The Latest - Tucson Rodeo Parade

2021 Parade Drive-Thru Event

March 22, 2021 By Chris Durnan

Tucson Rodeo Parade Drive-Through Event

Presented by

Desert Diamond Casinos

In appreciation of Southern Arizona’s support of the annual Rodeo Parade, The Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee produced a “Thank You” event. It was a free, safe, family-friendly, drive-thru event that feature live musical entertainment, Folklorico dancers, trick roping, and over 80 historical and colorful wagons and carriages all displayed along a winding route on the Tucson Rodeo Grounds. Visitors saw horses that are among the most beautiful, largest breed of draught horses in the world. Casa de los Niños benefited from this event.

From the safety of their vehicle, visitors were welcomed by Parade Chairman, Marshall Stewart, and Arizona Rodeo Queen Shelby Lynn Williams. Visitors followed a serpentine route lined with entertainment and treasures of history. Along the route will be Tucson’s first horse-drawn Police Jail wagon, Tucson’s first Fire Department vehicles, Tucson’s Sunset Dairy delivery wagon, stagecoaches and carriages used in western movies, mining equipment, and wagons built by the Ronstadt Wagon Works in Tucson.

Donations for Casa de los Niños (diapers, baby wipes, children’s books, school supplies) can be dropped off at the Rodeo Parade Office, 4823 S. 6^th Avenue in a” Stuff the Chute” campaign. A rodeo bucking chute will be set up in the parking lot for donations from March 13 to 26. Monetary donations may be made at www.casadelosninos.org/donate/.

Downloadable PDF flyer

Prize Winners from our Drive-Thru Parade March 2021 event

March 22, 2021 By Chris Durnan

ARE YOU A WINNER?
Thank you for participating in the Tucson Rodeo Drive-Thru Parade
Simply by your participation in our event, you have been entered into our FREE raffle.

To find out if you have won a prize:

Bag Number – You have won
0028 – 2 Pottery Pieces Women of the Wind and vase
0075 -Yellow Tie Down Strap
0078 – JW Marriott 2 Sun Shades
0081 – 55″ TV
0093 – Tucson Botanical Gardens – 4 Complimentary Guest Passes
0094 – Northwest Leather Carving Book
0149 – 55″ TV
0158 – The Mini Time Machine – 4 Complimentary Passes
0160 – Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee – 2022 Parade Entry wagon and horses
0198 – Tucson Museum of Art – 4 Guest Passes
0201 – Applied Rite Doors Shirt and Hat
0217 – 3 Mixed Pottery Pieces
0222 – White Stallion Guest Ranch – 2 Guest 2 night
0230 – Empire Ranch Foundation – Gift Basket
0255 – 2 Rope Baskets
0278 – Set of 3 Horseshoe Hooks
0303 – JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass – 1 Night stay up to 4 people & a round of Golf
0316 – Fox Tucson Theater – 2 Front Orchestra Level
0349 – 3 Vases Pottery Pieces
0430 – Patio Set – 6 Chair and Table Set
0451 – 2 Pottery Pieces Cat and candle holder
0479 – Rope Clock
0485 – Cowtown Boots – Boots American Flag

If you are a winner, here is how you claim your prize:

Visit our web site at www.tucsonrodeoparade.org
Prize winners are listed by the number on their “goodie bag.”
Bag numbers are in the left column and prize listing in in the right column.
If you find your number
a. Call our office at 520-294-1280 (if there is no answer, leave a message and we will call you back.)
b. Give the office your bag number.
c. Make an appointment to claim your prize.
d. You must bring your bag with you for verification to claim your prize.

Thank you again for participating in our Drive Thru parade!

Bud Krietemeyer 1929-2021

January 26, 2021 By Chris Durnan

The Rodeo Parade Committee mourns the loss of one of its iconic members, Bud Krietemeyer. Bud was an active member of the committee for over 54 years, more than half of the parade’s 95 years of existence and the longest tenured member in our history. He volunteered to assist in the annual parade several years before becoming a committee member in 1966. During that time, he has served numerous volunteer positions including Parade Committee Chair (1989-90), and Committee Secretary, and working with the sub committees that oversee horse contracting, transportation of wagons and buggies, maintenance and repair of harness and wagons, and maintenance of the museum and workshop buildings at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds. He was also a member of the Tucson Rodeo Committee for over 35 years, overseeing vendors and concessions at the rodeo.

