When Guy Weadick started the Calgary Stampede a century ago, he had no idea some folks now living just a few miles away from his Longview area ranch would have ties to more than 20 titles at the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Tom and Rosemarie Bews, who live approximately 15km east of Guy Weadick’s famed Stampede Ranch, are connected to 24 Calgary Stampede championships including Tom’s Canadian and North American all-around championship at the 1967 Calgary Stampede. Rosemarie’s father, Herman Linder, won more than 20 championships in Calgary.
“Calgary was dad’s baby and he won 22 championships — that’s a record which will never be broken,” Rosemarie said. “He won in steer riding, which is like bull riding today, bronc riding and bareback riding. His first win was in bareback in 1929.”
She recalled her dad’s influence at the Calgary Stampede.
“We were in Calgary at the Palliser Hotel and my dad introduced me to Casey Tibbs and he kissed me good night,” Rosemarie said. “I was just a little girl and I remember thinking ‘Oh my God.’”
Tibbs is considered the greatest bronc rider of all time and was a heartthrob of sorts in the 1950s. He was later immortalized by another legend, Ian Tyson, in his song “Casey Tibbs”.
Linder retired from competing in 1939, but he continued to have an impact on the sport. After retiring Linder started organizing rodeos in Canada and he was the one who introduced barrel racing to Canadian rodeos.
Rosemarie would often tag along with her dad when he traveled to rodeos.
“I used to carry the flags in the grand entry at the rodeos where dad worked,” said Rosemarie. “I would go with dad and I would barrel race.”
It was at the Linder-run Medicine Hat rodeo where Rosemarie caught the eye of a future Calgary Stampede champion.
“I was standing by the barns with another girl feeding the horses and Tom and another cowboy friend, Garth Edge, walked by,” Rosemarie said. “It was always so hot there and they asked if we wanted to go swimming in the public pool. Tom and I just talked, talked and talked.”
They tied the knot in 1965.
Like his father-in-law, Tom had close ties with the Calgary Stampede. He was raised on a ranch just a few miles from Weadick’s home west of Longview.
Tom said he was in awe of Weadick when he was growing up.
“At that time I just had lace-up boots to ride in and Guy had fancy cowboy boots and a big hat,” Tom said with a chuckle. “He was tall and would come into the house and have to duck in to get into the living room. He was always the gentleman, taking off his hat. He was really unique to a kid growing up.”
Tom received the Guy Weadick Memorial Award at the 1975 Calgary Stampede. The award is given to a rodeo or chuckwagon driver who best exemplifies the spirit of the Calgary Stampede. It is based upon ability, appearance, showmanship, character, sportsmanship and cooperation with peers and the public.
“The award had only been going for a few years when I won it,” Tom said. “I was very proud because I remember him from when I was a little gaffer.”
Tom won the all-round Canadian and North American championship at the 1967 Calgary Stampede. A cowboy had to compete in at least three events back then to be eligible for the all-around.
“I was in the saddle bronc, steer wrestler and calf roping,” Tom said. “But I never won any individual championship in Calgary.”
Tom grew up wanting to play in the NHL, but back in the days of the Original Six it was tough for a western Canadian to make it. He settled on rodeo after winning the bareback at the first High River Little Britches Rodeo in 1959 as a 14-year-old.
Tom’s first ride at the Calgary Stampede was in 1958 when he entered the boy’s steer riding with some help from Rosemarie’s old heartthrob.
“They had these big old white chutes and the steer got to turning around,” Tom said. “Casey Tibbs jumped down in his fancy outfit and helped me get out on my first steer. He was every kid’s idol.”
Tom went on to a full career in rodeo.
He was the Canadian all-around champion on the professional circuit five times (1966, 1971, 1972, 1976 and 1979).
Linder and Tom Bews share more than a place in Rosemarie’s heart. They are both in the Canadian Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame. Linder was inducted in 1980 while Tom was selected in 2000.
Linder was recognized by the Stampede when he was named its parade marshal in 1999. Tom, along with Okotoks roper Tom Erickson, steer wrestler Joe Alexander, chuckwagon driver Tommy Dorchester, bareback rider Larry Mahan, and boxer Willie DeWit, were co-marshals in 1982.
