The “Father of Modern Rodeo” continues to receive accolades nearly three decades after
his death and well over a century after his birth in Vernal, Utah. Earl Bascom’s childhood
in Vernal is credited for his interest in rodeo as he and his brothers grew up riding on the
family farm before moving to Canada in his later growing up years.
Bascom had a professional rodeo career bull riding and riding saddle bronc and bareback through the 1930’s. What he is perhaps best known for, however, is innovating the sport with his
designs of the first one-handed bareback rein, the first high cut riding chaps, the modern
bucking chute, and the hornless saddle which is still the industry standard one hundred
years later.
After a back injury forced him into retirement, Bascom became an accomplished artist, known for his bronze sculptures, who won many awards. Earl’s son, John Bascom, shared in an interview this month with East Idaho News that his father has a long list of Hall of Fame recognitions and was recently inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and is the only rodeo champion to be named a member of Canada’s Order of Sports. He also reported that Earl Bascom is on the list to be inducted to a hall of fame in Texas next month.
