Category: Cowboys & Rodeo

Amazing Things, Cowboys & Rodeo, Crazy Times, Texas History, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Texas Prison Rodeo

lewisotr

The Texas Prison Rodeo At Huntsville was a favorite of many from 1931 until 1986 when it was discontinued. A good article by Jesse Sublett – April 2012 for Texas Monthly Magazine Prison Rodeo Gone, but Not Forgotten Another piece of Texas history was razed in mid-January when bulldozers unceremoniously demolished the prison rodeo arena in Huntsville, but the memory of the event rides on. With barely a peep from preservationists, another piece of Texas history was razed in mid-January as bulldozers unceremoniously demolished the prison rodeo arena in Huntsville. The brick-and-concrete building, which hadn’t held a prison rodeo since … Continue reading The Texas Prison Rodeo

Cowboys & Rodeo, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Going To The Texas Prison Rodeo

lewisotr

I only have one clear memory of attending the Huntsville Prison Rodeo. It was in the early 60s. I was no more than 10 years old. Our family of four went down there. The rodeo was pretty entertaining. Many of the inmates rode like they didn’t care what happened to them. I guess you’d say they rode with reckless abandon. Candy Barr was the featured entertainment. She was serving a sentence in the Huntsville Women’s Prison at the time. I guess I wasn’t sure what a stripper was at that time. I think she sang rather than taking off her … Continue reading Going To The Texas Prison Rodeo

Cowboys & Rodeo, Crazy Times, Kenny Lewis, Smithwick, The Early DaysLeave a comment

The Sound of Hoof-Beats

lewisotr

I was the kind of kid that wanted to ride a donkey while everyone else rode horses. Tar Baby was an average donkey to most but he was my pride and joy. We rode in rodeo parades with me dressed as a clown. Kenny, my older bother was quite the horseman. He lived to break and train horses. I was made to help with the horse breaking, but it was something that I could have done without. By the time I was 7 or 8 years old our spending money came from working with Shetland Ponies. We lived on the … Continue reading The Sound of Hoof-Beats

Cowboys & Rodeo, Meeting New People, The Early Days10 Comments

Buck Steiner and Capitol Saddlery

lewisotr

Some of my first cowboy boots were bought at Capitol Saddlery in the late 50s. The sign still remains, even though the business has long since relocated. I think I was told that the location on Lavaca, between 15th and 16th, has now been converted into loft apartments or some retail space. It was a one of a kind business from an earlier time. As was the proprietor, Buck Steiner a man of a different time. I had the pleasure meeting and befriending Mr. Steiner in the 80s, when we did a project, a wastewater line, that ran through a … Continue reading Buck Steiner and Capitol Saddlery

Cowboys & Rodeo, The Early Days4 Comments

My Son’s – The Bull Riders. ”And I’m Thinking, Oh Really”.

lewisotr

When I was about 18 years old I hauled a Ford Backhoe for a friend, Donnie Mullins from over at Simonton and dropped it off at a place on I-10 west of Houston, out near Katy. There was a small private landing strip that ran adjacent to I-10 and a railroad track. It was a small dirt runway at an oilfield supply company. A plane came in and the pilot didn’t have the front nose gear locked in. As he was taxiing the nose gear collapsed and both props on the twin engine plane dug into the dirt. They needed … Continue reading My Son’s – The Bull Riders. ”And I’m Thinking, Oh Really”.

Cowboys & Rodeo, Meeting New PeopleLeave a comment

Tony Gale Haberer – Bullrider

lewisotr

This is the Dad of the very famous TV star, Ronda Haberer of Badlands Texas, the TV Documentary that was on NTGEO. “I am always confused whether Ronda made the show famous or the show made her famous” Below is a post she made telling about her dad back in 2016. Below is something I ran across that tells about his accomplishments during his short life. I found it at this website. Check it out for more bio’s of great folks from your past. http://cowboyandarenachampions If you find that you are headed out to the great Western Part of Texas, … Continue reading Tony Gale Haberer – Bullrider