New books out that will help you cowboys and cowgirls relive the past through the eyes of two of the great bronc riders of their era. The story of Bill Smith a World Champion Saddle Bronc rider is told. Turk Greenough, another tough saddle bronc rider of his time, who went on to stunt work in Hollywood, has finally received his request, a book about his unusual life. Both of these books will give the reader a great insight in to the life of a competing rodeo cowboy, in two different eras.
HORSES THAT BUCK, THE STORY OF CHAMPION BRONC RIDER BILL SMITH
by Margot Kahn, and published by the University of Oklahoma Press
This is the story of a top bronc rider who says he “wasn’t that good, just consistent”, but this account will show that his consistency shoved him to the top of the saddle bronc riding cowboys, not just once but three times. Bill Smith is an honest man who loves bucking horses and kept records of every horse he rode, and studied the broncs, as his life unfolded. He was raised in the Montana and Cody, Wyoming, area and it was definitely ‘bronc riding country’ where the Linderman brothers, the Greenough family and Casey Tibbs were some of the best. After ‘cutting his teeth’ on the broncs at Cody for several years he headed down the ‘rodeo road’ and despite injury never thought about anything else other than ‘horses that buck’. When he retired Smith found his niche by training and selling ranch horses and today holds one of the best horse sales in the ranch world. This honest man, who lives in Thermopolis, Wyoming, admits his faults and credits his wife for her important part in his successes. The author didn’t ‘whip this book out in a short while’ but spent years attending rodeos, riding and spending time with Smith until she knew Smith better than he knows himself. She ‘got it’ right and anyone who knows Smith will approve. A great read.
WHEN THE WHISTLE BLOWS, THE TURK GREENOUGH STORY
by Tom Ringley, published by Pronghorn Press.
The world champion bronc rider, Turk Greenough had a burning desire to have a book written of his life – the good – the bad – and everything in between. The author has fulfilled Turk’s wishes. Turk was born in to a family unique unto itself. One of eight children with five choosing to rodeo. Turk and his sisters, Marge and Alice, became known all over the United States, Canada, England and Australia. Their father, Packsaddle Ben Greenough, had also had an intriguing life, but was tough on his children, expecting them to do adult work when only youngsters, but maybe it was important. Their mother, Myrtle, the direct opposite of her cantankerous husband, was known as kind, loving and always there for them. Although Turk was known as a world champion bronc rider you won’t find his name in the professional list of world champions today (since 1929). That title eluded him, but a world champion he was as he won all the big rodeos of his day – Calgary, Pendleton and Cheyenne. Turk also spent time with the 101 Wild West Show and became a famous stuntman and stand in for a long list of western movie stars. He also became friends with many public figures of his day including John Wayne, Will Rogers and Roy Rogers. Although his marriage to Helen in 1933 was important Turk was ‘hustled’ by Sally Rand, a famous dancer, and he a Helen divorced. He then wed Sally, but when he discovered her intent was to change him the brief marriage went sour. His experiences were vast but as he aged his life became bittersweet. Author, Tom Ringley, did his research thoroughly and then some. Facts about Turk’s life, and that of his family, not earlier known are included in the account. A must for everyones rodeo library.
OTHER READS
I also read these books this spring and can highly recommend them both. They aren’t involved with rodeo, but are truly stories of the west.
THE WORST HARD TIME, THE UNTOLD STORY OF THOSE WHO SURVIVED THE GREAT AMERICAN DUST BOWL
by Timothy Egan, published by Houghton-Mifflin
The Dust Bowl of the Depression days in the Midwest are known by all. Even though this was a natural disaster people had come in to this are and turned prairie land into wheat fields because of greed, never thinking that something like the wind could cause such disaster. This true story is set mainly in the panhandle of Oklahoma, and surrounding states such as Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. The author, a Pulitzer Prize winner, cites why people turned thousands of acres of perfectly good pasture land, full of plentiful grasses, in to fields of wheat – as far as they eye could see. The reason, the price of a bushel of wheat had soared sky high. The people living here never realized that soon the winds would bring dust to the area so strong and for so long that it would blow the top soil all the way to Chicago and New York. This devastating Dust Bowl would last for years. Egan’s accounts of specific people and their plights, are painful and heart-wrenching. Thoroughly researched and well written this book is a National Book Award Winner. I couldn’t put it down.
A PRAYER FOR JUAN GARZA, DRUG CULTURE IN THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY OF TEXAS
by Robert Holz, published by Authorhouse.
This novel evolved from the author witnessing a meeting of two vehicles on a lonely road, seldom traveled, next to an irrigation ditch in far South Texas, between two villages. The drivers got out, met between the autos, exchanged a package for a suitcase, turned and left, going their separate ways. Had he witnessed something illegal? The story tells of a young Mexican boy who is forced to leave his small village in the mountains of Mexico and flee to the United States, knowing no one. What happens in his life in the new country and how he becomes totally involved in the drug world is intriguing. Meanwhile a teenage couple from a nearby town see a similar exchange, as the author witnessed, and find a suitcase of money. Their youthful excitement about their find and plans for this money by taking a whirlwind trip, turn in to a disaster. Once the drug lord discovers his money is missing he alerts his network of people to find it! The adventures and escapades the teenagers encounter will keep you reading. How it ends will surprise you. An excellent suspense-filled story.
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