High Plains History; Buddy Heaton

[Tapping table; Shuffling; Clears throat] [Nancy Honig] OK. Buddy Heaton. The American West spawned many well known entertainers through the years. Many of them were dubbed "singing cowboys," who tamed the West with a six gun in one hand and a guitar in the other. Riding the range on a Hollywood set, these rhinestone cowboys were often the successful product of skilled business agents. But one cowboy entertainer used the riding and roping skills, he learned as a kid and southwest kansas, to become a famous rodeo clown and horse trainer. Buddy Heaton was born in 1929 in Texoma, but he grew up in Hugoton, Kansas. While most boys were learning to ride bicycles, he was learning to ride a variety of animals, including horses, bulls, and a buffalo. By the age of twelve Buddy was accomplished trick rider, whose began working- [Person interupts Ms. Honig; Uninteligible] [Nancy Honig] By the age of

twelve Buddy was an accomplished trick rider who began working as a rodeo clown after school and during the summers. He was featured as a barrel man riding in metal barrels, that were knocked about the rodeo arena by wild bulls. In addition to clowning Buddy was an accomplice rodeo contestant. In 1957 he won the bulldogging class at the denver stock show on his equally talented Appaloosa named High Hand. This horse, sired in 1952 from the stallion Buddy used for his clown acts, became a star performer for many years. Heaton taught him many tricks, including his claim that he could lift High Hand off the ground by simply laying his hand on the horses back. Actually High Hand would jump straight off the ground with all four feet creating the illusion. Then he would stand on his hind legs and walk, which served as a crowd pleasing finally the act. In recognition for as many talents, High Hand was inducted- [Person 2 inturupts Ms. Honig; Asked to repeat]

[Disscussing how to pronounce things] [Nancy Honig] In recognition for his many talents, High Hand was inducted into the Appaloosa Horse Club of Fame in 1988. Perhaps the most well known element of Heaton's career had to do with a different type of steed. He acquired a buffalo bull named Old Grunter and gave him the stage name of Clyde. Heaton somehow convinced the buffalo to be mounted, and ridden, and to carry him in parades, around the rodeo arena, and even to appear in television shows. The performing duo did make promotional appearances and also appeared in an episode of the TV Western "Wagon Train." On January 20th, 1961 Buddy was televised nationwide, as he rode Clyde in President John Kennedy's inaugural parade. Kennedy and Vice President Johnson, were so impressed by the performer, and his unusual mount, that he called the pair back to the reviewing stand for handshakes and a brief conversation.

Buddy continued to travel the rodeo circuit for many years, but he finally returned to his roots, in southwest Kansas and managed the livestock sale barn in Liberal for several years before retiring to live a quiet life in Hugoton, the town where he grew up. Thanks to the Stevens County Historical Museum and Boot Hill website and material used in writing this story. For High Plains Public Radio, I'm Nancy Honig in Hugoton, kansas. [Person 2, off screen, requsets a second take] [Nancy Honig] The american west has spawned by many well known entertainers through the years, many of them dubbed singing cowboys, who tamed the west with a six gun in one hand and a guitar in the other. Ridding the range on a hollywood set, these rhinestone cowboys were often the successful product of skilled business agents, but one cowboy entertainer used the riding and roping skills he learned as a kid in southwest kansas, to become a famous rodeo

clown and horse trainer. Buddy Heaton was born in 1929 in Texoma, but he grew up in Hugoton, Kansas. While most boys were learning to ride bicycles he was learning to ride a variety of animals including horses, bulls, and a buffalo. By the age of twelve Buddy was an accomplishment trick rider. He began working as a rodeo clown after school and during the summers. He was soon featured as a barrel man, riding in metal barrels that were knocked about the rodeo arena by wild bulls. In addition to clowning Buddy was an accomplice rodeo contestant. In 1957 he won the bulldogging class at the Denver Stock Show on his equally talented Appaloosa named High Hand. This horse, sired in 1952 from the stalion Buddy used in his clown acts, became a star performer for many years. Heaton taught him many tricks including the claim that he could lift High Hand off the ground

simply by laying his hand on the horses back. Actually, High Hand would jump straight off the ground with all four feet, creating the illusion. Then he would stand on his hind legs and walk, which served as a crowd pleasing finally to the act. In recognition for his many talents, High Hand was inducted into the appaloosa is a horse club of fame in 1988. Perhaps the most well known element of Heatons career had to do with a different type of steed He aquired a bufalo bull, named Old Grunter, and gave him the stage name of Clyde. Heaton somehow convinced bufalo to be mounted and ridden, and to carry him in parades, around the rodeo arena, and even to appear in television shows. The preforming duo did many promotional appearances and also appeared in an episode of the tv western Wagon Train. On January 20th, 1961 Buddy was televised nationwide as he rode Clyde in President John Kennedy's inaugural parade. Kennedy, and Vice President Johnson, were so impressed

by the performer, and his unusual mount, that he called the pair back to the reviewing stand for handshakes and a brief conversation. Buddy continued to travel the rodeo circuit for many years, but he finally returned to his roots, in southwest Kansas and managed the livestock sale barn Liberal for several years, before retiring to live a quiet life in Hugoton the town where he grew up. Thanks to the Stevens County Historical Museum, and the Boot Hill website, for material used in writing this story. For High Plains Public Radio, I'm Nancy Honig in Hugoton, Kansas. [Person 2] Ok. [Nancy Honig] That work? [Person 2] I think so. [Nancy Honig] We'll go see.