Earl and Weldon Bascom were part of the legendary Bascom Boys, father John and sons Earl, Weldon, Mel and Raymond. The Bascom family are true pioneers in the sport of professional rodeo. They were and have been involved in all aspects of the sport of rodeo in the 1930s and 1940s.
Weldon and his brother Earl co-produced the first professional rodeo in the State of Mississippi in 1935. They are both known as the “Fathers of Brahma Bull Riding” being the first to use Braham bulls in the event.
Weldon was nicknamed “Preacher.” He was born January 3, 1912 and passed away on July 9, 1993. He was a member of the Cowboys Turtle Association and held card number 129. He produced the first rodeo held outside at night under electric lights in 1935. He was a contestant in saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, steer riding, wild cow riding, bull riding, steer wrestling and steer decorating. Weldon was also a rodeo announcer, trick rider, rodeo producer and stock contractor, rodeo newspaper reporter and author, western movie actor and stuntman and ranch manager.
Given in recognition of his complete dedication to the sport of professional rodeo spanning several decades; for his contributions as a rodeo newspaper reporter and published author, for his innovation and foresight as the “Father of Brahma Bull Riding”; and for his contributions as a rodeo athlete and champion, producer, stock contractor, trick rider, announcer, and western movie actor and stuntman; and for continuing the family legacy of true professional rodeo pioneers, Weldon Bascom is awarded the Ken Stemler Pioneer Award.
Earl Bascom, born June 19, 1906, died August 28, 1996. He was a multi-talented individual both in and out of the rodeo arena. His Cowboys Turtle Association card number was 909. He competed in rodeo in three different decades in 7 different events.
Nicknamed the “Father of Modern Rodeo,” for his rodeo equipment and gear inventions and designs, he designed and built the first rodeo arena in Mississippi in 1936. He invented the first side delivery bucking chute in 1916, the first hornless bucking saddle in 1922, the one-handed bareback rigging in 1924 and rodeo chaps in 1926.
In addition to competing and inventing, Earl was a rodeo clown and bullfighter, announcer, trick rider, rodeo producer and stock contractor, rodeo historian and author and a very talented rodeo artist and sculptor.
When it comes to contributions to the sport of professional rodeo, one could say that Earl Bascom did it all.
Given in recognition of his complete dedication to the sport of professional rodeo spanning several decades; for his contributions as a rodeo equipment and gear inventor and designer; for his innovation and foresight as the “Father of Modern Rodeo” and the “Father of Brahma Bull Riding”; and for his contributions as a rodeo athlete and champion, producer, stock contractor, announcer, clown, trick rider, historian, author, artist and sculptor and western movie actor that helped advance the development and success of professional rodeo, Earl Bascom is presented the 2016 Ken Stemler Pioneer Award.