Alice not of wonderland but Alice a wonder woman in
Red Lodge preparing for a ride..,
Alice Greenough was the first woman inducted into the
National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1975. She was the World Champion Saddle Bronc
Rider four times between 1933 & 1940. As a rodeo producer and stock contractor
she excelled. Alice was instrumental in initiating the Barrel Racing Event in
1943. She was an accomplished trick rider and appeared in many movies as a stunt
girl.
Historical minded, Alice was also the founder of the
Carbon County Historical Museum established in 1959.
Classic Alice and one of her many championship saddles.
Alice Greenough was born in 1902 on the family ranch near Red Lodge. Along
with her sister, Margie, the pair were considered the top women bronc riders in
the 1930’s and 40s. began entering in local rodeos. In 1933, Alice won the World
Championship in women bronc riding located in Boston, then again in 35, 36. New
York City witnessed her 1940 title. Alice was the first cowgirl inducted into
the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Hereford, Texas in 1975. Marge followed in 1978. The
Cowboy Hall of Fame inducted Alice in 1983. She was also the endearing founder
of the Carbon County Historical Museum.
Pictured is Alice in her hometown and in her element. Her beaded floral chaps
are on exhibit in the museum she helped found.
A young Turk Greenough with a rope in his hand and Turk carrying on the habit
aboard F.D.R.
Thurkel James Greenough (1905 - 1995) was the first American to win three big
rodeos; Pendleton, Cheyenne, and Calgary. He won four world championships in
saddle bronc riding in 1928, 1933, 1935, and 1936.
He and his siblings, Alice, Marge, and Bill were known as The Riding
Greenough’s.
Turk became a leading force behind creating the "National Finals Rodeo".
Pictured above is Turk Greenough. Don’t let the smile and charm of
“Turk” fool you, aboard a wild bronc he came unbridled and was all business.
Born in 1905, Thurkel James Greenough entered his first rodeo in 1926. During
his enduring career, Turk rarely bucked off, allowing him to hone his classic
style of leaping off his mount when the whistle blew. He stacked up numerous
events and awards, including the World Saddle Bronc Championship at Pendleton,
the North American Championship at Calgary (twice) and Cheyenne Frontier Days
(three times). In 1936 he became the first American to capture the “Triple
Crown” of rodeo, winning at Cheyenne, Calgary, and Pendleton.
Turk, a crowd pleaser, took naturally to working part-time as a movie stuntman,
doubling for the likes of Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and Randloph Scott. Among his
credits are “Beau Geste”, “Gone with the Wind”, and “The Angel and the Badman”
with John Wayne. Turk also started his own rodeo production, “Turk Greenough’s
Wild West Rodeo.” In later years he helped organize the National Old Timer’s
Rodeo Association. Turk passed in 1995, but in the memory of Carbon County
residents and rodeo enthusiasts his journey has endured.
Turk, Bill, Margie and Alice Greenough were known to the world as “the riding Greenoughs,” but locals knew them as siblings begot by the Montana pioneer couple, “Packsaddle” Ben and Myrtle (Webb) Greenough. All eight of the Greenough children were ranch-born, mountain raised and instilled with an ethic of willingness and try. Frank, the eldest born was for a number of years a successful calf-roper, but turned to ranching as a profession. It was Turk, however, who paved the rodeo path for the family. Vena, Ida and May, who did not participate in rodeo, were actively proud and supportive of their siblings accomplishments
The riding Greenoughs, Margie, Bill, Turk and Alice.
The youngest Greeenough son, Bill, demonstrated his athleticism and versatility by participating in saddle bronc, calf roping and steer wrestling. One of the most spectacular rides fans ever witnessed in Red Lodge was Bill aboard “Frisco” in 1941. Bill’s career path then led him to ranching and manager of the large Antler Ranch.
“Packsaddle” Ben Greenough standing in front of John Johnston’s cabin in
1943.
In a hand written note, Ben states, he “batched
and hunted big game with Johnston winter of 1893 and 94.” The cabin 3 miles
south of Red Lodge then had a “dirt roof.” The cabin now relocated to the Red
Lodge Chamber of Commerce is a reminder of a bygone era.