Reno Rodeo

Notable Events

1. 1919The Reno Rodeo opened its gates for the first time. kunr.org
2. 1919Will James was paid $20 to illustrate posters and a souvenir program for the inaugural Nevada Round-Up Rodeo. renorodeo.com
3. 1919The Commercial Club committee organized a Fourth of July rodeo called the Nevada Round-Up. travelnevada.com
4. 1921Silent-film actress Viola Dana was queen of the third Reno Rodeo, then Nevada Round-Up, and received the keys to the city and a reception with Governor Emmett Boyle. travelnevada.com
5. 1922The costs of Mary Harrington's trip and other rodeo expenses bankrupted the Reno Rodeo Association. travelnevada.com
6. 1923No rodeo was held; debts were paid and other special events took its place. travelnevada.com
7. 1932A successful rodeo returned under the name Pony Express Days over Labor Day weekend. travelnevada.com
8. 1935Organizers formed a Rodeo and Livestock Association, built a grandstand and adopted the permanent name Reno Rodeo. kunr.org
9. 1937Cliff Gardner of Washoe Valley became the all-around champion; another Nevadan did not win the title for another 79 years. travelnevada.com
10. 1941A street near the arena was named in Sadleir's honor, but subsequent signs misspelled it Sadlier Way; history buffs with rodeo support later had it corrected. travelnevada.com
11. 1944The rodeo was not successfully held, then returned the next year. mynews4.com
12. 1944Rodeo leaders voted not to hold the rodeo at the height of World War II. travelnevada.com
13. 1945The Reno Rodeo returned after a one-year hiatus and has been held every year since. travelnevada.com
14. 1947Rookie rider and World War II veteran Bill Brindler was bucked off and stepped on by a bull; the article calls this the only competition death in the rodeo's centennial history. travelnevada.com
15. 1947Buster Ivory won his first Reno Rodeo saddle bronc championship. travelnevada.com
16. 1950Ray Peterson served as rodeo president. travelnevada.com
17. 1950sCasey Tibbs won a record nine Reno Rodeo championships: five saddle bronc, one bull riding and three all-around. travelnevada.com
18. 1960sThe Livestock Events Center grandstands burned down; Harry Frost gathered business partners to fund a replacement. mynews4.com
19. 1962The wooden grandstand burned to the ground after the 1962 rodeo. travelnevada.com
20. 1962Buster Ivory won his second saddle bronc championship after a record span of 15 years. travelnevada.com
21. 1963Leadership began changing every year with a new president of the all-volunteer organization. travelnevada.com
22. 1963Incoming president Harry Frost insisted there would be a rodeo even if he had to put it on himself; his assurances rallied volunteers and the event succeeded. travelnevada.com
23. 1964Jack Walther served as president. travelnevada.com
24. 1968Longtime competitor and rodeo participant Harry Drackert served as president. travelnevada.com
25. 1971Bob, son of Ray Peterson, served as president. travelnevada.com
26. 1976Bob Tallman became the voice of the Reno Rodeo; his first contract was signed on a bar napkin. travelnevada.com
27. 1980Jack, son of former president Jack Walther, served as president. travelnevada.com
28. 1989Steve, son of former president Jack Walther, served as president. travelnevada.com
29. 1990The annual cattle drive tradition was introduced. kunr.org
30. 1992Frank Cassas became Reno Rodeo President. kunr.org
31. 1994Sam Elliott was parade grand marshal and the final recipient of the Silver Spurs Award. travelnevada.com
32. 2003Selena Ulch Pope held the Miss Reno Rodeo title, later also holding Miss Rodeo Nevada and Miss Rodeo America. travelnevada.com
33. 2011SHARK released footage accompanying cruelty allegations; some videos showed what appeared to be an electric cattle prod used on horses in arena chutes, contrary to PRCA rules. renonr.com
34. 2016Elko's Dakota Eldridge won the all-around title, the next Nevadan after Cliff Gardner's victory 79 years earlier. travelnevada.com
35. 2019A concept was presented to the legislature; a $1M grant matched by the rodeo funded schematic design plans and estimates, called the Legacy Project or Nevada Western Heritage Center. renorodeo.com
36. 2020The association canceled the rodeo scheduled for June 18–27, 2020 because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. renorodeo.com
37. 2021KRNV reported the rodeo returning after its 2020 COVID-19 cancellation. mynews4.com
38. 2026The City of Reno Historical Resources Commission recognized Reno Rodeo as a Legacy Business Award Winner. storymaps.arcgis.com
39. Boosters introduced lighthearted penalties for people caught without Western regalia. kunr.org
40. Erik Burke said painting began April 7 after several months of design and research. renonr.com

