By MariAlice ( Parker ) Gayler

C.C. "Bud" Parker was born in Abilene, Texas, January 1, 1887. He was the son of W.D. Parker who was sheriff of Crockett County. His early life was spent on the A Bar cattle ranch, near Ozona, one of the largest and finest at the time in the Lone Star State. It was here that he learned the fundamentals of the cattle business. His father taught him the art of good-roping and it was from his mother, Anne Gaines Parker, that he learned the true meaning of honesty and straight-forwardness.

He quickly earned the reputationas a leader, cowman and horseman. At the young age of 19, he became the foreman of the San Domingo Cattle Co. in Villahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico. Fluent in Spanish, he effectively took charge of the 500,000 acre cattle ranch southwest of Juarez. Harry Hollister, a cowman from California, was the general manager of the San Domingo, which adjoined the vast and historic William Randolph Hearst ranch. The San Domingo and Hearst outfits were a two-day ride from Juarez where cowboys from both ranches would compete in rodeos.

  Anna Harper, a nurse from San Francisco, met Bud Parker on the San Domingo ranch while there visiting her sister, Harry Hollister's wife. The two hit it off and were married in 1908;

Surviving the Mexican Revolution and Pancho Villa
    Northern Chihuahua was one of Villa's favorite areas for gathering up other peoples' herds of cattle to trade for U.S. made ammunition. Villa liked horses too and the San Domingo had a large band of top broodmares. Bud Parker would have one of his own men infiltrate Villa's troops and then get the word back to Parker when a raid was scheduled. Parker and his men would drive the mares up into the Sierras. Parker had many encounters with revolutionaries and rebel leaders, known as federates or "red flaggers".

 Mrs. Parker subsequently had to flee Chihuahua when the 1910 revolutionary activities reached that area. She left on a railroad handcar, and as Pancho Villa had blown up all the bridges, that handcar had to be towed across many arroyos and creek beds. Her party eventually made it safely to El Paso. A daughter, Alice, was born in 1913 in Hachita. The cavalry doctor finally issued her a birth certificate since she was born at the homeplace with no doctor around. Three other daughters were bom but died in infancy with the harsh conditions in southern New Mexico.

  Even with the violent upheavals, Parker stayed on in Mexico until 1916, thus being one of the few Americans to hang on and survive Pancho Villa's raids and depredations. Despite the revolution, after his ten years as foreman of the outfit, it was well documented that Parker turned the ranch over to the San Domingo Company in better shape than it was before the revolution.

                  A Cowboy's Cowman, Horseman and Rancher

    Bud Parker was a huge man (over 250 pounds), yet his horsemanship in the rodeo arena, or up and down the canyons of the Sierras in mid-east Sonora, was a marvel to all the cowmen. Among the lithe cowboys in Sonora it was always a continuous surprise to them to ride all day with Parker in rough country, gathering cattle. After a full day on the same horse, both Parker and his horse would be the freshest pair in the group, and Sonora cowboys were and are, some of the best horsemen around.

  Parker's father sold out his ranch at Ozona in 1914 and moved to Hachita, New Mexico, driving a band of horses that were said by many to be some of the finest in the southwest. Bud, who had returned home after ten years in Mexico, along with his brothers, Ope and Dink, were partners with their dad. Five years later, the Parker family sold out their ranch interests at Hachita, New Mexico to the Diamond A and headed for the San Pedro Valley in southern Arizona. The year was 1919 and beside the wagon train they were once again driving some fine ranch horses. The three Parker brothers became famous among ranching lore in southern Arizona.

 W.D. Parker and his son Bud, bought the Zack Vail ranches in a series of transactions that ran along the Santa Catalinas at Reddington Pass and down toward the San Pedro in southern Arizona. There they ran a big cow herd wearing an A7 along with several other brands.

 In 1935 Bud Parker sold the A7 ranches near Reddington and went into the cattle business with Howell Manning on the Canoa Ranch southwest of Tucson. The Canoa Ranch ran from Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita mountain range to the Baboquiviri mountains in southern Arizona. Mostly they traded Mexico cattle. At various times Parker had other ranches that daughter and son- in-law, Alice and Manerd Gayler, helped manage. In 1937 he bought El Rancho Nuevo at Redrock. He was also a partner on the Baca Float, an old Spanish land grant north of Nogales. Family lore says Will Rogers was going to partner with Parker on the Baca Float but he was killed in a plane crash before the deal was done.

 Internationally Respected Cattle Buyer

  Bud Parker also began dealing in Mexican cattle, buying thousands of steers out of Sonora for customers all over the West. In Sonora, Mexico, Parker was considered one of the most influential cattle buyers. Parker handled thousands of cattle and the majority of the deals were verbal and without the scratch of a pen. On many occasions, the cattle he bought would be out of Mexico, and on their way, before any money changed hands. Parker established his reputation for honest and fair dealings and as the word spread throughout Northern Mexico, he became the buyer they all wanted to do business with. In Phil Stadtler's book I Made A lot of Tracks, he states that one of his first big cattle deals was negotiated by Bud Parker. As a sideline he handled large numbers of bucking bulls and Corriente roping steers that were much in demand for rodeo stock. Somehow, he still managed to find time to rodeo himself.

One of America's Original Steer Ropers
 A century ago when Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona outlawed steer roping contests, there was one place a southwestern roper could go to hone his skills: Cowboy Park, the arena established in 1907 in Ciudad Jua'rez, Mexico just across the Rio Grande from El Paso. Texas. The book Cowboy Park: Steer Ropings on the Border, by John 0. Baxter, illuminates the era of Cowboy Park and the early champions who won their spurs there. During the formative years of rodeo, Cowboy Park promoted the sport of steer roping and provided a ready training ground for up and coming champions. From its inception until growing political turmoil in Mexico brought the enterprise to a halt, Cowboy Park kept the sport alive and fostered celebrity. Its alumni like Bud Parker continued to dominate for years to come. A quote from Cowboy Park: "Parker showed the crowd that he knew what a riata was for, tying his 3 steers in 30, 32, and 32.5 seconds. No oneelse came close."

