Rodeo Grounds at the 1923 Celebration in Heppner
THEW mF" '"" HEPPNER
GAZETTE-TIMES
August 23, 1962
Sec. 2 4 pages
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THIS PHOTO of the 1S23 Morrow county rodeo is another of the remarkable pictures
taken by the late Bert Gilbert Sigsbee with his panoramic camera. This was the
second year of the organized rodeothe year that Eva (Padberg) Griffith was
queen. The view looks to the south to the hill back of where the hospital now
stands. At the left in the picture is what is now Fairview Way- but no houses
were there in those days. Bleacher seats are located where the present grand
stand sits. The year 1923 was a rough one for cowboys in the rodeo and several
were hurt. This picture was supplied by Randall Peterson, and the original in
his possession is much larger and shows the grounds in better detail than can
be reproduced here.
'She's Wild; Let's Go!' was Early Day Slogan at Big Event
By HELEN SHERMAN
Through the years, at rodeo
time, has been heard the rising
cry, "Bigger and Better Than
Ever; She's Wild, Let's Go!" The
slogan has never lost its appeal,
although originating back in
1923, the second year of the an
nual whoop-to-do.
It was through the middle and
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late 20's that it generated its
continuing popularity, each year
improving just a little over the
year before with added events,
more skilled riders and wider
forms of entertainment offered.
The late September days were
sometimes rainy and unpredic
table, but the committee could
always count on a large and
enthusiastic crowd, come the
days for the "big show." It fol
lowed, rather than preceded the
Pendleton Round-Up for a good
many years.
Eva (Padberg) Griffith, still
an enthusiastic supporter of to
day's shows, reigned as queen
of the second annual affair in
1923.
"Miss Padberg is a thoro west
ern product, having been born
and reared on a Morrow county
ranch. She has a typical western
beauty combined with the skill
of horsemanship and handling
of the lariat. Her choice has
met with the utmost satisfac
tion," a report reads from the
Gazette-Times of September 20,
1923.
Thrilling the large crowd was
a string of 16 bucking horses
from the Pendleton Round-Up, as
well as a good show from the
local cowpunchers. Included in
this group were Jack and Dolph
Brown, Ralph Reid, Eddie Sheri
dan, Herb French, Jackie French,
George Hennings, Alder man,
Galax, Lloyd Matteson, Deb
Bellenbrock, Albert Peterson,
Buck Lieuallen and Charles Lat
ourell. Winning riders were Jack
Terry, Dolph Brown, Emery
Moore and Lloyd Matteson, all
home town riders. Several were
thrown in the bucking contests
and hurt seriously. Cecil Lieu
allen, who received the worst
injuries, was thrown over the
horse's head and struck by a
hoof. He had his jaw broken in
two places and was unconscious
part of the night. Others injured
were Dolph Brown, Lynn Hale
and Herb French.
Entertainment included a big
carnival with lots of rides and
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Comin' . . .
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SEPTEMBER
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concessions, boxing match be
tween "Moose" Norbeck and
Jake Dexter, big jazz fest and a
rousing '49er dance. Altogether
it was declared a "good tonic"
for the town and county, and
all left with determination to
meet again the following year
on Gentry field.
Jack Terry was championship
winner again in '24, with good
results put in by Ed Thompson,
Tony Vey and Red Parker. Miss
Alice Rletmann was crowned
queen of the event, was compli
mented on her excellent riding
abilities and "presided in a real
queenly manner." Crowds were
not as large as was hoped for
because of rain and wet grounds.
Chariot races, a milking contest
and more bucking contests were
added to the features of the
year before.
Receiving the trophy for best
all-around cowboy in 1925 was
Jack French with 51 points, edg
ing Vernon Waid with 50. Placing
second in the bucking finals was
Emery Moore, and third went
to Ralph Reade. Among the new
events was the popular pony year
express and relay races. Leading
the grand parade was Miss Mae
Kilkenny, attractive Rodeo
queen, daughter of John Kil
kenn of Hinton Creek. On the
general committee in charge
were L. V. Gentry, C. W. Mc-
Namer, Chas. II. Latourell and
John French.
"It was a gala holiday, with
the streets and windows color
fully decorated and these far
outshone by the flashy western
garb of the celebrators surging
through and by them," the local
paper reported. "Wide sombreros,
gaudy shirts and bandanas, and
high heeled boots were the rul
ing attire of the day. The roping
was especially good, Sam Smith
caught and tied his calf in the
good time of 40 seconds, while
Eddie Sheridan broke all prev
ious rodeo records in the steer
roping with the time of 27H
seconds. The Dalles band furn
ished music in the spectacular
parades, to which nearly 200
head of Morrow county's prize
horses pranced, mounted by Ro
deo performers and enthusiastic
citizenry."