Bud grew up in Southern Arizona and Tucson and had an extensive background with horses and horse-drawn vehicles. He drove multiple-team hitch wagons in performances at Old Tucson and for our committee’s entries in numerous parades over the years including the Phoenix Rodeo Parade, Scottsdale Parada del Sol, Willcox Rex Allen Days Parade, and Helldorado Days Parade in Tombstone. His experience as a driver and equestrian was a valuable asset to the Tucson Rodeo Parade.

For many years Bud had overseen the horse warm-up area prior to the parade. His knowledge of horses, harness, and wagon mechanics served the Parade Committee well. As an all horse-drawn parade, it is important to have the horses properly warmed up and exercised prior to joining the queue on the streets. During the warmup, Bud observed the horses for behavior and posture to indicate possible problems with the animals. He checked harness for safety and made sure that the combination of horse, harness, wagon, and driver were all compatible and working properly to ensure a safe journey through the streets of Tucson.

Bud was also an accomplished chuck wagon cook. He served up meals for groups such as the Boy Scouts, the student contestants at the University of Arizona Intercollegiate Rodeo, and for committee members and guests at the annual Tucson Rodeo Parade Trail Ride.

Bud was the longest serving member in the history of the Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee, and the Parade Committee’s service recognition award is named for him. The Rodeo Parade Committee has a deep gratitude for Mr. Krietemeyer for his years of dedicated service in producing a 95-year historical tradition that presents a rolling history of Western heritage and culture of Southwestern Arizona.

Ride with the angels Bud! Rest in Peace!

Parade Winners for 2020

February 21, 2020 By Chris Durnan

CURT SULLIVAN SWEEPSTAKES AWARD
Little Mexico Steakhouse # 316

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD
Navy Band Southwest # 209

JUDGES AWARD
Cash Time Title Loans, Inc # 223

20 BAND
Bucky Steele Marching Canyon del Oro Band # 400
Paul Grimes Proformance Foothills Falcon Marching Band from Catalina Foothills HS #200

