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Editor’s Note:
The Eagle Lake Lions Club presented a program on Dec. 21, 2022, on the history of the Thomas and Clipson Rodeo Co. It was founded in Eagle Lake, and served Texas towns throughout the state. It operated at the end of World War II from 1945 to 1955, giving young returning servicemen, among others, an opportunity to participate. The invited speaker was Sandra C. Thomas, youth rodeo participant and daughter of Ralph Thomas, the managing director of Thomas and Clipson Rodeo.
“Ladies and gentlemen: It’s rodeo time in Texas!” sputtered the old speaker box. “Welcome to the Thomas and Clipson Rodeo of Eagle Lake, Texas. We also welcome our U.S. service boys and girls to this event, as many will be participating.”
Growing up on local ranches and farms, many young men were adept at roping calves, riding wild horses and bulls, and steer-dogging. Girls could participate in barrel racing and ribbon racing.
It was good to welcome many of these ranch youngsters home.
Rodeos in Texas arose from the skills learned by ranch hands who wanted to compete with cowboys from other ranches. Ranch rodeos began locally with daring competitions. In Eagle Lake, the I.V. Duncan Ranch Rodeo was among the most popular. The rodeo created excitement and interest in the events. Both competitors and fans were delighted.
Even Gov. James Burr V. Allred numbered among the guests.
With high local interest in roping, weekly calf-ropings and matched-ropings were held. Seeing the opportunity in 1945 for bringing local communities together after the war, the Thomas and Clipson Rodeo Co. was founded by Ralph “Rusty” Thomas and his uncle, James Clipson Sr. of Eagle Lake.
They built a large rodeo arena with bleachers made by Herbert Loessin. The arena was located near Main Street on the McCreary land, which is now the Eagle Lake Golf Course & Recreation Center. The arena extended almost to the road to today’s golf clubhouse. It was an expansive area where some of the livestock was kept between rodeos.
The rodeos were so popular that participants and riders came from across Texas. For special rodeo events sponsored by community groups such as the Lions Club and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, there were long parades of riders and performers down Main Street with bands playing.
Thomas and Clipson also worked on occasion with the successful Potter Rodeo of Columbus, especially for the Fourth of July rodeos.
The men once received a letter from Japan requesting they visit that island nation and put on typical Texas rodeos in various large stadiums across the country. These Colorado County ranchers decided Japan was a little too far away from the Colorado River bottom, and the rich, green grasses around Eagle Lake.
They also imagined their ferocious and famous bull “Hitler” might have kicked out the sides of any airplane.
The Thomas and Clipson Rodeo Co. also produced the first Youth Rodeos in Texas and in the country. In 1949, the owners organized the first State Championship High School Rodeo in Hallettsville, followed by the first National Championship High School Rodeo in the United States.
The youth rodeo circuit thus began in Texas.
Rusty, at 28, was a roper. Clipson was a roper and won cutting-horse contests.
Together they bought the livestock and managed and directed each rodeo event. The popularity of the rodeo brought folks from other towns to see, and eventually Thomas and Clipson produced and directed rodeos in nearly 40 Texas towns, from county fairs to special events.
To broaden interest they introduced featured acts with trick riders, rope twirlers, rodeo clowns and trained horse events. They also brought in two large buffaloes, Maggie and Bill, which they owned for a special rodeo event. Over a thousand fans participated in Eagle Lake and elsewhere.
Black cowboys had their popular rodeos in the arena on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and were among the best riders.
Thomas and Clipson were visible with their rodeos from the Rio Grande through Central Texas to Beaumont. They co-produced the Houston Fat Stock Show and Rodeo and a San Antonio rodeo in the cities’ coliseums. They worked with special rodeo stars such as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Rex Allen, Monte Hale and Lash LaRue. They co-produced the Texas Prison Rodeo in Huntsville.
When you next pass the golf course in Eagle Lake, listen carefully. You might hear the echoes of the old speaker playing the music of the grand entry, and “It’s rodeo time in Texas!”