The C. F. Zeigler United Shows
brought rides, five shows and
20 concessions to the 1926 show.
Five hundred reserved season
tickets went on sale for seats in
the big, new grandstand built
that year. Pretty Miss Eva Wil
cox, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
R. B. Wilcox of Lexington was
named to hold the sceptor of
authority that year. Her attend
ants were Miss Doris Wilcox,
her sister, and Miss Kathryn Bis
bee of Heppner. Rodeo head
quarters were in the Garrigues
building next to tne Heppner
garage. First daily event of that
took place on September
23, the same night as the
world's championship fight be
tween Jack Dempsey and Gene
Tunney. New events added that
year were the pony express race,
the Roman race and the derby
race. Champion cowboy was
Bert Troub of Colfax, Wn. The
popular derby race winner, with
$100 first prize money, was "Red
Boy," a racer owned and bred
by B. F. Swaggart.
Bulldogging was added for the
first time in 1927. Champion
buckaroo was Tim Dery of
Eugene, and estimated receipts
hit a new mark, placed between
$4500 and $5000. Gerald Swag
gart took the $100 first prize
in the Morrow county derby, with
Barney Ward, second, and A.
Cunha, third.
Queen Katherine Bisbee, rid
ing her favorite pony, headed
the big parade and was prom
inent in all its affairs. Among
the headlining artists were'
Skeeter Bill Robblns and Dorothy
Morrell, trick roping and riding
artists and friends of Rudyard
Kipling.
The naming of Miss Inez
Hayes, a native Morrow county
girl, as Queen of the rodeo on
September 27, 1928, proved to be
a "fortunate choice." "she was
accustomed to the saddle.
through a life spent on a cattle
and wheat ranch on Rhea Creek,
the daughter of Mrs. J. M.
Hayes." Her attendants were
Mae Groshens, Ruby Matteson,
Katherine Bisbee and Roxie
Sperry.
A new record of 89 partici
pants took part in the events
of the seventh annual rodeo and
could "truly be recorded as hav-
(Continued on Page 4)
ACTION THRILLS LAUGHS
MORROW COUNTY
September 1 - 2, Heppner
$1300
PRIZE MONEY
N. W. Saddle Bronc $ 300.00
Calf Roping 100.00
Bull Riding 100.00
Cow Milking 100.00
Bull Dogging 100.00
Bareback Riding 100.00
Wild Horse Race 100.00
Races 350.00
OBRA Girls Barrel Racing 50.00
$10.00 Entrance
Total $1,300.00
3 BIG
SHOWS
Saturday
is! 5 p.m. & 8 p.m.
SUNDAY
1 :30 p.m.
SPECIAL
LOCAL EVENTS
Shetland Pony Race
Saddle Horse Show
Wild Horse Race
Morrow County Amateur
Calf Roping.
Girls OBRA Barrel
Racing
Morrow County Derby
Calgary Roping
Cowgirl Races on Sat
urday and Sunday for
Morrow and adjoining
counties.
Junior Roping
Wrangler Cow Riding
Bull Riding
Special Saturday Night
Show
RODEO
ADMISSION
General Admission:
Adults $2.00
Students $1.00
Saturday Night:
Adults $1.00
Children 50c
No Reserved
Seats
Again Presenting The
NORTHWEST AMATEUR
Bronc Riding Contest:
FORMERLY A FEATURE ATTRACTION
AT THE PENDLETON ROUNDUP
THE TRADITIONAL SADDLE MADE AND DONATED
BY HAMLEY AND COMPANY HAS ACCOMPANIED
THE CONTEST TO OUR RODEO
BACK
AGAIN!
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1... CLOWN!
Other Rodeo Week Attractions
STREET
PARADE
SAT., SEPT. 1
10 A. M.
HEPPNER
WRANGLER
HORSE
SHOW
RODEO GROUNDS
Friday, August 31
RODEO
DANCE
SAT., SEPT 1
FAIR PAVILION
10 P. M.
WRANGLER
COWBOY
BREAKFAST
SUNDAY, SEPT. 2
7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
WRANGLER CLUB HOUSE
Countywide Picnic, Courthouse, Sept. 1, Noon
Visiting Courts and Dignitaries As Guests