Remember Casey Tibbs?
Casey Tibbs (1929-1990) and Bob Nolan
(Bill Bowen photo)
Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers entertained at countless rodeos and it was inevitable that they would get to know the regular performers. Casey Tibbs became a close friend of the Pioneers over the years. We don't know yet where or when this photo of him with Bob Nolan was taken.
South Dakota cowboy Casey Tibbs was 9 times World Champion Cowboy (both bareback and saddle bronc) and his record has never been beaten. He was six times World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider, two times All-Around World Champion and a one-time Bareback Riding Champion. He was 18 when he won his first title in 1949, making him the youngest ever to win the World Saddle Bronc Championship.
(Bob stated that in his opinion the song you are listening to, "Ride Me Down Easy" by Billy Joe Shaver, perfectly describes the life of a rodeo cowboy. Bob wrote several good songs himself about cowboys, including "The Devil's Great Grandson", "Sky Ball Paint" and "Hold That Critter Down".)
At only 22, Casey appeared on the cover of Life magazine on Oct. 22, 1951.
Left to Right: Gary Gray, Casey Tibbs & Rod McKuen
Right: Casey, Audie Murphy and Guy Mitchell
Casey wrote, produced and starred in the movies "Born to Buck" and "Young Riders", starred in "Bronco Buster" and appeared in "Breakheart Pass" with Ben Johnson, another ex-rodeo rider. He also did some stunt work in other movies ("The Cowboys", "Once Upon a Texas Train" and many others) and on TV ("The Waltons", "Tales of Wells Fargo", etc.)
Left: May 14, 1956
Right: June 1959
His first time on the set, 27-year-old Casey prepares to start his first scenes in the Screen Director's Playhouse television production of "Partners". Casey gave up the $50,000 annual prize money at the nation's top rodeo events to ride the movie trail "fore I git hurt bad."
A larger than life bronze statue of Casey on "Necktie" (by Edd Hayes) sits in front of the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1989, as Casey battled cancer, friends raised the $30,000 necessary to have the beautiful statue made.
Left: The famous ride on "Necktie".
Right: Blindfolded and looking backward.
Casey has been described as being to rodeo what Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were to baseball, what Jack Dempsey and Muhammad Ali were to boxing and what Red Grange was to football. In August 1989, Casey was awarded the Golden boot from the Motion Picture and Television Relief Fund for his contribution to the industry.
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Grave stone in Ft. Pierre, SD
Casey Tibbs was immortalized in Canadian songwriter Ian Tyson's "Casey Tibbs". (Song used with permission from Ian Tyson.)
In 2010, long-time member of the Sons of the Pioneers Rusty Richards, published Casey's biography, Born to Ride.
The photo of Casey Tibbs and Bob Nolan is from the Calin Coburn Collection ©2004. The rest are from the Internet.