierre, who still performs occasionally. Tibbs was twice the world's all-around champion and_= six times world champion saddle bronc rider — despite some 20 bone fractures during his ca reer, RODEO’S RANKS are filled with highly paid athletes, new fans are gained each year and its changes have been signifi cant For example, members of the Rodeo Cowboys’ Association (RCA) last year shared a total purse of more than $3.6 mil lion. The Professional Golfers As sociation (PGA) in 1964 was considerably behind — its mem bers split a purse of less than $2.5 million. More than $36 million in rodeo prize money has been won since 1953 and the pot is growing. There were 591 RCA sanctioned rodeos in 44 states and several Canadian provinces last year. BUT AS BIG as this roughest of all sports has become, names of rodeo stars still aren’t famil iar among the boys down on the corner. Baseball has Mic key Mantle, PGA its Arnold Palmer and football a Johnny Unitas. Ever hear of Bill Linderman? No? Then you're no _ rodeo fan. Linderman, 35, of Denver, Colo., is one of rodeo’s greats. He has rodeo earnings of $439, 441 — more than any other pro fessional cowboy. Palmer, top PGA _ lifetime money winner, has Linderman edged by less than $150,000. GREATEST one-year cash winner in rodeo is the mighty Jim Shoulders, Henryetta, Okla., who earned $43,381 in 1956. He holds 16 world cham pionship titles. Age is no barrier in rodeo. The youngest RCA world cham pion was Jim Rodriguez Jr., of San Luis Obispo, Calif., who at 18 won the team roping cham pionship in 1959. The oldest was Ike Rude of Mangum, Okla, who was 59 when he was steer roping champion in 1953. Since 1953, RCA membership has hovered around 3,000, but there is a hard core of about 650 who contest full time, coast to coast, during an 11-month season. A COWBOY—gambler by na ture — will talk little of his prowess atop a bucking animal. He's hesitant about publicity, and perhaps this leads to the lesser popularity of his name. Years ago a rodeo cowboy al most always came from the country. He learned his trade from childhood, and if he was any good at taming a bronc out behind the corral, he often gave the professional circuit a try. This is partially true today— but the sport has been refined. In a manner similar to base ball’s little league, today’s pro fessional cowboys often get their start in junior rodeo. FROM JUNIOR rodeo, many go on to high school and col legiate competition. The Nation al Intercollegiate Rodeo Associ ation, started in 1949, has 56 member colleges. And a number of rodeo schools have been started. Now, instead of paying an entry fee to get their heads driven into the dirt, beginners can get their practice under critical eyes of former champions. Miss Koren recently told an audience that ‘‘cowboys must be in the peak of condition at all times. A hangover is not compatible with a bucking bronc. “Outstanding rodeo preform ers are now largely highly edu cated, and town and city chil dren also have an opportunity to learn the profession.” THE AMERICAN mythology of a cowboy riding a dronc to a standstill, both flecked with blood and beaten, is untrue. “Bucking horses are becom ing increasingly harder to find,”” said genial Gene Pruett, Denver, editor of rodeo sports news and 1948 world’s champion saddle bronc rider. “Their value is soaring, and as much as $4,350 was paid for a proven animal within the past two years. “And the unintentional ex plosive mishap — when a lazy hagband who tried to ride from the field to the barn and found himself upside down and being dragged — can be responsible for the turning point in an equine career.”’ PURE BUCKING ability can quickly take a bronc out of the hayfield and into the rodeo arena. Pruett said good bucking balls are easier to find, yet their value far exceeds their market price, depending upon their ability to buck. Shoulders has a bull, ‘‘Torna do,”” who has 150 cowboy scalps to his credit and has yet to be ridden. “The bucking stock is the most pampered bunch of hair covered bandits around today,” Pruett said. “On the average they work only 10 minutes a year.” This is because a rider has to stay aboard a bronc or bull for only eight to 10 seconds to score. On a particularly salty animal, those few seconds can seem a lifetime.
Newspaper Details
Huron Daily Plainsman
Huron, South Dakota, US
Sun, May 02, 1965
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Sam E.
