Documentary depicts life of cowboy legend Casey Tibbs
Colorado filmmaker Justin Koehler and his partner, videographer Aaron Pendergast, stopped by the Rotunda in the International Equestrian Center in San Diego Country Estates recently to hear stories about the subject of their current documentary project, the late rodeo legend Casey Tibbs.
Sandy Tibbs, who married the nine-time world champion rodeo cowboy in 1979, hosted the event. She met Tibbs when she worked at the San Vicente Inn Pro Shop in 1975.
Koehler’s first film, “The Buffalo King,” examined the life of James “Scotty” Philip. Koehler shot the award-winning film in five days, it was picked up by PBS and film festivals and ultimately reached 7.5 million homes.
A Denver-based filmmaker, Koehler was raised on a ranch near Midland, SD. His mother grew up a neighbor of Tibbs, and she would tell stories about her brother knowing Tibbs. This inspired the filmmaker to learn more about the rodeo legend.
“What I want to uncover is, who was Casey as a person? What were his struggles? What were his achievements?”
Koehler started researching Tibbs about two years ago, before he began reaching out to the people in Tibbs’ life for interviews. The fact that everyone was excited to talk to him about Tibbs impressed him. Everyone he spoke to — family members, rodeo people, Hollywood stars and those who knew Tibbs for other reasons — said yes about being interviewed and all spoke about how much they loved Tibbs.
Longtime Ramonan Chuck Apgar said Steve Ford, son of President Gerald Ford, was a pupil in Tibbs’ rodeo class, and Tibbs was invited to Thanksgiving dinner at the Ford home in Palm Springs. The conversation was pleasant, until the subject turned to Sept. 5, 1975, when Manson cult member Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme tried to kill President Ford. According to Apgar, Casey said to the president, “I don’t know why anyone would want to kill you. You never did anything.”
Sandy Tibbs, who was at the dinner, added, “Casey told Steve Ford, you turned out pretty good for being raised in public housing.” She said Casey had a quick wit and sharp sense of humor that people loved. No one else could get away with talking to a political leader the way Casey did and generate laughter and good cheer, she said.
“He was some character, I tell you,” said June Pratt, 95, of Ramona.
Pratt and her husband lived in Los Angeles before moving to the 20 acres they had purchased on Magnolia Avenue in Ramona. Rusty Richards, singer songwriter and member of the Sons of Pioneers singing group, called the Pratts and asked to keep his Pinto horses on their Ramona property.
“Casey wormed his way in and moved the (Richards’) Pintos to an unknown location,” said Pratt.
Tibbs kept his horses on the Magnolia property from 1970 until his death in 1990. Pratt described how she and her husband hosted John Wayne’s son, Steve Ford and many other famous people as a result of their friendship with Tibbs.
“Casey was just a nice guy,” she said. “He would stop in every morning to have tea and toast with me. His famous friends were so down to earth and nice, too. They’d always say, your house reminds me of my grandma’s place.”
Dave Osborn shared stories of how he was Tibbs‘ designated driver while working as a ranch hand for the famous cowboy when Osborn was a teenager.
“The first time I was his driver, I didn’t go home for two days,” said Osborn. “That was during Casey’s drinking days. My mother wasn’t too happy.” Osborn also talked about how Tibbs fed his boys steak dinner every night, but during the day all they got were boxes of raisins.
“I was so hungry one day, I tore up that yellow Cadillac looking for more boxes of raisins,” said Osborn.
Several people shared stories of the many pranks that were a part of knowing Tibbs. One favorite was his hand-held fart device given to him by Hollywood friend Wilford Brimley. He also loved to shock people with his habit of eating martini glasses, and his visits to the Turkey Inn on horseback to have a quick drink at the bar are legendary.
Tibbs was born in a log cabin that was actually built into a hillside in the unincorporated town of Mission Ridge, SD, though the state’s largest town, Fort Pierre, home of the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center, claims Tibbs as their son. At 14 years of age, Casey started riding in rodeos in South Dakota; at 15, he moved on to nationwide competition.
In 1949, at age 19, Casey became the youngest man ever to win the national saddle bronc-riding crown. Between 1949 and 1955, he won six Professional Rodeo California Association saddle bronc riding championships, a record still unchallenged, plus two all-around cowboy championships and one bareback riding championship.
He also appeared in 100 films as an extra or a stunt man, and directed “Born to Buck,” the true story of a wild horse roundup.
Koehler said he is hoping to continue Casey’s mission and give saddle bronc horse a voice with his film. After interviewing lots of cowboys for the project, the documentarian is trying to carry forward Casey’s way of attracting people to rodeo. He plans to show the many layers of Tibbs.
“I was so impressed by how Casey lived every day of his life,” he said. “Casey liked the spotlight. He came along when rodeo was struggling. His personality and his skill elevated rodeo. Maybe Casey did not die with much of the money left that he earned, but he lived every day to the fullest. He lived life his way and did not miss a day in his life, even toward the end when he was so sick. Though he is buried in South Dakota, he loved his 17 years in Ramona. Everyone who I’ve met doing these interviews speaks very highly of Ramona.”
Because Ramona hosted this fundraiser, Koehler shared what he called “insider information” that no one else knows at this time. Jeb Rosewood, a good friend of Tibbs, had a box since 1970 before Tibbs went to Japan to do Wild West shows. The box was full of 16mm films, Tibbs’ private collection, including a documentary film Tibbs produced with Joel McCray and several other films as well. The highlight that will be used in the documentary is a color reel of Tibbs’ many rides. Koehler described it as “spectacular with the signature purple chaps and fancy shirts, one bull ride,” which is thought to be the only footage of Tibbs on a bull. The Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center in Fort Pierre funded the conversion to digital.
There is no major backer for the film, so Koehler plans to launch a campaign to raise money to finish the project. He invites everyone to visit the “Floating Horses: The Life of Casey Tibbs” Facebook page to stay up-to-date on the project.