C.P.R.A.
Three-event cowboy, Dave MacDonald, goes to wo rk at the 1978 Bruce Stamp ede
But for all his success in the arena, Dave MacDonald is probably best remembered for his positive, upbeat personality and his willingness to help young, up and coming cowboys learn the craft. Sadly, rodeo lost the ever-present MacDonald smile all too soon, when Dave passed away in 2000. Dave MacDonald loved being a cowboy and he was darn good at it.
VIC STUCKEY SR. BUILDER
PHOTO BY KEN MARCINKOWSKI; COURTESY CANADIAN PROFESSIONAL RODEO HALL OF FAME
Vic Stuckey Sr. at the 1939 Benalto Rodeo
“There’s no doubt that winning Canada and going to the NFR those three times and now being inducted into the Hall of Fame are the highlights of my career.”
DAVE MACDONALD CONTESTANT
Only one man in the history of Canadian rodeo has ever qualified for the Canadian Finals Rodeo in three events in one year… that man was Dave MacDonald.
cowboycountrymagazine.com
The versatile cowboy started his career in rodeo in the junior events at 11 years old. Then came a tremendously successful amateur career that spanned a decade and saw the Dalemead, Alta. cowboy win 19 FCA championships and three more in the Chinook Association to go with six Manitoba (Centennial Rifle) rodeo awards. Included in his championship total were no fewer than 11 All Around titles. And in 1961, he teamed with Roy Groves and Bob Busslinger to win the Wild Horse Race at the Calgary Stampede. Dave was even known to jump into the arena and fight bulls when needed. It was in 1975 that Dave Macdonald wrote his name in professional rodeo’s record book, qualifying for the CFR in three events — bareback riding, calf roping and steer wrestling. Ironically, MacDonald would not win the Canadian All-Around title that year. That honour went to his cousin, Bob Hartell, and it’s fitting that the two men are both being inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame at the same time and at the same rodeo — the 2016 Strathmore Stampede. In 1978 Dave did win the Canadian AllAround title.
Vic Stuckey was a prominent saddle bronc rider who competed in the 1930s before the Canadian Protective Association — the forerunner to the CPRA — was formed. With travelling partners that included Pete Knight, Herman Linder, Hughie Long and Sykes Robinson, young Stuckey appeared at rodeos in Canada and the U.S. Highlights included placing at the Calgary Stampede (where a third place finish paid $11) and winning Ponoka in 1938. Health challenges eventually forced Stuckey to leave the rodeo arena for a different career choice. Around 1940, he took a watchmaker course, which led the young man to the Stettler area where he started a jewelry store, V.E. Stuckey Jewelry. Stuckey’s interest in rodeo remained. He was a founding member of the CPA and vice-president of the Canadian Stampede Managers Association. Also a founding president of the Central Alberta Stampede Association, he held the position of Stettler Stampede Manager for a number of years. Vic Stuckey was a key individual in the establishment of a number of early rodeos, the Stettler Stampede among them. Many of the rodeos Stuckey helped initiate are ongoing today. With serious injury a facet of rodeo competition — even back before the CPA existed — Stuckey was also instrumental in raising funds for those struggling to survive lifetime rodeo injury. His personal popularity and reputation as a solid businessman were factors in his success. Unfortunately, Stuckey’s health issues resulted in his early death in 1953 at 38 years of age. While his time on earth was short, Vic Stuckey made the most of his life, as a bronc rider, rodeo builder, family man and businessman.
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