Chadron State College hosts successful "History Day"

Miranda Betson and Teague Edelman, both of Crawford, Mari Sandoz Heritage Society Great Plains Award winners in the Western District History Day held on February 25th, 2022 in the Chadron State College Student Center.    (Photo by Tena Cook/CSC)

Twenty-five students from Nebraska’s Panhandle participated in the Western District History Day at Chadron State College on February 25th.

Categories included documentary film, free-standing or table-top exhibits, theatrical performances, research papers, and websites. The top three entries in each category will advance to the Nebraska State Contest in Lincoln on April 9th.

The Mari Sandoz Heritage Society Great Plains Award was given to Miranda Betson and Teague Edelman of Crawford (Jr. Group Exhibit) with The Many Faces of Mount Rushmore.

Results from the Senior and Junior divisions.

SENIOR DIVISION (High School)

Group Exhibit

1, Kamden Victory and Tylea Underwood of Crawford with Grace Abbott; 2, Arissa Staman, Erika Flores, and Nichelle Patty of Bayard with The Women Belong in the House and in the Senate.

Group Performance

1, Matthew Applegate, and Dugan Pafford of Bayard with An End to Nucyaler [sic] Proliferation by Jerry Rabushka.

Individual Documentary

1, Tyler Kaus of Chadron with Meyer v. Nebraska: Debate Over Bilingual Education; 2, Alexa Tollman of Crawford with The Battle to Save Fort Robinson’s History.

Individual Paper

1, Maralee Rischling of Chadron with The Debate to Forego Diplomacy: The 1936 Nazi Olympics; 2, Hannah Rudloff of Sioux County with Nixon Goes to China: Consequences for the 20th Century and the 21st Century.

Individual Website

1, Thomas Kaus of Chadron with Diplomacy that Aided Polish Independence.

JUNIOR DIVISION (Middle School)

Group Exhibit

1, Miranda Betson and Teague Edelman of Crawford with The Many Faces of Mount Rushmore; 2, Ada Norman and Amelia Betson of Crawford with Sacagawea.

Group Website

1, Matthew Sorenson and Samuel Kahl of Chadron with Debate and Diplomacy During the Cuban Missile Crisis; 2, Eliu Paopao and Wesley Margetts of Chadron with Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin and his Effects on the Romanovs.

Individual Documentary

1, Josephine Werner of Chadron with The Use of Animation as Propaganda in World War II; 2, Mason Frye of Chadron with Joe Louis’ Influence for Civil Rights Movement.

Individual Exhibit

1, Jaelyn Brown of Chadron with Jefferson vs. Hamilton Debate on the National Bank.

Individual Website

1, Hannah Sprock of Chadron with Hindenburg Disaster; 2, Samson Sprague of Chadron with Understanding the Space Race.

—Tena L. Cook, Marketing Coordinator

Remembering 1949

 For many Nebraskans – if not most – the year "1949" conjures up one thing:  The Blizzard.

Over the years of this website, we've posted little about the Blizzard of 1949; most recently, we shared a story written by the remarkable Con Marshall, whose ability to remember, research, and write about a wide range of history, sporting events, agricultural topics – and just about anything else – is widely recognized and appreciated.  

This posting is simply an update.

First, something new:  fans of Nebraska history are already acquainted with History Nebraska; if not, you should be.  Here's a link to their recent History Nebraska Blog posting of the Blizzard of 1949 – a truly unforgettable winter.  We think you'll enjoy seeing the photos.......and hope you'll also take time to join History Nebraska.  It's well worth it!

Then, re-visit Con Marshall's Blizzard story we posted in 2019.  Enjoy!

"Louie" – NFR's Barrel Racing "Horse of the Decade"

by Con Marshall

Although he’s now retired, Louie, the buckskin gelding that carried Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs to barrel racing prominence, has been accorded a special honor.

              

The November issue of Western Horseman, which calls itself the “World’s Leading Horse Magazine since 1936,” has tabbed Louie as the greatest barrel racing horse at the National Finals Rodeo during the past decade.

              

The magazine put Lisa and Louie on the cover and have another full-color photo of them on the inside, where it explains why he received the designation.

              

The story notes that Louie, who was born in 2003, initially belonged to Tim and Kelly Bagnell of Polson, Mont., and was often a money winner in reined cow horse competition. But the Bagnells turned him over to Lockhart to train as a barrel horse for their daughter, Lexi.

