Tad Lucas

Tad Lucas (September 1, 1902–February 23, 1990) is a ProRodeo Hall of Fame cowgirl inductee.[1]

Tad Lucas
Tad Lucas photograph by Ralph R. Doubleday
OccupationRodeo competitor
DisciplineBronc riding
Born(1902-09-01)September 1, 1902
Cody, Nebraska, US
DiedFebruary 23, 1990(1990-02-23) (aged 87)
Fort Worth, Texas
Honors
Rodeo Hall of Fame
National Cowgirl Hall of Fame
Texas Trail of Fame

Life

Tad Lucas was born Barbara Inez Barnes on September 1, 1902. She was born the youngest of 24 children on a pioneer ranch in Cody, Nebraska in the sandhills country.[1][2] Lucas starting riding at an early age. By the age of 20, she was a professional cowgirl. She soon met cowboy James Edward "Buck" Lucas and married him. She started competing in trick riding, soon reaching the top. When World War II arrived, many women's events were ended. In 1948, the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA) (now the Women's Professional Rodeo Association) was created and stepped in to restore women's roles. Lucas's charter membership and fame assisted.[2]

Career

During World War I, she rode bulls in main streets in Cody to raise money for the Red Cross. In 1921, she was a bronc rider with California Frank's Rodeo Company in Mexico. After she had learning trick riding, she performed with the Tex Austin Rodeo in the Wembley Stadium in London, England. Then she spent many years performing in several events with C.B. Irwin's rodeos. She also performed at Cheyenne Frontier Days, winning the trick riding there eight consecutive times. In 1933, at the Chicago World Fair, she crushed her arm while trick riding. Her arm was in a cast for three years. It did not stop her from performing permanently. She was 62 years old when she rode her last bucking horse in 1964. After that, she sat on the boards of the PRCA board of directors and the Rodeo Historical Society board of directors.[1]

During the 20s and 30s, Lucas was widely known, winning in events such as bronc riding, trick riding, relay racing, and all-around cowgirl at major rodeos. She toured with some Wild West shows. She also assisted with the GRA[3] and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) by serving on their Board of Directors. The Rodeo Historical Society had the assistance of having her on their board.[4]

Honors

References
  1. "Tad Lucas". ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  2. "Lucas, Barbara (1902-1990)". Encyclopedia of the Great Plains. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  3. "The Cowgirl Way". Texas Monthly. August 13, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  4. "Tad Lucas - She's a Legendary Bronc Rider". Bucking Stock Talk Magazine. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  5. "Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductees". National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  6. "Tad Lucas". Cowgirl Hall of Fame & Museum. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  7. "Tad Lucas". Western Heritage from the Texas Trail of Fame. May 24, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  8. "Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame Inductees". Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  9. "Tad Lucas". Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 7, 2020.

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