1 BEST MOUNTED WESTERN MALE
First Place Flint Freeman # 304

Second Place        Greater Southern Arizona Area Chapter (GSAAC) #332

2 BEST MOUNTED WESTERN FEMALE
First Place Laura Balderson # 305

3 ROYALTY
First Place Miss Rodeo Arizona 2020 Shelby Williams #201

Second Place        Benson Butterfield rodeo royalty # 401

4 MATCHED RIDING PAIR
No Entry

5 FAMILY GROUP
First Place Cricket Wireless # 117

Second Place        Burro Buddies, LLC   #425

6 WESTERN RIDING GROUP
First Place Daniel Perez y Amigos # 413

Second Place        The El Paso County Sheriff Posse   #311

7 AUTHENTIC MEXICAN
First Place KZLZ La Poderosa # 127

Second Place        The League of Mexican American Women   #416

8 CHARRO
First Place Modelos y Charros de Arizona # 213

Second Place        Charros del Rincon  #330

9 AUTHENTIC NATIVE AMERICAN
First Place Tohono O’odham Nation # 131

Second Place        Casino Del Sol   # 404

10 SINGLE TEAM HITCH
First Place Tierra Antigua Realty # 128

Second Place        CalPortland  # 229

11 MULTIPLE TEAM HITCH
First Place HSL Properties # 224

12 COLORFUL FLOAT
First Place Mountain View Retirement Village # 409

Second Place        El Rio Health Center   # 418

13 CREATIVE FLOAT
First Place Boot Barn # 421

Second Place        Pyramid Federal Credit Union # 405

14 HISTORICAL FLOAT
First Place Fox Tucson Theatre Sponsored by Bert Martin Foundation # 319

Second Place        Tucson Police Department  #203

15 BUGGY
First Place Reid Park Zoo Sponsored by Catherine Hutchens # 302

Second Place        Stark Electric, Inc  #  331

16 4-H/FFA GROUPS
First Place Marana FFA # 414

Second Place        Flowing Wells FFA   #  322

17 HISTORICAL
First Place Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson # 303

Second Place        Willy & Keebler Mini Horse Team    # 424

18 COMICAL
First Place Truly Nolen Pest Control # 417

19 MUSIC
First Place 92.1 y 95.7 La Caliente Radio # 420

Second Place        96.1 KLPX  # 217

2020 Parade Grand Marshalls

February 4, 2020 By Chris Durnan

This year’s Grand Marshals selected by the Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee are the World War II Veterans. We are honored to have you as our Parade Marshalls 2020.

F1/c Allen Berns, U.S. Coast Guard
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Service Dates: 1946-1947 (WWII and Occupation)
Service Duty: Served as an electrician aboard the USS Chautauqua (WPG-41) a new high endurance cutter. Patrol duty South Pacific.
Civilian Life: Established Custom Electrical Systems, Chicago

PFC Gilbert “Gil” Castro, U.S. Army
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Service Dates: 1946-1948 (WWII – Occupation)
Service Duty: 27th Infantry Division. Occupational Forces, Japan.

S/Sgt Denzel Clouse, U.S. Army
Hometown: Terre Haute, Indiana
Service Dates: 1943-1945 (WWII)
Service Duty: 75th Infantry Division HQ, Western Front offensive
Civilian Life: Accountant with Hayden Flour Mills, US Treasury

Arnella Corrigan, Cadet Nurse Corps
Hometown: Smithtown, New York
Service Dates: 1944-1946 (WWII)
Service Duty: 2 years enrolled in the Nurse Corps – at Lennox Hills School of Nursing, New York, New York.
Civilian Life: Family

Sgt. Kenneth “Ken” Eckle, U.S. Army Air Forces
Hometown: Ebenezer, New York
Service Dates: 1943-1946 (WWII)
Service Duty: 22nd Army Air Forces, Presque Isle AB, Maine. Parachute rigger, Emergency equipment technician
Civilian Life: Sales (Florist), silversmith, spur maker.

Sgt. Joe Figueroa, U.S. Army Air Forces
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Service Dates: 1945-1946 (WWII)
Service Duty: Aircraft & Armament Mechanic, 5th Air Force (Japan) Air Force Reserves
Civilian Life: Aircraft engine mechanic at DMAFB. General Forman for processing aircraft into Storage including the Enola Gay.

Mailman 2/c Bernard “Red” Hollander, U.S. Navy
Hometown: Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
Service Dates: 1944-1954 (WWII, Korea)
Service Duty: Commissioning USS Fall River (CA-131), Mail Clerk NS Newport, NTS San Diego, COMSERVPAC Hawaii
Civilian Life: U.S. Post Office

Cpt. Milo “Mike” Lude, U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown: Vicksburg, Michigan
Service Dates: 1942-1946 (WWII)
Service Duty: Company Commander with 1st Amphibious Group (4th Division) Maui, Hawaii.
Civilian Life: Head Football Coach (U of Delaware, CSU), Athletic Director at Kent State University, and the University of Washington.

Cpt. Gwendolyn “Gwen” Niemi, U.S. Army Air Forces (WAAC, WAC)
Hometown: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Service Dates: 1942-1946 (WWII)
Service Duty: WAAC OCS – Ft. Des Moines; WAC Company Commander – OIC of Physical Training at the Eastern Flying Training Center, Maxwell Field, AL
Civilian Life: PE Teacher at the University of Arizona, mother, HS Teacher TUSD (20 years).

Sgt. Sam Ortega, U.S. Army Air Forces
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Service Dates: 1943-1946 (WWII)
Service Duty: Communications with the 521st Air Service Group (2nd Air Force – Air Transport Command). Kwajalein, South Pacific.
Civilian Life: Hughes Aircraft Co.

