The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
Record Crowd Of 1000
ROdeO Fans Jam Har-
mon Field
Continued from page u


vantage to gain an unobstructed view
of the field.
The fact that Bluffton was one of
the few places having a Fourth of
July celebration this year together
with a cool evening and bright moon
light did much to swell the attend
ance to record breaking proportions.
Northwest Ohio Here
Horsemen and rodeo enthusiasts
thruout Northwestern Ohio were here
as we'll as the usual Fourth of July
holiday crowd seeking diversion and
entertainment for what to many will
be their only opportunity for vacation
this summer.
That the affair would attract a
large number of rodeo contestants
became evident Monday when horse
men began arriving early in order to
put their mounts thru preliminary
PAGES and warm up on Harmon field.
All streets leading to the field were
jammed Tuesday night with parked
automobiles and empty lots were
turned into emergency parking space.
Cars were parked on both sides of
Main street in an almost unbroken
line from Elm to Poplar streets.
Minor Accident
Notwithstanding the huge crowd,
there were no accidents among the
spectators. One contestant, Charles
Surles of Wapakoneta was rushed to
the hospital after he was reported
to have received hip injuries when
rolled upon by his horse.
On arriving at the hospital Surles
was put to bed, altho protesting that
his injuries were not serious and
while the attending nurse was tele-
phoning for a physician the horse
man hastily dressed and slipped out
unnoticed.
Added attractions for the Tuesday
night event consisted of an Ma
combat tank from Lima Tank depot
placed on exhibition at the field
early in the evening. Also Clayton
Bixel, Bluffton fiier brought his
plane from the Findlay airport and
put it thru program of exhibition
stunts before the opening of the
program. Jimmy Klingler of near
Bluffton was the black face comedian
who rode a mule and furnished
plenty of laughs for the crowd
during the evening.
120 Horses in Opening Parade
In the grand parade opening the
rodeo 120 horses and riders traversed
the field amid rolling applause from
the big crowd. Judge of events was
Ted Case of Adrian, Mich, veteran
rodeo man.
Joe Baker of Lima was acclaimed
grand champion for winning the
| greatest number of points in various
contests and was presented by Mayor
4 W. ~. AAONC Will d 4di &C i1OI oCSAloS
of roses and rose bouquet. Miss
Jerry Sterling of North Baltimore
received a rose bouquet as women's
grand champion.
Bluffton Old Timer Here
An unannounced feature of the
rodeo was the appearance of Mike
Parmalee, II, formerly of Bluffton
now living near Adrian, Mich. Par
melee, an oldtimes who resided here
during the oil boom forty-fve years
ago was mounted on an oldtime
horse and paraded the field.
Parmelee's mount was donated tt
the rodeo by Judge Case and auction
ed off for $50, proceeds of which
were turned over to the Bluffton Rec
Cross. The horse was bought by H
| II. Hoffman of Adrian.
Lester Binkley, home on furlougl
from Bougainyille in the southwes
Pacific area received the So prize fot
the service man in uniform comm,
the farthest distance to the rodeo
Einkley's home is southeast of Bluff
ton.
Prize Winners
| Winners in the various events