               

Before long Lisa and Louie had won the Canadian Finals Rodeo barrel racing title and qualified for the 2010 NFR in Las Vegas, where they finished third in the averages, won $107,426 and finished fourth in the world standings for the year. 

Not wanting to break up the dynamic duo, the Bagnells sold Louie to Lisa in 2011.  (Photo  of Louie shown here is credited to Mallory Beinborn)

Before Lisa and Louie were matched up, Lisa had qualified for the National Finals Rodeo three times (2007-09) while riding Chisholm, another buckskin gelding she had obtained from the Bagnells, but the almost unprecedented success story was just beginning.   

              

Counting 2010, Louie was Lockhart’s primary horse for nine years in a row through 2018. During that stretch, she placed second in the world standings in both 2014 and 2015, third in 2013 and 2016 and fourth in both 2010 and 2011. She also was fifth in 2012, seventh in 2017 and 11th in 2018, when she rode Rosa, a buckskin mare, part-time, while Louie began a phased retirement.   

Lisa and Louie were especially successful in 2015 and 2016. They were the only tandem to place in as many as eight go-rounds at the NFR in 2015. They won the barrels at the American Rodeo in Dallas for the second time and the Calgary Stampede for the first time.  Both paid the winner $100,000.

              

In 2016, they left all 30 barrels upright in Las Vegas while winning the averages, which was worth $68,000, and their total time of 137.98 on the 10 runs was the NFR record.  Lisa and Louie competed in just 39 rodeos that year while the other NFR qualifiers averaged 75.

Western Horseman says Louie was the highest earning horse in the barrels at the NFR during the decade, winning more than $803,000. 

              

The article says, “While Louie is now 18 and retired from pro rodeo, he’s left his mark on the industry, in fans’ hearts and in Lockhart’s life.

The story ends with a quote from Lisa:

              

“I’ve always said that his reputation far exceeds mine, and I couldn’t be more proud to follow him in what he has accomplished for us.” 

              

Last week after the magazine came out, Lisa noted that Louie also had been voted the “horse with the most heart” a couple of times during polls of pro barrel racers.

              

She agrees with that designation.  “He may not have been the fastest, but he had a ton of heart and he was the most efficient, hardest working and most determined horse I have every ridden. This is an awesome honor that he received.” 

              

Lockhart added that Louie’s consistency helped make him great.

              

“All 85 of his runs at the NFR from the first one in 2010 through the last one 2018 and even the two in 2019 were nearly identical,” she stated. 

              

Although Lockhart no longer rides Louie, she had a great September while aboard a black gelding, Cutter, to make up lots of ground and is one of the 15 barrel racing qualifiers for the National Finals for the 15th consecutive year in early December 2021.

Not Dawes County – but Box Butte County neighbors!

This photo and information is from History Nebraska:  

Many Nebraska counties have stories of bitter rivalries over the location of the county seat. And not all towns that started out as the county seat were able to remain so. After Hemingford lost a county-wide vote, Alliance residents didn't mess around. They came to get the county records...and the courthouse too! They hauled the building twenty miles with a little help from the Burlington Railroad."  

If you've not visited the Nebraska History website, you're missing a good chunk of history.  You'll find them at:  history.nebraska.gov

75 Years Ago - Chadron High Class of 1946

To see more photos, check out our DCJ "Schools Gallery."

Another Dawes County Pioneer: Michael Brennan

Editor's Note:  The biography and photos included in this story  were derived from the illustrated Compendium of History, Reminiscence and Biography of Western Nebraska, a wonderful publication for families, historians and the general public.  It was produced in 1909 by the Alden Publishing Company of Chicago.  

-- Larry Miller

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MICHAEL BRENNAN, a farmer of ability and progressiveness, resides in section 12, township 31, range 48, and is one of the leading old settlers and respected citizens of Dawes county. He has watched the growth of that section from its early development, succeeded in building up a good home and farm, and may be classed among the self-made men of his locality. He is now well-to-do and enjoys a pleasant home and peaceful surroundings.

Mr. Brennan was born in Carbon county, Pennsylvania, in 1845. He is of Irish descent, his father and mother both having been born in Ireland, coming to this country when young people and settling in Pennsylvania, where their family of children grew up, the father working in the coal mines for many years in that section. Our subject was also employed in the mines when but a young lad, and at the breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted in the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served for one year, taking part in many campaigns and battles,

After the war he returned to his home county and remained there for some time, then started west with his family, locating in Boone county, Iowa, and later in Green county, spending two years in the coal mines there.