MSgt Walter Ram, U.S. Army Air Corps
Hometown: Nogales, Arizona
Service Dates: 1940-1945 (WWII)
Service Duty: 6 combat missions B-17 Navigator (8th AF, England), 18 months as a German POW (Stalag 17B) near Krems, Austria
Civilian Life: Produce Sales & Management

Lt. Col. Thomas “Tom” Rankin, U.S. Army Air Corps, U.S. Air Force
Hometown: San Mateo, California
Service Dates: 1943-1945 (WWII), 1949-1967 (Occupation, Korea – Vietnam)
Service Duty: Completed 38 bombing missions over Germany as B-24 Radio Operator & gunner. (8th AF, England). Distinguished Flying Cross Award.
U.S. Air Force pilot: B-24’s (Korean War), and C-130’s (Vietnam -3 tours).
Civilian Life: Math Teacher at Pueblo HS

94th Parade Winners 2019

February 22, 2019 By Chris Durnan

CURT SULLIVAN SWEEPSTAKES AWARD
Greater So. AZ Area Chapter of the 9th & 10th Calvary Assoc.

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD
USAF Honor Guard Drill Team

JUDGES AWARD
HSL Properties

20 BAND
Bucky Steele Marching – Desert View “Pride of the Jaguars” Marching Band

Paul Grimes Performance – Tucson High Magnet School Marching 100

1 BEST MOUNTED WESTERN MALE
First Place – Memorial Horse for Edward Keeylocko

Second Place – Flint Freeman

2 BEST MOUNTED WESTERN FEMALE
First Place – Laura Balderson

3 ROYALTY
First Place – Benson Butterfield Rodeo Royalty

4 MATCHED RIDING PAIR
First Place – Tucson Chicks n’ Chaps

5 FAMILY GROUP
First Place – Willy& Keebler

Second Place – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona

6 WESTERN RIDING GROUP
First Place – Therapeutic Ranch for Animals and Kids

Second Place -The El Paso County Sheriff’s Posse

7 AUTHENTIC MEXICAN
First Place – League of Mexican-American Women

Second Place – Little Mexico Restaurant, Inc

8 CHARRO
First Place – Charros y Modelos de Arizona

Second Place – Miss Latinoamerica de Lourdes Garcia

9 AUTHENTIC NATIVE AMERICAN
First Place – Café Santa Rosa

Second Place – Pascua Yaqui Tribe

10 SINGLE TEAM HITCH
First Place – Rocking K Ranch

Second Place – Roscoe Christopher Mud Wagon

11 MULTIPLE TEAM HITCH
First Place – HSL Properties

12 COLORFUL FLOAT
First Place – Fry’s Food Stores

Second Place – Pima County JTED

13 CREATIVE FLOAT
First Place – Cash Time Title Loans Inc.

Second Place – Tucson Electric Power

14 HISTORICAL FLOAT
First Place – Tucson Firefighters

Second Place – Cowtown Boots

15 BUGGY
First Place – CalPortland

Second Place – Perfil Social LLC

16 4-H/FFA GROUPS
First Place – Marana FFA

17 HISTORICAL
First Place – Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson

Second Place – U.S. Border Patrol Horse Patrol Unit

18 COMICAL
First Place – Truly Nolen

19 MUSIC
First Place- Tucson Boys Choir

Second Place Rock – 102.1 KFMA

Tucson News Icon Guy Atchley is Named 2019 Rodeo Parade Grand Marshal

January 25, 2019 By Chris Durnan

Tucson News Icon Guy Atchley is Named

2019 Rodeo Parade Grand Marshal

Guy Atchley has been a part of entertainment and news media for over 50 years. He began his career as a disc jockey and radio news reporter at the University of Tulsa. After graduation, he began his television career as a news reporter in Tulsa, Miami, Milwaukee, and Oklahoma City. In 1984 he accepted a job as a news anchor for KGUN TV in Tucson and spent the next 34 years informing Southern Arizona about local events and worldwide news.

Since graduating from the University of Tulsa in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Radio/Television Speech, Atchley received more than twenty first-place awards for excellence in reporting. He received three consecutive Associated Press awards for Best General Reporting in the state of Oklahoma.

