Rowell, Harry

In 1912, young Englishman Harry Rowell left the Royal Navy to seek his fortune in the United States. He boxed professionally, started a successful canned dog food factory, built a ranch and, in 1918, started a saddle shop that was to become the best-patronized shop on the West Coast. He also fell prey to the rodeo bug. In 1921, Rowell produced his first rodeo on his Hayward, Calif., ranch. It became the annual JAR Ranch Rodeo, which is known today as the Rowell Ranch Rodeo. Over the next 30 years, Rowell furnished stock for rodeos throughout the West. His famed bucking string included Sceneshifter, Major Lou, Starlight, Duster, Tyghe Valley, Calo Dob and Lee Overalls. The Rowell ranch was also a second home for rodeo cowboys. The doors to the cook shack and bunkhouse were always open and there was always enough work for a cowboy to "earn his keep". He was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979.