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BHSSF Great American Cowboy Series.....
"Days of ‘76: Spirits of Deadwood" Captured on Canvas
Rapid City, SD -- The spirit of a thing is a defined as
the life, the principle, the will, the thought...the very soul of something.
Or someone.
To capture that on canvas for Black Hills Stock Show Foundation’s
commemorative series "The Great American Cowboy",
area artist Mick Harrison and a host of others have collaborated to bring to
life the pioneering spirits of the historic Days of ‘76, an event that marks
its 82nd year with a life all its own.
"Deadwood is so colorful - so dynamic - where do you start and stop with a
project such as this," reflects Joe Norman, BHSSF president.
"But for us, with this original series that is so important in its
depiction of the cowboy and rodeo, the decision to place the mark of Days of
‘76 in this, the fourth in the series, was an easy one."
Keeping focused on the Days of ‘76 rodeo arena, the Foundation, Days of
‘76 Committee members and others built the image from there. Titled: "Days
of ‘76: Spirits of Deadwood", it is an original works that simply
does not exist - in any part - anywhere else. "Every part of this piece is
so unique, because of the people who are painted into it, with an old Days of
‘76 chute gate rising up behind them, the Deadwood stage, the mighty oxen
driving with them. It’s history in the making," explains Harrison.
The original and issue number one of only 25 reproductions to be made will go
under the gavel at the BHSSF Stockman’s Auction, Wed., February 4 at the
social event of Stock Show Week, the Stockman’s Banquet and Ball. Funds
raised benefit the Foundation’s scholarship programs that assist students from
the Dakota’s, Wyoming, Montana and Nebraska. An ongoing project, the
commemorative series is made possible in part through support from Farm Credit
Services of America
Working in his favorite medium of opaque water color, he envisioned a,
"Remington kind of flair, that hell-bent for leather style that puts a lot
of action into something. From there, photographs and old rodeo programs
provided what I needed to accurately portray the early day organizers and
personalities who were instrumental in the early days of the rodeo."
"There are hundreds of stories about these people," says Norman.
"We can’t possibly tell it all here. But I know there’ll be lots
of reminiscing over this picture; it will bring back memories, it will share a
significant part of cowboy and rodeo history."
And the people who were there, making it happen.
For as long as anybody can remember, a Bachand has been in the driver’s box,
in the front boot of the Deadwood Stage; traveling the circuit from Oklahoma in
1942 would see a cowboy enter up in the Days of ‘76 doggin’ where something
else (or rather someone) caught his eye and Bat and Rose Ridley would go on to
become synonymous with the Days of ‘76; nobody cared more about the Days of
‘76 and Deadwood in general than Lew Keehn, whose family continues the
tradition with the Old Style Saloon No. 10.; and if you close your eyes, you can
still see the outriders and horses from the Pat Roberts family being trailed up
Centennial Valley, on into Deadwood
The list goes on and when complete, includes Bat and Rosie Ridley. Pat Roberts,
Eddie Rypkema, Bud Bowen, Ezra Bachand, Russ Madison, Chief David Bald Eagle,
and Lew Keehn.
"This is a very personalized piece - a true one of a kind," says
Harrison. "It’s not a portraiture of these people in the classic sense.
Rather, it’s seeing (and recognizing) them in their ‘working clothes’
as we say in the cowboy way."
"We are thrilled to share with everyone an image of the mighty oxen team in
our annual parade, the historic Days of ’76 arena and the people who made the
event what it is today," says Days of ‘76 Committee member Pat Roberts
(whose grand dad is among those pictured). "And we’re delighted to
have a great artist like Mick Harrison sit down and draw, draft and ultimately
paint the "Days of ’76: Spirits of Deadwood".
" But more than that, we are happy we can be a part of such a worthwhile
cause - helping the Foundation generate funds that provides scholarships to
students.
"This partnership between the Days of ‘76 and the Black Hills Stock Show
Foundation is a shining example of what can be accomplished in working
together for a common goal."
