Chapter 9

The Rangers delivered me to the Rodeo headquarters and got me checked in. This started some questions about a young rider being escorted by the Rangers. They just told the people at the check-in desk that as an unaccompanied minor they were making certain I got to where I needed to be.

After checking me into the rodeo the Rangers took me to an address Clint Easterly had provided. When helping me register for the championship he had contacted some Dallas people he knew so I would have a place to stay with a local family, the Ewing’s.

They had a ranch and a lot of oil wells but were really nice to me, and became my supporters at the event.

They did seem uptight about the Rangers showing up with me but soon relaxed when they were told what had happened. The older brother was quite pleased to hear the sitting governor would be having some questions to answer. Seems the Ewing’s were a power in Texas.

My skills as a rider held up but that wouldn’t have been enough to win the Championship. I got lucky; the last bull dislodged me and tossed me to the right, and while I hung on the bull tossed me to the left and then swung me right back onto its back.

Watching the movie reel of the event it looked like a planned move. When asked later how I had perfected it I said it was a once in a lifetime gamble and did not recommend anyone else try it.

I received a check for one thousand dollars and the largest silver belt buckle and trophy I had ever seen. I then found a payphone and made the promised call to Brian Wilson to see how our new song was doing.

Brian was really glad I called, he had been contacted by the TV show, “American Bandstand” and they wanted us to appear as soon as we could while the song was still hot.

I only had one week left before I had to be home so we agreed to do it the following week. I was to fly to Philadelphia on Eastern Airlines and he would have my flight met by a car and driver.

I also called Clint Easterly and thanked him profusely for his introducing me to bull riding and that I was now the American Grand National Junior Champion. I had to describe the ride and my winning move.

He mumbled something about being born with a horseshoe up my butt, but I probably misheard him. We promised to stay in touch and ended the call.

I took a Taxi to a local Sheplers and bought more new clothes and suitcases to carry them in. There was one carryon bag for suits that had compartments for boots! The outline of the boots shows on the outside. It was really neat.

The salesman convinced me that I needed a suit and the carry-on, and by the way, I should probably have new boots while I was at it.

The grey suit with gold edging had that western look; it went well with my black Stetson. I had a hard time choosing between the Ostrich skin and Alligator boots. The helpful salesman pointed out that I could buy both, keeping one pair in the carryon while wearing the others. I left my old rucksack and sleeping bag with them as they were plumb worn out.

When I was buying my ticket at the airport I was asked if it was in first-class or coach, I found that it would only cost seventy-five dollars for first class. I peeled the money off my money clip and paid the lady. This sure was a change from the beginning of the summer!

The flight on the brand new jet plane was smooth and I looked out the window most of the flight. This was really neat and I decided I would learn to fly one day. The meal was a nice little fillet mignon. They kept bringing me Cokes the entire flight. I really needed to pee when the flight landed, I didn’t learn till later they had toilets on the plane.

I thought about swiping the silverware as a souvenir but decided that it didn’t fit my new status as a Texas Ranger. I was learning about pictures in the paper.

A man with a sign met me at the airport and after a quick trip to the restroom we went out to the car. It was a long stretched out car he called a limo. He took me to a big old hotel downtown. At the front desk, they were expecting me and told me my suite was ready.