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The Last Rodeo: Legendary Rodeo of the
Ozarks Bullfighter and Clown Passes Away
For many growing up in Springdale the Rodeo of the Ozarks was
always a right of passage around the 4th of July. It meant hot summer
nights, popcorn, bulls and broncs and hanging out at Parsons Arena for
4 nights with your friends. Growing up here my Dad always had a box
when we were kids and some of my best memories there were having
trash bags ready to cover us when the action got real close and would
cover you in mud when we'd had a little too much rain. Those were
some good nights.
The best of those things though may have been a clown. A man who started his career 60 years ago as a bull rider and quickly turned his attention to bull fighting and perfecting his craft as a rodeo clown. He is a 2020 inductee of the Bull Riding Hall of Fame in the Legends category and was named PRCA Clown of the Year 4 times. All those things are wonderful, but what I will remember most is his back and forth with Phil Gardenhire when I was 10 years old waiting on Tuff Hedeman to ride the next bull out of the shoot. His antics and humor were always a highlight of the Rodeo of the Ozarks growing up. Mr. Harris wasn't from here, but he felt like ours. I'm sure there are a lot of folks who felt that way.
Lecile Harris passed away Wednesday night in his sleep following a performance at the Dixie Nationals Rodeo in Jackson, Mississippi at the age of 84 years young. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and the millions he entertained for decades.
The best of those things though may have been a clown. A man who started his career 60 years ago as a bull rider and quickly turned his attention to bull fighting and perfecting his craft as a rodeo clown. He is a 2020 inductee of the Bull Riding Hall of Fame in the Legends category and was named PRCA Clown of the Year 4 times. All those things are wonderful, but what I will remember most is his back and forth with Phil Gardenhire when I was 10 years old waiting on Tuff Hedeman to ride the next bull out of the shoot. His antics and humor were always a highlight of the Rodeo of the Ozarks growing up. Mr. Harris wasn't from here, but he felt like ours. I'm sure there are a lot of folks who felt that way.
Lecile Harris passed away Wednesday night in his sleep following a performance at the Dixie Nationals Rodeo in Jackson, Mississippi at the age of 84 years young. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and the millions he entertained for decades.