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The following column was written by Fog Horn Clancy, in Hoofs & Horns, dated January, 1951, sixty years ago. He was one of the first rodeo announcers, who had a vast array of talents and was one of the futuristic thinkers that wrote a book “My Fifty Years in Rodeo” (1897 to 1947) plus he wrote and sold books “Rodeo History & Records” printed from 1946 through 1953. He also had a regular column in Hoofs & Horns for many years in which he wrote about interesting people in rodeo.
As a rodeo historian I appreciate his intellect, his effort to record information about early rodeo, and his ability to write. What he has to say below is food for thought in rodeo today – 60 years later.
ANOTHER CHRISTMAS BY FOG HORN CLANCY
As the early wintry winds sweep across my snow covered lawn, and the radio starts pouring forth its endless string of Christmas carols, being in a reminiscent mood I go back to Christmases of many years ago, in fact three decades to the Christmas of 1920.
I lived and wintered in Fort Worth, Texas, then, was office manager of the Southwest Exposition and Fat Stock Show. Fort Worth at that time was the mecca of rodeo contestants, some who had not done so well at the rodeos the past season would work around the mule barns, or they might be working there because they were thrifty and wanted to accumulate more money, others just had a good time resting and relaxing from the strenuous arena work of the season closed.
There were gay times, parties among the rodeo people, a kind of clan of our own, our own rodeo social set. There were Hugh and Mabel Strickland, Bryan and Ruth Roach, Red and Mary Sublette, Bob and Jo Calen, Chester and Mary Byers, Tommy and Bea Kirnan, Mike and Fox Hastings, Jim Massey, Buck Stewart, California Frank Hafley, and Mrs. Hafley (Mame Francis), Frank and Nan Gable and many others.
It is sad to remember that at least eleven of those named have already rode on to the last roundup while the others are scattered from New York to California.
The sociability of the rodeo folk at that time is the thing I like to remember. The competition and rivalry seemed to be left in the summer arenas, they seemed to enjoy one another’s company, ever ready to help each other, interested in each other’s health and happiness.
It seems to me there has been quite a change in that thirty years and I ask myself the question, are we getting out of rodeo what we should? Are we making it just a business and casting aside the close fellowship and friendliness that was among rodeo folks years ago, the friendliness that started with the sport and should always remain.
In the days that are gone it seems to me that there was a closer tie between the contestants and the management or committee, that the contestant was more interested in the success of the rodeo than he is today. Then he had come to the rodeo to help make it a success, not solely for the prize money he would win, and it also seems that the loyal good fellowship that existed between those who followed rodeos in those days is not as evident today as it was then. All of which makes me wonder if the heart of rodeo is bleeding.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND WELCOME 2021!!!!
As a rodeo historian I appreciate his intellect, his effort to record information about early rodeo, and his ability to write. What he has to say below is food for thought in rodeo today – 60 years later.
ANOTHER CHRISTMAS BY FOG HORN CLANCY
As the early wintry winds sweep across my snow covered lawn, and the radio starts pouring forth its endless string of Christmas carols, being in a reminiscent mood I go back to Christmases of many years ago, in fact three decades to the Christmas of 1920.
I lived and wintered in Fort Worth, Texas, then, was office manager of the Southwest Exposition and Fat Stock Show. Fort Worth at that time was the mecca of rodeo contestants, some who had not done so well at the rodeos the past season would work around the mule barns, or they might be working there because they were thrifty and wanted to accumulate more money, others just had a good time resting and relaxing from the strenuous arena work of the season closed.
There were gay times, parties among the rodeo people, a kind of clan of our own, our own rodeo social set. There were Hugh and Mabel Strickland, Bryan and Ruth Roach, Red and Mary Sublette, Bob and Jo Calen, Chester and Mary Byers, Tommy and Bea Kirnan, Mike and Fox Hastings, Jim Massey, Buck Stewart, California Frank Hafley, and Mrs. Hafley (Mame Francis), Frank and Nan Gable and many others.
It is sad to remember that at least eleven of those named have already rode on to the last roundup while the others are scattered from New York to California.
The sociability of the rodeo folk at that time is the thing I like to remember. The competition and rivalry seemed to be left in the summer arenas, they seemed to enjoy one another’s company, ever ready to help each other, interested in each other’s health and happiness.
It seems to me there has been quite a change in that thirty years and I ask myself the question, are we getting out of rodeo what we should? Are we making it just a business and casting aside the close fellowship and friendliness that was among rodeo folks years ago, the friendliness that started with the sport and should always remain.
In the days that are gone it seems to me that there was a closer tie between the contestants and the management or committee, that the contestant was more interested in the success of the rodeo than he is today. Then he had come to the rodeo to help make it a success, not solely for the prize money he would win, and it also seems that the loyal good fellowship that existed between those who followed rodeos in those days is not as evident today as it was then. All of which makes me wonder if the heart of rodeo is bleeding.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND WELCOME 2021!!!!