Community History

Rodeoing Through History In the Arlee Valley

1. Jackson Sundown, ( Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kahn ) a Nez Perce Indian born in Montana in 1863, became a excellent rider and horseman riding with Chief Joseph in the war of 1877 at the age of 14. After the war ended he and a small band of cold, hungry and injured Nez Perce retreated to Canada staying with Sitting Bulls camp for two years before crossing the border into Washington. He then went into Montana, married, had two daughters and became known as Jackson Sundown, developing a well known reputation as a skilled horseman.
In 1910, Jackson Sundown moved from Arlee back to Idaho. And in 1912 he married Cecelia Wapshela, and they lived on her ranch located at Jacques Spur, six miles east of Lapwai.
Sundown became a well known all-round rodeo rider. Jackson Sundown was going to rodeos all over the northwest. In 1912 it is recorded that Jackson Sundown (at the age of 49) entered rodeo events in Canada and Idaho (Culdesac, Orofino, Kamiah and Grangeville). Sundown became a favorite at these rodeos because he was tall, lean and handsome, he wore his hair in braids tied under his chin, and he always wore bright colored shirts.
In 1914, Sundown was having much success as an all-around rodeo rider. Other contestants pulled out of rodeos because Sundown was riding and they knew he would win. As a result the rodeo managers decided to hire Sundown to exhibition ride for $50.00 a day to entertain the crowds.
In 1915, Sundown (at age 52) went to Pendleton Oregon and placed third. Sundown decided to retire from rodeo after the Pendleton Roundup. In 1916 a sculptor, Alexander Phimister Proctor (who was sculpting Sundown at the time), persuaded Sundown to enter the 1916 Roundup in Pendleton, Oregon and paid his entrance fee. Sundown made it to the saddle bronc semi-final round and then rode "Casey Jones" to move into the finals with two other cowboys (Rufus Rollen and Bob Hall). Rollen and Hall both had excellent rides. As Sundown eased onto Angel's back for his final ride, the blindfold was removed from Angel. Angel tried to whirl and leap to throw Sundown off. All Sundown's years as a child in the Wallowa's riding, and his career in Montana as a horseman, and his rodeo experience showed that day. It is said that Sundown became one with the horse. As Angel tried one last attempt at throwing Sundown off, Sundown fanned his hat at the horse. And then the signal of the end of the ride. Jackson Sundown, Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kahn, was the 1916 World Champion Bronc Rider.
Sundown made his last public appearance in 1917 for Governor Moses Alexander. In 1923, Jackson Sundown died of pneumonia.