During Guy’s Tucson tenure, the AP honored KGUN 9 News with the award for Best Newscast in Southern Arizona seven times. In 1992 Atchley swept the Arizona AP awards by winning three first-place honors including: Best Serious Feature, Best Light Feature, and Best General Reporting in the State.

Atchley also was honored for his reports on living conditions in China in the documentary “China: 1987.” In October of 1993, Guy traveled to the Middle East for a documentary on Israel’s quest for peace. That documentary, plus Guy’s news reports and speeches to expose intolerance and bigotry, earned him the 1994 Human Relations Award presented by the Jewish Community Relations Council.

Besides reporting from several foreign countries, Guy also traveled the United States. He has covered space shuttle launches in Florida, racial tension in the South, and immigration policies at the U.S./Mexico border. On Veterans Day of 1994, Guy reported from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

For more than two decades, Guy spent each Labor Day as Tucson host for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. In 1991 he emceed the Tucson Welcome Home Celebration for Gulf War veterans at Arizona Stadium.

You may have seen Guy’s cameos in several TV movies: “Jericho Fever,” the remake of “Vanishing Point,” and the independent films “Runnin’ at Midnite” and “Dark Was the Night.” Just in case you’re wondering, Atchley played the role of a news reporter in each film.

Guy Atchley is now retired after 34 years in Tucson at KGUN TV. However, he’s still having fun in broadcasting, playing oldies at KGVY Radio in Green Valley. He also is an accomplished amateur photographer and travels Arizona to document the beauty of the Grand Canyon State. In fact, Guy has received press credentials for the Rodeo Parade for the last few years and shares photos on his Facebook page.

The Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee is proud to have Guy Atchley as the Grand Marshal of the 2019 Tucson Rodeo Parade.

2018 Rodeo Parade Winners

February 26, 2018 By Chris Durnan

2018 Rodeo Parade Winners

CURT SULLIVAN SWEEPSTAKES AWARD
#425 – Modelos y Charros Regionales de Arizona

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD
#217 – Truly Nolen

JUDGES AWARD
#309 – El Rio Santa Cruz Health Center

20 BAND
Bucky Steele Marching
#120 – Buena High School Marching Colts

Paul Grimes Performance
#200 – Catalina Foothills High School Band

1 BEST MOUNTED WESTERN MALE
First Place #307 – Tomdra Vending & Coffee Service
Second Place #323 – Greater Southern Arizona Area Buffalo Soldiers

2 BEST MOUNTED WESTERN FEMALE
No Entries

3 ROYALTY
First Place #403 – Benson Butterfield Rodeo Royalty
Second Place #312 – Greenlee County Rodeo Royalty

4 MATCHED RIDING PAIR
No Entries

5 FAMILY GROUP
First Place #228 – Little Mexico Steakhouse
Second Place #111 – Ranchos Amistosos

6 WESTERN RIDING GROUP
First Place #407 – Coronado National Forest
Second Place #221 – The Sheriff’s Posse, Inc. dba El Paso County Sheriff’s Posse

7 AUTHENTIC MEXICAN
First Place #204 – Little Mexico Restaurant Inc.
Second Place #325 – KZLZ LLC – La Poderosa

8 CHARRO
First Place #226 – Cash Time Loan Centers
Second Place #110 – Miss Latinoamerica de Lourdes Garcia

9 AUTHENTIC NATIVE AMERICAN
First Place #428 – Pascua Yaqui Tribe
Second Place #130 – Tohono O’odham Nation

10 SINGLE TEAM HITCH
First Place #324 – Boot Barn
Second Place #231 – Roscoe Christopher Mud Wagon

11 MULTIPLE TEAM HITCH
First Place #215 – Wells Fargo Bank
Second Place None

12 COLORFUL FLOAT
First Place #406 – Tucson Lodge No. 4
Second Place #404 – Fry’s Food Store

13 CREATIVE FLOAT
First Place #304 – Submarine Veterans of Tucson
Second Place #225 – Desert Bloom Re-Leaf Center

14 HISTORICAL FLOAT
First Place #308 – Arizona Sonora Western Heritage Foundation at Old Tucson
Second Place #310 – All Around Trail Horses Chuckwagon owner John Schaffer

