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•Z THE NEW MEXICAN S»M« F*. N.M., TtiutiJdy, July H, IWJSih Venr Opens TonightRodeo de Santa Fe ProvesTo Be Major Civic AssetMany perrons were certain in mit the first rodeo In bp. hethere, although much work would be needed to prepare il for such an event. By mid-Jul*1030 tJial ancient Santa Fe simply wasn't a Rodeo lawn.”But the 18 years Mitre elapsed have proved quile dittercnUy. that work was somehow accom-Rod-n tie Sanla l:e has grownjpushed, to a large extent by sit-aclily to become second i n volunteer labor and donated ma-Ncw Mexico only to the Stale tcrinls.Fair Roclcu I The ilrrt nigh I of lhai first Roll also has become one of thejdcT)tJc Sanla l e vas nea^’ mainr civic events presented injly a liierjil washmit, Rain Mar-11,p capital every year. 11 nt- e.l just befure .he performance tr.icls ihaiisamis of lonrisis amlihepan ami continued, almost Mew Mexico residents, alike, fori without aJei, * P- for f hovU„r four dava each mid - July. ;a«l a halIf. But .he cowboys o-Most o! the men who ar- and most or the specta-ranged and guaranteed the firsttors sat through the downpour.ftRodeo do Santa Fe IS years ago are .still active in Die non-profit organization lhat sponsors 11 eich year. iThis organizalion has had: only llirco presidents — Wil-j 1 inm C. Euler. Roy E. BulledMajor League LeadersBy THE ASSOCIATED PRESSAmerican LeagueHie next three performances that year were blessed with perfect weather — and Rodeo dc Santa Fc was on the road to success,The quality of the rodeo was J maintained in succeeding years, steadily attracting greater attendance.The sponsoring group was soon formalized as a nonprofit corporation, to assure continuity.In 1958 the group contracted the purchase of approximately 100 acres of land south of town, off the Albuquerque highway, U. 5, 85 South.The following year nrw of the finest outdoor rodeo arenas in the Southwest was built on * portion of that tract. Rodeo de■uter. Roy E. Bullet: Rob_ Santa Fe was presented in thennd Paul F. Rutledge. Rutledge (, -,1 VoHn, ' n,t i new arena in July 1959.Is the current president and Butler is presently chairman ot the board. Euler remains an active Runs—McAuliffe, Del., 57 ;To-direclor, even though his prill- var, Minn. ,55. ripal business interests now are Runs Batted In — Killehrew,ccjuiuu meninson, Ball, .337; Kaline, Uet.,:new arena in July 1959.320 Over the years this lively,colorful western celebration has become a fixture in. this, the City Different’* And well itsituated In Ralon.Minn., G2; F. Robinson, Balt.,The initial organization meet-. 59, bigs were held in the rear of nils—Tovar, Minn., 93; Yas-Burton Brown's saddle shop, late in I94D. Brown himself had been a rodeo cowboy. So had his then - assistant, Austin (Slim)trzemski, Bost., 92.Dongles — Tovar, Minn., 20; Campaneris, K.C., 37.might, for vaqueros among the Spanish settlers were holding Todeos in Santa Fe as early as 1848. Incidentally, that was the year New Mexico officially became a Territory of the United States.Green, S atop“SEteS Trlples-Monday, K.C.. 6; Bu-j m spacious, well lighted ro-- * •* ford. Chic., 5; Knoop, Calif., 5; ^e0 arena — complete to cover. Both were enthusiastic over the tentative proposal to hold a rodeo in Santa Fc. And both men advised that it be a first-rnto. If small, professional rodeo. Green contacted the RodeoVersailles, Minn., 5 Home runs — F. Howard, Wash., 24; Kfllebrew, Minn.. 22.Stolen Bases — Campaneris, K.C, 31; Agee, Chic. 22.-------— - — - | r | I €Cowboys Association national; pitching lt;8 decisons)—Spar-hcdcJquartcrs ai Denver and:ni[l( .900; Horten,persuaded them to grant RCA Chic ? ^ g33.$/.clearance for the proposed event.Green also contacted Lynn Beutier of Beutlcr Brothers, nationally famous suppliers of rodeo livestock and know - how. Rentier made a special trip io Santa Fc that winter from his headquarters near Elk City, Oklahoma. He met at La Fonda wiih a dozen businessmen and others favoring the idea of I'odeo Tor Sanla Fc.Within less than two hours, decision was reached that a foiu-day rodeo definitely would' bn singed in Santa Fe in JulyStrikeouts - Lonborg, Bost., 127: McDowell, Cleve., 126.National LeagueBatting (2110 at bnls)-Cepeda, St. L., .355; Clemente, Pitt., .350.Runs—Aaron, Atl.f 69; R. Allen, Phil., 00;Runs Batted in - Wyn ti, Houst., 65; Cepcda, St. T,., 59.Hits—Cepeda, St.L., 106; Clemente, Pitt., 104.Doubles—Cepeda, St.L., 23; T. Davis, N.Y., 22.; “ 1' Triples — Williams, Chic., 8;of lhat year, 1S50. The o n 1 y R A)l p|,u _ ?rnntrrrt wji* an «it?rGftinenLcontract was an agreement, sealed by a handshake, and the same informal system has been followed annually for 18 successful .years now.Another staunch rodeo f a n, Paul F. Ragle, then owned aHome Runs—Aaron, Atl., 22; Wynn, Houst., 21.Stolen Bases—Brock, St.L, 28; Phillips, Chic.. 17.Pitching (8 deci sons)—McCormick, S.F., 11-3, .786; Nolan,sizable riding arena on a grav- Cin.t 7-2, .778.ol road some four miles out of| Strikeouts — Marlchal, S.F.,lawn. He readily agreed to per-. 137; Banning, Phil., 123.ered grandstand, as well as bleachers - has proved to be a valuable civic asset for this capital city.In addition to the rodeo, the Santa Fe Horse Show Is pre-. seated in the arena each year. [That facility likewise has accommodated Shrine circuses and other public events, even including large political rallies.Equally important., that area has been developed as an outstanding outdoor, horse - orient-, ed sports center in the past several years. The. Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Posse acquired a portion of the rodeo tract, constructed its own clubhouse and created a cowboy polo field there.The Horse Show Association purchased acreage near the arena and has built extensive stables there.A County Fair building was erected just north of the rodeo area. And the local contingent of the New Mexico Mounted Patrol now has its permanent club-house-headquarters nearby.Thus the rodeo. which some felt just wasn't for Santa Fe some 18 years ago, obviously has proved to be one of t h e div's Greatest, civic assets.€tiiT.iNw!rIftrzonschi!COneijihewaimdrFtrfr
Newspaper Details
Santa Fe New Mexican
Santa Fe, New Mexico, US
Thu, Jul 13, 1967
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
New M.
NM, USA 04 Nov 2021
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