People

• August, Member of the family described as owning a dude ranch and active in Reno Rodeo and the Rodeo Parade.
• Charlie, Member of the family described as owning a dude ranch and active in Reno Rodeo and the Rodeo Parade.
• Fred, Member of the family described as owning a dude ranch and active in Reno Rodeo and the Rodeo Parade.
• Richard Hill, Member of a family described as owning a dude ranch and active in Reno Rodeo and its parade.
• Bill Brian, First rodeo boss.
• Bill Moffit, First rodeo committee member; president of Union Land and Cattle Company.
• Butch Beaver, First announcer.
• Charles Mapes Senior, First rodeo committee member, landowner and banker.
• George Wingfield, member of the founding Reno Rodeo Association committee.
• Glen Hearst, Managed the Grand Theater; organized prohibition-era rodeo entertainment and an old Western town.
• Glen Hurst, Recruited the Salinas Rodeo team to start the Reno Rodeo.
• Hippy Burmeister, First champion; later a founding board member and first president of the Rodeo Hall of Fame.
• John C. Durham, member of the founding Reno Rodeo Association committee.
• Frank Cassas, Reno Rodeo President and oral-history witness to Go Western traditions (1992).
• Harry Frost, Incoming president who insisted the rodeo go ahead after the grandstand fire (1963).
• Erik, One of the Burke brothers commissioned to paint the mural timeline surrounding the Reno Livestock fairgrounds.
• A.H. “Hippy” Burmister, Bucking horse champion of the first rodeo (1919).
• Edwin Martinez Escobar, Recruited to help complete the centennial mural.
• Erik Burke, Artist creating the Reno Rodeo mural on Sutro Street with three assistants.
• Guy Clifton, Author of Reno Rodeo: A History—the First 80 Years.
• Jake Houston, Local country musician launching Houston Boot Company at the centennial rodeo.
• Kenny York, Erik Burke's grandmother's brother, described as really involved with the rodeo.
• Logan Needham, Recruited to help complete the centennial mural.
• Mike Mentaberry, Past president and co-author of Clifton's rodeo history.
• Mike Torvinen, Reno Rodeo president (2019).
• Mikey Burke, Erik Burke's brother, recruited to help complete the mural.
• Selena Ulch, Former Miss Reno Rodeo who lent a dress, saddle and chaps for the historical society exhibit.
• Craig Downie, Reno Rodeo president announcing cancellation as the safest way forward (2020).
• George Combs, Reno Rodeo General Manager who discussed the pandemic cancellation.
• Charles Sadlier, Known as the father of Reno Rodeo; subsequent president (1935-1948).
• George Wingfield Sr., Banker, entrepreneur and political king-maker in the founding nucleus.
• W. E. Stewart, Reno mayor in the founding nucleus.
• Will James, artist hired to make Reno Rodeo program artwork (1919).
• William Woodburn Sr., Community chief federal attorney in the founding nucleus.
• Bill Brindler, Rookie bull rider and World War II veteran killed in competition (1947).
• Bob Peterson, Reno Rodeo president (1971).
• Bob Tallman, Announcer and voice of the Reno Rodeo; first contract signed on a bar napkin (since 1976).
• Bob, Ray Peterson's son and rodeo president (1971).
• Buster Ivory, Saddle bronc champion with a record interval between championships (1947 and 1962).
• Casey Tibbs, Winner of a record nine Reno Rodeo championships (1950s).
• Charles Jr., Son of founder Charles Mapes Sr.; rodeo president (1966).
• Charles Mapes Jr., Reno Rodeo president (1966).
• Charles Mapes Sr., One of the rodeo founders (1919).
• Charles Mapes, member of the founding Reno Rodeo Association committee.
• Charles Sadleir, Often called the Father of the Reno Rodeo; president of the Reno Rodeo and Livestock Association (1935 until his death in 1948).
• Cliff Gardner, Washoe Valley all-around champion (1937).
• Dakota Eldridge, Elko all-around champion, the next Nevadan after Gardner (2016).
• Emmett Boyle, Governor who hosted a reception with rodeo queen Viola Dana (1921).
• Glenn Hurst, Theater owner on the original association committee.
• Harry Drackert, Competitor, longtime participant and rodeo president (Competed in the 1920s and 1930s; president in 1968).
• Hippy Burmister, Alturas cowboy who won the inaugural bronc-riding title.
• Jack Dempsey, Rodeo supporter whose trophy was presented to the saddle bronc winner.
• Jack Walther, Rodeo president; father of later presidents Jack and Steve (1964).
• Jack, Jack Walther's son and rodeo president (1980).
• Jesse Stahl, African-American cowboy who won steer wrestling and demonstrated riding a bucking bronc backwards.
• Katharine Ross, Accompanied her husband Elliott; earlier Silver Spurs Award recipient (Award winner in 1981).
• Mary Harrington, Southside Elementary teacher selected to invite President Harding and present a six-gallon hat.
• Morley Griswold, Former Nevada governor and rodeo arena director (1935).
• Pete Knight, Canadian saddle bronc winner presented with the Jack Dempsey trophy.
• Ray Peterson, Rodeo president; father of later president Bob (1950-1962).
• Sam Elliott, Parade grand marshal and final Silver Spurs Award recipient (1994).
• Selena Ulch Pope, Only woman to hold Miss Reno Rodeo, Miss Rodeo Nevada and Miss Rodeo America titles (Miss Reno Rodeo 2003; Miss Rodeo Nevada 2004; Miss Rodeo America 2005).
• Slim Pickens, Western actor, Reno Rodeo clown and bronc rider (1940s).
• Steve Walther, Reno Rodeo president (1989).
• Steve, Jack Walther's son and rodeo president (1989).
• Tasker Oddie, Nevada senator photographed with Harrington and Harding during the invitation trip.
• Viola Dana, Silent-film actress and queen of the third Reno Rodeo, then Nevada Round-Up (1921).
• Warren G. Harding, President whom Nevada's Most Popular Girl would invite to the rodeo (1922).
• William H. Moffat, Cattle baron on the original association committee.

