Four

RODEO

On the third weekend in August 1884, cowboys gathered and participated in the first Payson Rodeo. The event was held in the Mid-Town Pasture, southwest of the intersection of Old Main and Highway 87. The cowboys were anxious to see how their roping and riding skills compared to those of their neighbors. Horse racing, bronc riding, foot racing, and roping events, along with silver dollar pitching, dominated the early agenda. Through the years, steer busting, bulldogging, cowhide races, and other events were added. The Payson Rodeo soon became the premier social event of both the Rim Country and the lower Tonto Basin. It was a time when isolated ranch families could visit with their neighbors, many of whom they had not seen since the last rodeo.

The Payson Rodeo soon became as essential as Christmas to both the old-timers of the cattle industry and the folks in town. Payson’s rodeo was socially and economically tied to the cattle industry. The continuity of the Payson Rodeo has survived world wars, depressions, recessions, and stock market crashes.

For the first 70 years of its existence, Payson was a wide-open, self-governing cow town. Due to the community’s remote location, Payson folk had free rein to celebrate as they chose. The celebration went nonstop for four days with such activities as dancing, eating, fighting, and gambling taking over the festivities at night. The selling and drinking of White Mule thrived day and night during the four-day celebration.

Outside law was shunned, so Payson—especially during the August Celebration—was self-regulated and uninhibited. Through all the steer busting, cockfighting, betting, horse races, and fist fighting, Payson remained completely safe for women. Indeed, they were treated with great respect. The children participated in sack races, foot races, three-legged races, and even croquet. As soon as the festivities were over, many began counting the days until the next year’s Payson Rodeo.

Charley Meadows was the primary founder and a favorite contestant in Payson’s first rodeo held in August 1884. Just two years prior to his founding of the rodeo, his father, John M. Meadows, and brother, Henry Meadows, lost their lives in an Apache attack on the family’s Diamond Valley Ranch, where the Whispering Pines subdivision is today. Arizona Charley Meadows billed himself as the world-champion cowboy for many years and made it stick by taking on and beating all comers at roping events. He was a star in various Wild West shows, including his own and Buffalo Bill’s after he left the Payson area. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

Horse racing was a major part of the early Payson Rodeo. Some of the fastest horses in the world raced down Payson’s Main Street or down the Lane, which was the road into town from the south. Thousands of dollars and even ranches, saddles, and cattle were won and lost at Payson rodeos back in the 1880s. Early horses of note were Desert, owned by the Houston brothers; Brown Dick; Crowder; and Butter and Honey. Later Payson-area racehorses included Buster, Prissy, Brown Bomber, Crusader, Clabber, and Tonto Gal. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

Many early rodeos took place right downtown on Payson’s Main Street. People lined the streets making a human fence, which worked some of the time. At other times, a bovine critter would bust out followed by a cowboy. The animal might be roped in an adjacent meadow or on a hillside. No matter! It was all part of the show. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

Starting in the early 1920s, cars served double duty as fences and spectator seats. Here cars line Chilson’s Field, where several early-day rodeos were held. It was easier on stock than the hard-packed granite of Main Street, but some years the field was too boggy for rodeo events due to summer rains. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

Earl Stephens was a noted Payson bronc rider during the 1920s and 1930s. He was a consistent winner in the rough-stock events and was also no man to tangle with in a fight. Here he shows his bronc-riding skills at Chilson’s Field. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

Andy Ogilvie peaks through the fence at the old fairgrounds arena. Ola and Bill Wilbanks built the arena on their land just west of the main part of town in 1927, and the Payson Rodeo was held there until 1949. For many years, the Payson/Pine Fair was held under the grandstand during the rodeo. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

The grand entry signifies the beginning of a Payson Rodeo at the old fairgrounds arena. Fort McDonald Hill can be seen in the background. The hill was the site where Payson folks gathered in the early days to stave off Apache raids. The whole town and most of the country around can be seen from McDonald Hill. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

Cars line Main Street in Payson for a rodeo during the 1920s. The term “rodeo” did not come into consistent use until after 1930 in Payson. Before that, the Payson Rodeo was called the August Doins’ or sometimes the World’s Fair. Here we see tie-down calf roping as it was done in the 1920s. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