It’s a fitting tribute in a year that marks the Days of ‘76 as the Top PRCA
Outdoor Rodeo in the nation (for the fourth consecutive year-a distinction held
by no other rodeo) and the Black Hills Stock Show Rodeo as the Top PRCA Indoor
Rodeo. Cowboy’s themselves make these selections and have sent a clear message
- the best in cowboy and rodeo is in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
It got that way through determination; the will, the thought, the doing of a
thing, year after year - in 82 years with the Days of ‘76 arena as
the backdrop.
It got that way through the "Spirits of Deadwood."
Information on people included in Days of ‘76:
Spirits of Deadwood"
* All are deceased except for Rosie Ridley and Chief David
Bald Eagle
Eddie Rypkema:
Was General Chairman of the Days of ‘76 committee more years than any other
person in the history of the celebration. He was a serious businessman and
he brought serious business principles to the Days of ‘76 organization.
Eddie was never afraid of change as long as the change pointed to progress.
Bud Bowen:
His family recreated authentic oxen powered travel, "bull teams", as
they were called and brought them to the Day’s of ‘76 Parade and Rodeo for
decades. These exhibits consisted of big, high (wooden) wheeled wagons,
pulled by two yoke (4 head) of oxen, up to 8-9 yoke (16-18 head) depending on
the year. They used big, colorful, Longhorn steers and the pictures of
these units were invaluable over the years in advertising of the Days of ‘76.
Russ Madison:
Was known in the Midwest as "Mr. Rodeo". He furnished rough
stock for the Days of ‘76 for many years, his son Gene, for many more after
that. There have been many stock contractors over the years at Deadwood.
The significance here of Russ Madison and Deadwood is that during this tenure,
the rodeo part of the celebration moved from being a "show" to being
an organized, competition rodeo as we know rodeo today.
Pat Roberts:
And his family from Whitewood, for many years secured work teams from the
surrounding area to be trailed to Deadwood up through Centennial Valley for use
to pull wagons in the Days of ‘76 Parade. Because the ‘76 event was
billed as "all horse drawn", supplying 50-70 head of work horses was a
very important link in the success of the celebration. A member of the Roberts
family has been involved in some capacity, since it’s beginning.
Lew Keehn:
Loved Deadwood, SD in general and the Days of ‘76 celebration in particular.
He fought long and hard to perpetuate the past, present and future of both in a
very large way. No one cared more for the Days of ‘76 than Lew Keehn.
He and others in early day Deadwood encountered a fair share of hardship
including a declining business community and the ever-present danger of fire -
both of which directly touched his business, the Old Style Saloon #10. Yet the
"Spirit of Deadwood" prevails through the vision and determination of
people like Lew Keehn.
Bat and Rosie Ridley:
Were
involved with the Days of ‘76 for many years. Bat came to his first Days
of ‘76 from Oklahoma in 1942 as a rodeo contestant, roping calves and
bulldogging steers. An important part of their married life involved
helping with the Days of ‘76. Rosie secretaried the rodeo for 50 years
and Bat served as General Chairman and was on the executive committee for many
years. Together, their selfless devotion to Deadwood and never ending
support was truly the "Spirit of Deadwood." Ridley is a
recipient of the 2003 Tom Didier Pioneer Award.
Chief David Bald Eagle:
Has been to every Days of ‘76 for 65 years. It is with pride as an
American that he carries out his duties every year at the Days of ‘76
celebration, leading the parade with our nation’s fla, (he is a WW II
veteran), leading a native dance group during the rodeo performance, and helping
where needed. The Lakota traditions are well represented by him.
Bald Eagle is a recipient of the 2003 Tom Didier Pioneer Award.
Ezra Bachand: Days of ‘76 history says that
as long as the Cheyenne Stage (the big stage) has been used in the celebration,
that a Bachand has always been in the driver’s box, in the front boot.
Ezra drove the stage for many, many years. His father drove before him.
Ezra’s son Mark drove for over 20 years and now a cousin of Mark’s, Mike
Bachand continues the legacy.
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