15 BUGGY
First Place #114 – Telemundo Tucson
Second Place #408 – Great Clips

16 4-H/FFA GROUPS
First Place #426 – Marana FFA
Second Place None

17 HISTORICAL
First Place #427 – Tucson Firefighters
Second Place #213 – The League of Mexican American Women

18 COMICAL
First Place #217 – Truly Nolen
Second Place #305 – GEICO

19 MUSIC
First Place #419 – Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus
Second Place #306 – Western Music Association-Arizona Chapter

Tucson Rodeo Parade announces Tucson Conquistadores as 2018 Grand Marshal

January 23, 2018 By Chris Durnan

Tucson Rodeo Parade announces Tucson Conquistadores as 2018 Grand Marshal

Tucson Arizona. (Jan. 18, 2018) In 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth and Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single basketball game. That same year 41 visionary Tucson businessmen and professionals pledged to inspire local youngsters to achieve their own greatness through participation in sports. The as-yet-to-be-named civic group was patterned after the successful Phoenix Thunderbirds, which sponsored the Phoenix Open golf tournament. Tucson’s counterpart tournament was in financial trouble, so “saving the Tucson Open was part of the discussion from the very beginning,” said Fred Boice, one of the group’s Charter members and later, its first Tucson Open tournament chairman. Corralled by developer, philanthropist, and sports enthusiast Roy Drachman, the men hammered out the details in a series of informal meetings.

The Tucson Conquistadores’ first official meeting was in October, 1962, at the El Conquistador Hotel on Broadway. Drachman was elected president and members also planned their first fundraiser, a Sports Award Banquet slated for the week of the Tucson Open.

After struggling for 11 years to make a financial success of the Tucson Open, the Tucson Golf Association turned over control of the tournament to the Conquistadores in 1965. Conquistadores hustled to sell ticket packages and prepare Tucson National for the big event. Everyone was expected to contribute.

The Conquistadores’ first Tucson Open was immediately hailed as a boon to the city. “The tournament was so well run that the group can look ahead on their sponsorship of the Tucson Open as a permanent thing of great benefit to the community,” wrote Arizona Daily Star columnist Abe Chanin in 1966. The Conquistadores have ensured professional golf continues to thrive in Tucson to this day.

Over the course of 55 years the Conquistadores have hosted 32 Sports Award Banquets, five professional tennis tournaments, five LPGA golf tournaments and 51 PGA tour golf events. Proceeds have netted over $33 million for youth athletic and charity programs. These organizations include Boys and Girls Clubs, Special Olympics, The Salvation Army, and First Tee of Tucson, which teaches kids life skills through golf.

Membership of the Conquistadores is comprised of 57 “Active Members” who are largely responsible for the sales and operation of the Golf Tournament every year. In addition, they have close to 156 Life and Senior members who still participate, though not obligated.

The Tucson Conquistadores and Rodeo Parade Committee are connected by several past Grand Marshals; Conquistadores Roy Drachman, Jim Click, and Jim Ronstadt were honored individually. Roy Drachman was also a founding member of both organizations. Because of their philanthropic work and contributions to the Tucson community, the Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee is proud to have the Tucson Conquistadores as the Grand Marshal of the 2018 Tucson Rodeo Parade.

About the Tucson Rodeo Parade and Committee

The Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee, Inc. is a non-profit organization that plans and organizes the annual Tucson Rodeo Parade and operates the Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum, a collection of horse-drawn vehicles and Western memorabilia. The 2018 parade will be February 22 at 9 a.m. For more information about the Tucson Rodeo Parade, visit www.tucsonrodeoparade.org or call (520) 294-1280

11th Annual National Stagecoach & Freight Wagon Association

June 21, 2017 By Chris Durnan

The Museum is proud to host The National Stagecoach & Freight-Wagon Association during their 11th Annual Conference meeting in Arizona March 15-18th, 2018.