PENDLETON ROUND-UP AT 100


COWBOY FIVE STAR By Ann Terry Hill


Since 1955, the cowboy dormitory above the Severe Brothers saddle shop in a former barracks near the Pendleton airport has been the place of choice to stay for most of the cowboys who pass through this rodeo town. Campfire coffee is always brewing, and the cowpokes know that around the year, they have a bunk-style bed where they can roll out their sleeping bags free of charge to any PRCA member. The cowboys have often passed the hat, and sev- eral years they had enough spare change to send Bill and Duff Severe, founders of the saddlery, to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas. Randy Severe, Bill’s son, keeps the tradition alive. Rodeo icon Casey Tibbs, just back from a trip to Paris,


France, christened the place “Hotel de Cowpunch” in the 1950s. With his soft South Dakota accent, he added a French flair to the billet. The place is steeped in atmosphere. Earthy smells of


leather drift up from the saddle shop on the ground floor. Abandoned milk cans serve as stools around the corner table where cowpokes play cards, read, or listen to music. Autographed pictures from 1955 to the present cover the walls, and hats that survived the arena foray decorate a cor-


 Inside the Hotel de Cowpunch, 2006. By Don Cresswell, EO Archive.


 Bob Edson of the PRCA (at right) presents an award to Bill and Duff Severe (left and center). Howdyshell Collection.  Casey Tibbs awaits his turn to ride, ca. 1956. Bob Chambers, longtime Round-Up announcer, is at right. Howdyshell Collection.


The Severes are a family of entertainers to boot. Well


known for their musical talents, they are often invited to sing the national anthem to open each day’s rodeo. During Round-Up week, you might find them harmonizing on Main Street as “The Singing Severes.” Randy sums up the family’s pride in the construction of


a Severe saddle. “I want to make the best and most beautiful saddle you can find, and then make the next one more beautiful than that.”


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