SEPTEMBER 2019 THE RIDER/ 9 INSIDE The Pioneers Of Rodeo a True Pioneer of Rodeo Herb Towers,


“He Left his mark. A judge, announcer or just a good friend, you could find no better...”


By George Hewitt


The founding of the Ontario Rodeo Association Continued from last month Rider article—“Pioneers


of Rodeo” Archie McArthur, founding of the Ontario Rodeo Association. We left our story as me Archie and LeRoy Kufske, sitting in our small trailer, home away from home, while on the Rodeo trail early in the summer of 1957. The Bar 11 Ranch Rodeo was just two weeks away. As you remember we were trying to put together 2


or 3 “front men” to run the meeting giving us credibility and help us get out of the chute. Kufske would get Roy Ionson to chair the proposed meeting at the Bar 11 Ranch. Roy and LeRoy were partners in buying and selling horses. LeRoy said no problem. Don Lawrence was selected as a second credible voice. Don was an accountant and had been involved in Rodeo in Ontario from very early on. We were hoping that these two guys would likely re-


duce many of the questions that would have been directed at us three outlaws.


This ORA story was made possible by three Ontario


cowboys who were smart enough to put together a plan that might just work, but, they needed one more element. That element was Herb Towers. I never mentioned Herb’s name to Archie or Leroy.


Herb at that time was a very busy guy. He was a black- smith, a horse show/Rodeo announcer, star of his own TV show on Channel 11, and the manager of the Bar 11 Ranch


Herb Towers TV star of Chanel 11 Cowboy TV show And producer of the Bar11 Ranch Rodeos 1956/57


Throughout my adventures I have proclaimed many times that —-You never know what you can do until you cant.- Herb Towers was a man with a vision. One of the


major players in the foundation of the Western Horse as- sociation of Ontario, a man who believed that the western horse exhibitors need to dress up their act to a more show type western look that would bring the western exhibitors in line with a more professional dress appearance in the show ring. Rules and regulations were also a subject that caught Herb eye. He of course was responsible for much that made it into the rule books of western performance classes......So much more I can add and will every chance I get .......Thanks Herb...... We will continue to touch on the few who worked so


hard and dedicated so much to bring Rodeo to Ontario in a truly entertaining production....> but waters are becom- ing unsettled. Black clouds are coming.........fasten your seat belts, the badlands and rough seas are threatening........ Until next time, I’m George Hewitt} jawranglerok@aol.com


Herb ready to announce another magnificent and show stopping performance.


and Rodeo.. It just so happens that the Chanel11 TV sta- tion,and Bar 11 Ranch were owned by Ken Sobel who was also Herb Towers’ employer........Herb talked to Ken Soble after I outlined our plan. I confided in Herb because I did not want to cause problems between Herb and Ken Soble. To my surprise after the conversation with his boss


Ken Soble, Herb reported to me that Ken Soble was !00% behind our plan.....The scene was set. Only time will tell. now just a week away the Bar 11 Ranch Rodeo is about to become part of the History of Ontario Rodeo. On a warm misty night they came. From every camp


site by twos and threes, all of them cowboys and cowgirls, they came. you watched them come in disbelief as the moon peeked over and through the trees surrounding the meeting place. 50, 75, 100 and more they came. the men the women seemed to feel this to be something big for one and all...... They all came and filled the meeting location in anticipation of who, what, where, when and why. the 5 parts to a successful story. Was this to be one of them. It went smooth, so smooth that we had to keep re-


minding ourselves what had just happened. Thanks to Ken Soble and my buddy Big HERB TOWERS.


Herb awards Pete Van Eerd the winning Trophy “Herb Towers Invitational” 2 years in a row.


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Consider putting it in The Rider!


Pioneers of Rodeo . . . . . 9 WHAO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Rusty Gaits Saddle Club 12 ORCHA News . . . . . . . . 12 NERCHA News. . . . . . . 12


Ram Rodeo Finals . . . . . 13 Equine Medication Control Committee . . . . . . . . . 13


CRHRA News . . . . . . . . 15 Biosecurity . . . . . . . . . . 16


OCHA News . . . . . . . . . 16 ORHA News . . . . . . . . . 17 OXC News . . . . . . . . . . 18 OTRA News . . . . . . . . . 19


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