Sources

1. 2news.com/news/local/reno-rodeo-cattle-drive-applications-open-tuesday-for-2027-ride/article_e70bbef5-837e-464b-b9e1-f4858b5ae337.html
2. renorodeo.com/nevada-state-fairgrounds
3. renorodeo.com
4. renorodeo.com/events
5. mynews4.com/news/knowing-nevada/-100-years-of-reno-rodeo-history
6. facebook.com/RenoRodeo
7. instagram.com/renorodeo
8. kunr.org/arts-and-culture/2019-06-21/reno-rodeo-100-guy-clifton-on-the-first-rodeo
9. kunr.org/time-place-with-alicia-barber/2019-06-19/early-rodeo-traditions-turned-reno-into-the-wild-west
10. renonr.com/2019/06/19/saddle-up
11. renorodeo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Bullsheet_03.2016_small.pdf
12. travelnevada.com/nevada-magazine/reno-rodeo-turns-100
13. nvhistoricalsociety.org/event/high-noon-reno-rodeo-mural-video-and-slideshow-of-rodeo-photos-virtual
14. storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/134c607c324d4199b77e3e47d61241de#ref-n-9CIjwO
15. renorodeo.com/reno-rodeo-association-announces-cancelation-of-2020-reno-rodeo
16. renorodeo.com/about/history