First Rodeo Cowboy in Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

First Rodeo Cowboy in Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

First Rodeo Cowboy in Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

The famous rodeo cowboy, Earl W. Bascom, recently became the first rodeo champion to be inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in Calgary Alberta.First Rodeo Cowboy in Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

At ceremonies held in the hall of fame museum at Calgary’s Olympic Park, Bascom was bestowed with Canada’s highest sports honor as a “Canadian Sports Legend.”

Born in Vernal, Utah in 1906, but raised in Canada, the late Earl Bascom is known internationally as the “father of modern rodeo” for having helped pioneer the sport of rodeo as it changed from a cowboy’s pastime into an international sport.

Bascom is credited with designing and making the modern rodeo bucking chute, the modern rodeo saddle, the modern bareback rigging and modern rodeo riding chaps.

Bascom also introduced brahma bull riding as a rodeo event back in 1935, replacing steer riding, and produced the first rodeo held outdoors at night under electric lights.

Bascom rodeoed while attending art school at the Brigham Young Univiersity during the 1930’s. Related by family bloodlines to western artists Frederic Remington and Charles Russell, Bascom became an internationally known artist, acclaimed as Canada’s most famous cowboy artist and sculptor.First Rodeo Cowboy in Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

With Bascom’s induction, the sport of rodeo is became the 65th sporting event represented in the museum’s 40,000 square foot facility, where Bascom’s cowboy memorabilia and art work are now on permanent display.

“Bascom’s incredible achievements will now be shared with all Canadians in perpetuity,” said Mario Siciliano, president of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, “inspiring generations of Canadians in sports and in life.”

(Photos attached: headshot of Earl Bascom 1932, Earl Bascom riding a bull at Puyallup, Washington rodeo in 1939, Earl Bascom with bronze “Old Time Bronc Rider.” )

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