Gerald's good friend, the infamous rodeo cowboy, Casey Tibbs, was a six time World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider, a two-time All-Around World Champion and a one-time Bareback Riding Champion. He won his first title in 1949, at the age of 18, making him the youngest ever to win the World Saddle Bronc Crown. A bigger than life bronze statue of Casey on "Necktie" sits in front of the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado where Casey is an inductee. In 1989, as Casey battled cancer, friends raised the $30,000 necessary to have the statue sculpted by Edd Hayes. Casey wrote, produced and starred in the movies "Born To Buck," and "Young Riders" and starred in "Bronc Busters." He also appeared in other television and motion picture westerns as a stuntman. Casey even once rode blindfold.

If these pictures were in color, you'd see that Casey's favorite color was purple
- which eventually became his trademark.

Casey Tibbs
March 5, 1929 - January 28, 1990
Born in Ft. Pierre, SD

At the age of 22, Casey Tibbs
appears on the cover of LIFE Magazine
October 22, 1951

Inside the LIFE Magazine:

Casey Tibbs & Cowboys
Shooting Craps behind the chutes at Pendleton

Another picture inside the magazine shows Casey visiting Gerald, who was recovering from being stepped on by a bull, in the hospital.

 

 

The Casey Tibbs Foundation is constructing a rodeo center that will carry on the legacy of the sport of rodeo. One of the center's main goals is to preserve rodeo history and culture - past, present and future - as well as to provide educational opportunities for future generations. The Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center To donate and help invest in future generations of rodeo, please contact: Casey Tibbs Foundation PO Box 911 Fort Pierre, SD 57531-0911 Please see the official Casey Tibbs website. The annual Match of Champions Bronc Ride is held in June at the Casey Tibbs Arena in Fort Pierre, South Dakota. Casey Tibbs -- Fort Pierre's Favorite Son.