                    Bud Parker-Heeler ...................................................Manerd Gayler-Header

 A Top Rodeo Hand
 Parker was classed among the best ropers in the business and has many first places to his credit in contests where he was pitted against the top hands of the game. A full report on Bud Parker's activities in cattle, horses, rodeos and roping would fill a book. He became a champion calf and steer roper and team roper, usually heeling. The horses he raised, rode and trained were some of the best. Parker had done much for the boys less fortunate than himself. He made it possible for some of the top hands in the rodeo game to get their start. He mounted such famous ropers as Buck Sorrells, Breezy Cox, Tony Altamoreno, Chuck Sheppard and Manerd Gayler. Parker loved the competitions and traveled many miles in many states to match his skills against all others. For years, he made the Cheyenne Frontier Days, Prescott Frontier Days and the Pendleton rodeo and would frequently be in the money. One particularly big win was in 1935 when Bud Parker, Alan Holder, Richard Merchant and John Rhodes won all the steer roping at Cheyenne. He was well known in rodeo circles from the west coast to Madison Square Garden and was a member of the Cowboys Turtle Association since its inception in 1936. He later became a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).

Rodeo Founder
Bud Parker was one of the founders, and a staunch supporter of La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo in Tucson. The first Fiesta De Los Vaqueros rodeo was one of the biggest events in Tucson's history. Parker's experience as a stockman and rodeo hand was crucial in the early development of the rodeo. He had strict standards of the type of livestock that would be used. the judging officials and how the events would be run. Thanks in large part to his hard work, leadership and experience, the event's success was so great that Tucson would soon become the home of the Great American cowboy Mid-Winter Rodeo, one of the largest in the U.S. In addition, Tucson's Fiesta De Los Vaqueros rodeo became publicized nationally along with most prestigious rodeos in the world: Denver, Colorado and

Calgary, Canada. Parker joined J.C. Kinney as a committee member and they supplied roping and bucking stock. He served for several years as a judge in the riding and roping events, but also was a strong competitor. A paragraph from the Noaales international March 4, 1987, Quote: "As one who ram-rodded the Tucson show and stuck with it through thick and thin, scraping together funds with which to keep it moving during its infancy, he became widely known as 'Mr. Rodeo,' few would dispute that Parker deserved the title."

 A paragraph from the Arizona Daily Star of September 26, 1946, Quote: "Rodeo performers from Madison Square Garden to Pendleton knew and admired Bud Parker, who a champion steer roper himself, perhaps did more than any single man to institute an develop the success of the rodeo in this country. A member of the Cowboy Turtle Association, professional rodeo performers group for many years, he was instrumental in organizing shows throughout the country, supplying stock, and helping performers." Bud Parker had been a contestant in the rodeo for thirty years, and during this time, he had made quite a name for himself in the field. Parker also became widely known throughout the rodeo west for the roping steer and bucking bulls he supplied to rodeo contractors. They would call him to send them the kind and size of cattle they needed, sight unseen, as they knew Parker would send exactly what they wanted.

A Community Leader
 Bud Parker was an original founding member of the Mountain Oyster Club in Tucson, Arizona. The Mountain Oyster Club was organized to satisfy a need for a central meeting place where ranchers and those with associated interests could meet for business or social purposes. The Mountain Oyster Club's importance stemmed from the character and activities of its membership. An Arizona Highways article by James E. Serven, September 1971 stated: "Some who have now gone down their last trail but will long be remembered for their prominence in the fields of cattle raising, horse breeding, racing or rodeo are: Bud and Dink Parker, Frank Boice, Ed Echols and Roy Adams." A number of prize winning animals have come from the ranches of Mountain Oyster Club members. The moment one stepped through the doorway they were aware that it is the home of western people vitally interested in cattle, horses, and products of the land.
 Parker was also a member of the board of directors of the Arizona Polo Association and other local organizations. A

Ranching and Rodeo Legend -- Friend to All
 By fairness and expertise, Parker won the friendship of stockmen and laymen throughout the West. Parker had done much for the boys less fortunate than himself. He had made it possible for some of the top-hands in the rodeo game to get their start. The Lordsburg Liberal. October 18, 1946, Quote: "To know Parker meant a whole hearted friendship. If one took all the definitions in the dictionary for friend and combined them, they still couldn't express the kind of a friend Bud was."

Parker was one of a fading breed of cowmen who ranched the old- fashioned way - on horseback. Parker had some of the best horses in the country. He loved his horses and they showed the marks of excellent treatment. Always well mounted, Bud Parker was able to live the cowboy life right up to the end. On September 25, 1946, after working all day handling cattle, Parker passed away unexpectedly at the age of 59, but had already come to be known as one of the Southwest's best cattlemen and rodeo hands.
   An excerpt from "Hoofs and Horns" November 1946: BUD PARKER RIDES THE SUNSET TRAIL "Friends of C. C. "Bud" Parker came to bid farewell to the man who had touched their lives in one way or another. Men and women of high and low degree, drawn together by the common grief of losing a friend and benefactor. His word was indeed as good as his bond, and he made deals large and small without the scratch of a pen. He was a man of few words and many kind deeds for which he sought no recognition. Countless numbers have lost a good friend. Rodeo has lost a staunch supporter of the sport. Arizona has lost a good citizen. Bud Parker has left an admirable record, and the influence of his life will be felt for many years to come."

The End...