Mr. Brennan first came to Dawes county in 1885, driving all the way from Iowa with a team and covered wagon containing his family and household goods, the trip taking a month on the road.

He located on a farm ten miles from Hay Springs and sixteen miles from Chadron, and put up his first building of sod and logs, in which the family lived for quite a time. Their start was very small, and they had a hard time to get along during the first few years, witnesssing the dry years when nearly everything he planted failed him. One year he sowed one hundred bushels of seed wheat, and did not even get enough back for seed. During these hard times he left home and went into Hooker county, where he worked out on a farm in order to make a living for his family, and also spent some time in Wyoming in the coal mines. However, he stuck to his farm through it all, and has now built up a good home, has improved much of the land, put up good buildings, three windmills, and has one well three hundred and twenty feet deep. 

His ranch consists of about nine quarter sections of good land, nearly all fenced, and he runs a large number of horses and cattle, and also farms one hundred and seventy-five accrues.

Mr. Brennan was married while still living in Pennsylvania, in 1870, to Miss Mary Walsh. Her father, James Walsh, was born in Ireland, and worked as a coal miner in Pennsylvania, and in his later years farmed there for many years. He married Elizabeth Hoben, a native of Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Brennan was born January 10, 1855, and reared in that state. She is a good, kind-hearted lady, full of jolly good cheer and hearty sympathy with any one in distress. No one is ever turned away hungry from her door. 

Twelve children came to bless the union of our subject and his wife, namely: Mart, James, Charles, Lizzie, John, William, Thomas, Fred, Terry and Joe. Alice and Maggie, both deceased, the former being killed by a cow on the farm; the latter dying in infancy.

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Editor's Note:

Mr. Brennan lived for another 12 years before his death in 1921.  His obituary (shown below) appeared in the Chadron Chronicle on December 15, 1921. 

Gilbert "Gib" Wilson (1931-2021)

Gilbert "Gib" Hansen Wilson, 90, of Spearfish, died from COVID-19 Monday, August 30, 2021, at Fort Meade VA Medical Center in Sturgis, SD.

Gib was born July 16, 1931 in Lincoln, Nebraska, the son of Curtis and Naomi (Gilbert) Wilson.  In 1942, the family moved to Chadron where he graduated from Chadron Prep in 1949.  He attended Chadron State College for three years.  In October 1952 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and entered the Aviation Cadet program.  He graduated in November 1953 with his wings and a commission as a 2nd Lt.  He married Delores "Dee" Lind on November 21, 1953.   They had met at Chadron State College.  They moved to Las Vegas where he attended gunnery school at Nellis AFB before a tour of duty in Korea and Japan.  He was assigned to the 336th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Kimpo, Korea, where he flew the F-86.  Upon returning to the States, he was assigned to the 1st Fighter Day Squadron at George AFB at Victorville, California, where he flew the F-100.  He and Dee lived in Adelanto, which was near the base.

Upon his release from active duty in November 1956, they returned to Chadron where he finished his BS degree in Math and Physics in 1958.  He was awarded a teaching assistantship in the Math department at the University of Wyoming, where he received his MS degree in 1960.  In his 31 years of teaching Math, he held faculty positions at Western Wyoming College, North Idaho Junior College, University of Idaho, and Blue Mountain Community College.  He finished his teaching career at Central Wyoming College at Riverton, where he attained the rank of Professor and was awarded the title of Emeritus when he retired in 1991.

Gib and Dee lived on a small farm near Riverton for 17 years.  In 1994 they moved to Sundance, Wyoming.  He and Dee ran a cow/calf operation for several years, then sold the cattle so they could travel.  He was a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Mathematical Association of America, Life member of the National Rifle Association, and the F-86 Sabre Pilots Association.  He served on the Board of Directors of Crook County Senior Services for nine years and the BLM Resource Advisory Committee for three.  He enjoyed hunting, reloading, fishing, camping, and traveling.

He was preceded in death by his wife Dee, his parents, and his brother Larman.  He is survived by three daughters, Judy Neal of Casper, Wyoming, Linda Fleming of Thornton, Colorado, and Shirly Hardeman of Costa Mesa, California; his brother Douglas, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Memorials may be made to the Crook County Senior Services or the Naomi J. Wilson Memorial Scholarship at Chadron State College.

Gib will be laid to rest at Black Hills National Cemetery on Friday, September 10, 2021.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 11:00am at the Sundance United Methodist Church.  Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel of Sundance.

Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com.