A CHASE COUNTY COWGIRL
Young performer brings
Marge Roberts to life
Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 2 pm
Minta Van Nortwick, Cottonwood Falls, presents A Chase County Cowgirl on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 2 pm. One of the top women trick riders from the 1930s through the 1950s, Marge Roberts broke horses for her father and neighbors while still in grade school. She began performing in the Clyde Miller Wild West Show at the tender age of thirteen. Her ability to ride rough stock led to winning the 1940 ladies Bronc Riding Championship and a long lasting career as a trick rider. Marge perfected the trick riding move that is known as the Dive. Her bronc riding was said to be spectacular - she whooped and hollared every time the horse hit the ground.
Learn more about Marge Roberts (1916-1982) in this first-person debut performance. Step back in time to meet one of the first women of Chase county rodeo and celebrate Women’s History Month at Pioneer Bluffs.
There is no fee to attend a Prairie Talk held in the barn at Pioneer Bluffs. Refreshments will be served.
Reservations requested to info@pioneerbluffs.org or (620) 753-3484. Donations gratefully accepted.
Gerald's wife,
Pat Roberts, lost her battle with cancer and passed away November 3, 2005. She was laid to rest on November
8, 2005 in Abilene, Kansas.
A Cowboy's Prayer
Our gracious and heavenly Father, we pause in the midst of this festive occasion, mindful and thoughtful of the guidance that you have given us.
As cowboys, Lord, we don't ask for any special favors, we ask only that you let us compete in this arena, as in life's arena. We don't ask to never break a barrier, or to draw a round of steer that's hard to throw, or a chute fighting horse, or a bull that is impossible to ride. We only ask that you help us to compete as honest as the horses we ride and in a manner as clean and pure as the wind that blows across this great land of ours.
So when we do make that last ride that is inevitable for us all to make, to that place up there, where the grass is green and lush and stirrup high, and the water runs cool, clear, and deep - You'll tell us, as we ride in, that our entry fees have been paid.
In loving memory of our Dad, Granddad, Husband and Friend, Gerald Roberts.
We will miss you.
Gerald Roberts
1919 - 2004
Gerald's last ride
Our beloved Granddad, Dad, Brother & Friend passed away on New Year's Eve 2004. Gerald Roberts was laid to rest in Abilene, Kansas on January 5, 2005. A horse with no rider, saddled with Gerald's championship saddle from Madison Square Garden, symbolized this World Champion Cowboy's last ride.
Gerald Roberts grew up in Strong City, Kansas, surrounded by horses, cattle and wide open pastures. Gerald and his siblings rode wild horses to school to break them and spent their childhood on any wild animal they could get their hands on. Gerald and his brother Ken became world champion rodeo cowboys and his sister Marge became a bronc rider and famous trick rider. Gerald's father E.C. was a stock contractor and pickup man. The Flint Hills rodeo, the longest consecutively run rodeo in Kansas, was started at E.C.'s
ranch in 1937. The Flint Hills rodeo is still held in Strong City, Kansas every year in June.
We're Collecting Rodeo Photos, Stories and Memorabilia To Help Us Write A Book!
If you have any Roberts' Family rodeo stories, any old rodeo photos or old Roberts' family photos or rodeo memorabilia, we would love to hear from you! We will gladly accept copies, originals or donations. Any items we receive will be tagged with your name so that we can give credit to you in our book.
Roberts Book Project
c/o Shannan Hauser
PO Box 111636
Carrollton, TX 75011-1636
Help Preserve Rodeo History
Support Our Book Project:
Please contact Gerald's granddaughter, Shannan, at bookproject@geraldroberts.com for info on how you can help us with our book project.
(See red box above for more info).
Support TheChase County Historical Society:
It is important to preserve this unique history and the history of Chase County Kansas, the Flint Hills Rodeo and the Roberts Family for generations to come. Please support the Chase County Historical Society by giving a donation and/or by becoming a lifetime member. For more information, please call 620-273-8500.
Chase County Historical Society
301 Broadway
P.O. Box 375
Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845
Our thoughts
and prayers go out to the family of World Champion Rodeo Cowboy Jim
Shoulders who passed away on June 20, 2007. Another legendary cowboy has left
us for the heavenly arena in the sky. May we never forget those who paved the way for rodeo today.
CASEY TIBBS
Congratulations to The Casey Tibbs Foundation! They are working
on a museum to pay tribute to Casey and all South Dakotans in the field of rodeo.
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