The cowhide race was a favorite Payson Rodeo event. Here Tom Morris rides the hide and Donnie Cline provides the horsepower. Unusual events such as the cowhide race, the wild cow milkin’, and the wild horse race assured that almost anyone could participate in the rodeo and have a reasonable chance of winning. This event took place at the Y Arena northeast of downtown Payson. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

During the Y Arena’s tenure, from 1950 through 1962, many of the best ropers in the world showed up in Payson to demonstrate their skills. Among them were Dale Smith, Oscar Walls, the Arnolds, Joe Bassett, the Schells, and more. Here we see Brad Smith in action. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

Gila County cowgirl Nancy Sheppard is the only woman ever to stand on the back of a running horse and spin two ropes at the same time. Here she does the trick while riding Roman style. Nancy is in the Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Cowgirl Hall of Fame, and the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame for her riding and roping abilities. (Courtesy Nancy Sheppard.)

Payson’s own Jim Kilby shows his skill and versatility by stepping in and out of a loop while spinning the cowboy wedding ring around his head. Jim preformed at many Payson rodeos and other events during the 1950s. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

Frank Kelly began riding bulls and broncs as a teenager and followed the rodeo circuit for almost half a century. Here he is shown on a bareback bronc at the Payson Rodeo in 1970. Also, he won the bull-riding event at a major rodeo in each of five decades. He was a contestant in the National Old Timer’s Rodeo Finals in 1987 as part of the Senior Pro Tour, and he went to the Turquoise Circuit Finals in 1990. In 2009, he was inducted into the Payson Rodeo Legends Ring of Honor. (Courtesy Frank Kelly.)

Payson Rodeo boss Jim Barrett (left) and friend, Slim Anderson, put in many hours each year during the 1970s and 1980s to be sure that the World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo would never falter. Barrett got his start in 1959 volunteering on the Payson Jaycees Rodeo Committee to sell pop from the concession stands; then he served as rodeo boss from 1972 to 1884. Slim and Jim, both who have since passed on, represent many others who gave of themselves and their time to make the Payson Rodeo the best it could be. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

Eddie Conway of Payson and the lower Tonto Basin began riding bulls in 1959, when he graduated from high school, and made his living at the sport until 1965. Conway went to the National Finals Rodeo in both 1963 and 1964. He was a top-10 bull rider for 10 years. He also won the U.S. Team Roping Championship with his partner, John Ewing, in Oklahoma in 2001. In 2009, Conway was inducted into the Payson Rodeo Legends Ring of Honor as a charter member. (Courtesy Eddie Conway.)

Roy Honeycutt, longtime rodeo stock contractor, performer, and all-around cowboy is pictured here giving the opening prayer at the 1987 Payson Rodeo. For many years, both Payson and Prescott billed their rodeos as the world’s oldest. To put an end to this, Prescott trademarked the phrase “World’s Oldest Rodeo.” With no other alternative, Payson trademarked “World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo” for its slogan. Payson Rodeo began in 1884, four years before Prescott’s, and it continued uninterrupted throughout both World Wars. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

Local bull rider Doyle Crabtree is shown here on a rank one at the Payson Rodeo. Doyle is descended from the Crabtrees, one of the oldest and toughest pioneering families in Gila County and the Payson area. (Courtesy Doyle Crabtree.)

Rodeo is a very unpredictable sport, tracing its origin back to the everyday skills and crafts of the cowboy. Even the roping events can provide any number of wrecks, and with the “Rough Stock Events,” some sort of mishap is virtually guaranteed. This roan horse is doing his best to keep up that tradition. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

Bronc riders and bull riders have a chance of landing on their feet, but with the sport of bulldogging, a man knows he is goin’ to the dirt. This event requires great cooperation between the dogger, his horse, and the hazer. All must do their job, and do it well, for the effort to end in a successful run. Even then, sometimes a wise old steer will stop in his tracks at just the right instant and watch the riders and horses fly on by. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

The Mogollon Montoneras lent a helping hand at many rodeos. Here Connie O’Daniel (left) and Jeanne Henderson carry the flags into the arena to lead the grand entry. (Peace-Pyle collection.)

Jim Skinner is ready to rope a calf at the Payson Rodeo held at the Wilbank’s Arena in August 1939. This was the first real rodeo arena built in Payson and the Payson-Pine was also held here under the grand stand. Prior to this arena, the rodeo was held on Main Street and in cattle pastures. Skinner was born in Payson and today, he and his wife, Joan, make their home in Payson not far from this arena. (Courtesy Jim Skinner.)