This Week in the West: Tad Lucas, the First Lady of Rodeo

🤠This Week in the West
🎙️ Episode 44: Tad Lucas, the First Lady of Rodeo

📢 Episode Summary:
Tad Lucas, remembered as the “First Lady of Rodeo,” rose from humble beginnings in Nebraska as the youngest of 24 children to become the most celebrated trick rider of her time. Nicknamed “Tadpole” for her size and spirit, she quickly made a name for herself in rodeo competitions and joined California Frank’s Rodeo Company at just 19, where she met and married fellow rodeo performer Buck Lucas. Her daring trick riding—hanging beneath horses, handstands, and acrobatics—captivated audiences worldwide, including a sold-out Wembley Stadium in 1924.

Lucas dominated the rodeo scene throughout the 1920s and 1930s, winning major competitions at Madison Square Garden and Cheyenne Frontier Days. Earning today’s equivalent of nearly $300,000 in prize money, she cemented her reputation as one of the greatest female riders in history. Even a devastating injury at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair couldn’t keep her out of the arena, as she continued to perform with her arm in a cast. Her grit and success elevated women’s roles in rodeo, paving the way for future generations.

Beyond her competitive career, Lucas played a lasting role in rodeo history. She co-founded the Girls Rodeo Association in 1948, served on leadership boards, and became the first woman inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. Her legacy lives on through the Tad Lucas Award, presented annually at the Museum to honor women who uphold Western heritage. Tad Lucas not only entertained millions but also reshaped the role of women in rodeo, leaving a mark that still inspires today.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• How Tad Lucas transformed trick riding into a respected rodeo discipline and became a global star.
• The resilience she showed by performing after a severe injury and her role in legitimizing women’s rodeo.
• The enduring legacy she left through leadership roles, Hall of Fame inductions, and the Tad Lucas Award.

👥 Behind the Scenes
Host: Seth Spillman
Producer: Chase Spivey
Writer: Mike Koehler

🔗 Further research:

• Video interview with Mitzi Lucas Riley, Tad Lucas’ daughter: https://youtu.be/sOlAlReJblc?si=XCl3gpx2C7vnzBHX
• Fort Worth Magazine story on Tad Lucas and her family: https://fwtx.com/news/rodeo%E2%80%99s-first-family/
• Winners of the Tad Lucas Award: https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/collections/awards/tad-lucas/honorees/

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