My Bonnie McCarroll Story by Ann Ayres

A bit of cowgirl lore From the writings of Bonnie McCarroll......do not record this as fact, just enjoy the story.

                "My Papa handed me the reins and told me to ride. I covered that bucker from all sides,  for about three seconds......... and awoke in my bed.

                 I heard the sound of spurs, but not like walking, like singing. I hunted for the sound and finally opened my eyes. My Papa was setting across from my bed with one leg crossed over the other. He was spinning his spur with one hand and the other, nurveously fumbling his hat. When he saw my eyes open he leaned in and said "you loosened up on your grip, don't do it again, you'll get hurt!" He put his hat on and walked out, leaving me to lick my wounds, in my own good time. And I suspect I will never forget." 

Bonnie McCarroll

Born in Boise, Idaho, in 1897. Raised on 2000 acres of land her grandfather homesteaded. Her Papa was raising horses and cattle.  Once she convinced her father that she was old enough and wise enough to ride Buckers, she was Champion bound.  

Bonnie McCarroll, born Mary Ellen "Dot" Treadwell (1897-September 29, 1929), was a champion rodeo performer and bronc rider most remembered for her tragic death at the Pendleton Round-Up in Pendleton, Oregon. She also excelled in steer riding, bulldogging, and automobile jumping. In her riding career, McCarroll competed with such other female performers as  Tad Lucas, Mabel Strickland, Fox Hastings, and Florence Hughes.

McCarroll was born on a cattle ranch at High Valley, near Boise, Idaho. In 1922, she won two cowgirl bronc riding championships at both Cheyenne Frontier  Days, and the first rodeo hosted at Madison Square Garden. In 1915, her first year of rodeo competition, McCarroll attracted national attention from a photograph taken of her being thrown from the horse named "Silver" at the Pendleton Round-Up. In her career, she performed before kings, queens, such dignitaries as President Calvin Coolidge, while he was vacationing in the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1927, and countless rodeo fans worldwide.

The Pendleton Round-Up of September 1929 was to have been McCarroll's final competition, for she had planned to retire with her husband, Frank McCarroll to their home in Boise. She drew a bronc consequently named, "Black Cat." The bronc fell and somersaulted, dragging her, with foot hung in what was previously a hobbled stirrup. She was rushed to a hospital but died la few days later of her spinal injury and pneumonia.

Frank McCarroll was born in Moris, Minnesota. He left home at thirteen, having drifted to North Dakota, Montana, and Idaho, where he became a wrestler. In 1911, while in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, he wrestled his first steer and won a $1 bet. He broke the world record for bulldogging in Boise in 1913, at which time he met the 16-year-old "Bonnie" Treadwell. After Bonnie's death, he became involved as a stuntman and in films. He died at the age of sixty-one from an accidental fall at his home in Burbank, California. Frank referred to Bonnie, who weighed from 95 to 112 pounds, as "the best little cook in the world and some dressmaker, too."

In 2002, Bonnie McCarroll was posthumously inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame in Oklahoma CIty, Oklahoma.  Many have mistaken her 1915 fall with the fatal accident fourteen years later because both occurred at Pendleton.

In 2006, McCarroll was named to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth.

Jim and I at Bonnies' gravesite. We were there on the date she was thrown.

It is simply marked

Bonnei McCarroll

Sept 29, 1929

Bonnie McCarroll, rodeo performer, champion trick rider and saddle bronc rider. She rode against some of the greatest Cowgirls like Tad Lucas, Mable Strickland,  Fox Hastings, Florence Hughes and many more. She made rodeo history when she championed at  Madison Square Garden, Pendleton Round-Up and Cheyenne Frontier Days.  However, this ride, being thrown from Silver, would be mistakenly remembered by some as her fatal ride, overshadowing her many accomplishments and outstanding personality. In 1924 Bonnie captured the Wimbley Trophy in England. During her short life, her performances in this country and over the pond, leaving Bonnie the greatest rider the world has ever forgotten.

There are many Cowgirls waiting to be delivered from the faded historical black and whites, into full, 3-demintional bronze figures.   

 Looking for stories from the Greenough family and Ruth Roach family. 

click  image  

 

 

 Mary Guthrie flew Hurricanes on transport missions during the second world war, although she never saw combat she was widely considered to be a highly capable pilot by all her knew her. After the war she became well known for throwing excellent parties with her husband in London.

Ah-Weh-Eyu (Pretty Flower), Seneca Indian girl, 1908

 http://perkycowgirl.com

More Cowgirls

are on the way!

Fox Hastings and

Lola Galli.

Check back real soon.

Capturing a moment in history, rodeo history, or your personal history. 

From faded photographs to beautiful heirlooms as 3-dimensional bronze pieces.

Follow me

 

Florence Hughes Randolph

Ardmore, Oklahoma.  The champion cowgirl of the world and holder of many trophies as trick and other fancy riding exhibits, trained daily at her home. Her father also had her training for her famous head stand on the arms of a rocking chair. 

Florence was born Cleo Alberta Holmes at Augusta, Georgia in 1898. Her daddy preferred the name Florence, the name she used her entire life. During the time Florence performed, she weighed only ninety pounds and was only four feet six inches tall. She was the first and only woman to master turning a backwards somersault from one horse to another.

Ten time World Champion Cowgirl Trick Rider and World Champion Bronc Rider, Florence made more than 500 rodeo appearances - bronc riding, trick roping, trick riding and roman riding. A petite woman, Florence was 13 before she learned to ride a horse and taught herself stunt riding. She worked in wild west shows, raced motorcycles, doubled for movie stars and produced her own Wild West show, "Princess Mohawk's Wild West Hippodrome."

In 1971 Randolph told an interviewer somewhat proudly: "I've been carried off for dead several times." She was actually pronounced dead in the arena in 1923. Following another rodeo accident several years later she was rushed to the hospital, where she awoke to hear the doctor say that if she lived, she would never walk again. Alarmed, she jumped from the bed and fled the building wearing only in a sheet! 

Florence won the most prestigious and valuable trophy ($10,000) made for cowgirls of Madison Square Garden in 1927. It was the most coveted award. 

VELDA TINDALL SMITH (1908-1990) TEXAS

Velda Tindall Smith 1908-1990 This Texas cowgirl's career began at the age of 12. She learned to trick ride from Florence Hughes Randolph. At the age of 54, she won grand champion barrel racer at the 1964 Dallas Fair.  She was the mother of Garlene Tindall Parris.

Garlene Tildall Parris.

Youth Champion at Fort Worth at the age of 51/2 on her pony Sun Ray.

 RUTH ROACH  (1896-June 26,1986)

She began her 24 years of trick-riding at Fort Worth Texas in 1914, where she later was famed for riding her horse up the steps of the Cattlemen Hotel.  Ruth, a professional bronc rider, and world champion rodeo performer and Wild West Show star. Bronc riding was her favorite event, although she performed and won many other championship titles. During her career she won the titles of World's Champion All Around Cowgirl, World's Champion Trick Rider, and World's Champion Girl Bronc Rider and did it with a big smile on her face.