2. Roy Enochs , All around cowboy and stock contractor in Western Montana in 1917-late 20's trailing his stock and producing rodeo's as far away as Bonners Ferry Id. Roy is the grandfather of Carol Sue Mapston and the great grandfather of Gray, Amber, Ryan & Raegan Mapston
3. Abbs Dumontier, Abbs was one of Roy Enochs all around cowboys in the mid teen's and 20's. Abbs is Dib Espinoza’s uncle.
4. Ed Lane & Gray Scott, Ed rode with Teddy Roosevelt in battle at San Juan Hill. Ed and Gray furnished all the Indian's and horses at the Chicago World Fair and New York’s Madison Square Garden and many other fairs rodeo's from the 20's-40's.
Their ranch was located on the east side of the highway on Schall fats with the small pond near the highway.
5. Jimmy Scott, was a trick roper in the 40's and is the son of Gray Scott.
6. Pete Dupuis, was a bull rider and a judge in the 40's-50’s
7. Ralph Stanton, was a Steer Wrestler in the 30's-40's and member of the Turtle assoc. Ralph was one of the signer's when the Turtle Association became the R.C.A. which has since become the P.R.C.A.
8. Billy Schall, Started rodeoing in 1942 and soon became an all around cowboy competing in bareback, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, calf roping & bull riding in the 40's, 50's & 60's. Billy was such a strong competitor winning a lot of money at many R.C.A. rodeo’s soon caught up with him. His ability to beat all the champs…’Bill Linderman and others champions told Billy ‘if you want to continue rodeoing in the R.C.A., you need to become a member’, so he did in 1948. Billy’s R.C.A. Gold card is # 33, and his wins span many rodeo’s across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana & Wyoming to Madison Square Garden, Boston Gardens & Denver Stock Show and Rodeo to name a few. Billy Schall is the most sought after cowboy in Arlee rodeo history and is the real reason for so many cowboys and cowgirls in the Arlee valley. Billy is also very famous for his expert horsemanship and horse training, ‘He Was One With Horses’. Billy rodeoed with all the legendary cowboy’s including world famous cowboy Jim Shoulders, Casey Tibbs, Bill Linderman and good friend Deb Copenhaver. Billy is a legend to many of us here in Arlee, and theirs not many of those old cowboys left to tell us all those old rodeo stories… thanks Billy.
9. Betty Schall, was a rodeo timer in the 40’s 50’s & 60’s and wife to legendary cowboy Billy Schall and lives on their ranch in Arlee.
10. Torchy Meyer, was an all around cowboy in the 30’s 40’s 50’s
11. Roy King, Rodeo Producer in the 40’s
12.Joan Lytle, was a Trick rider in the 40's
13. S. W. Lytle, owned the rodeo grounds and produced the rodeo with stock contractor Roy King in the 40’s at the south east end of Schall flats near Nelsons Corner and is credited as the ‘The Biggest Little Show in Western Montana. Famous Arlee cowboy Dib Espinoza told me “in ’48 I was 7yrs old and remember looking down the highway towards Ravalli and it was a solid line of cars as far as you could see waiting in line going to the rodeo.”
14. Lenard Lytle, Calf roper in the 40's-50's.
15. Mort Lytle, Bull rider in the 40's-50's.
16. Scotty Bagnell, was a steer wrestler and clown & bull fighter in the 40' & 50's.
17. Pete Pierre, Trick roper and calf roping from 1919-1950 and was the man that trained 1959 World Champion Saddle Bronc ‘Trails Inn’ to ride and drug a lot of Christmas trees with him, and is said by the family that he was best horse on their place but when he was sent back to the owners, later started bucking for unknown reasons. Pete also trained and ran race horses in the 40’s & 50’s
18. Regina Cooper & Mily Beason were trick ropers in the 50’s and wrote articles for Hoofs and Horns.
19. Alex Vanderberg, was a calf roper in the 40’s & 50’s
20. Grant Hovde, was a Pickup man in the 50’s & 60’s
21. Maxine King, Barrel racer in the 50’s- 90’s
24. Fred Whitworth, calf roper in the 40’s & 50’s
25. Sonny Whitworth, was a bull rider in the 40’s & 50’s
26. Benny Oxford, was a bareback rider in the 30’s & 40’s
27. Basil Tanner, was a saddle bronc rider in the 50’s
28. Carmel Tanner, was a bull rider in the 50’s and ranches in Arlee.
29. Porky McClure, was a bareback rider in the 50’s & 60’s
30. Bill (Pinto) McClure, was a calf roper in the 30’s
31. Fred Lafley, was a bareback and bull rider in the 40’s & 50’s
32. Jock Hendrickson, was a bareback rider in the 50’s
33. Evert Fyant, was a calf roper in the 50’s
34. Spill Plant, was a bareback rider in the 50’s
35. Wes Mapston, All around champion in the 1963 Western Montana Assoc. and rodeoed from the 50’s- 70’s in the bareback, saddle bronc, steer wrestling & bull riding. Was was a member of the R.C.A. and is currently a Gold Card holder in the P.R.C.A. and has been a member for 44 yrs. Wes & Carol Sue ranch in Arlee.
36. Carol Sue Mapston, barrel raced in the 60’s and is married to Wes Mapston and they are the parents of Gray, Amber, Ryan & Raegan Mapston.
37. Dib Espinoza, All around cowboy bareback, saddle broncs & steer wrestling 50’s 60’s & 70’s in the R.C.A., he also was a member of the Indian Rodeo Assoc. was the All around Champion at the Indian Finals in 1971, and the Indian Rodeo Assoc. All around Champion in 1972. Dib is the nephew of early day cowboy Abbs DuMontier, Dib also has 2 daughters, Janell & Jill and a granddaughter that rodeo, and daughter Johnna currently works at for the P.R.C.A. headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo.
38. Teddy Schall, All around cowboy bareback, saddle bronc, steer wrestling & bull riding in the 50’s & 60’s and a R.C.A. member. Teddy & Juanita ranch north of Arlee.
39. Juanita Schall, was a barrel racer in the 50’s and went to the highschool finals in the cutting and is the wife of Teddy Schall and mother of Scott, Stephanie, Sharon, Stuart & B.J. Schall.
40. Nick Lorrance, was a bull rider in the 50’s
41. Bob & Marg Schall, was a rodeo stock contractors in the 50’ 60’s 70’s
42. Sydney Powell (Schall), was a barrel racer in the 50’s
43. Joanna Crawford (Schall), was a barrel racer in the 50’s
44. Mary Jane Schall, was a barrel racer in the 50’s
45. Pete Lorrance, was a bull rider in the 50’s
46. Don Christoffer, was a saddle bronc rider in the 50’ & 60’s
47. Pearl (Christoffer) Jeskey, was a barrel racer and a ladies bareback rider in the 60’s and continues rodeoing today
48. Leroy McClure, was a bareback & bull rider in the 50’s
49. Junebug Lafley, was a bull rider in the 60’s & 70’s
50. Gene Myllymaki, was a saddle bronc rider, steer wrestler and a pickup man in the 60’s and 70’s
51. Judy Myllymaki, started barrel racing in the 50’s and is still running barrels today. Gene & Judy proudly raised Rachel Myllymaki a National Finals barrel racer and train barrel horses and put on many barrel racing clinics around the western USA.
52. Margie joyce Schall, started barrel racing in the 60’s and continues today.
53. Bobby Schall, All around champion bareback, steer wrestling & team roping in the 60’s 70’s 80’s 90’s and into 2000’s and was one of the great bareback riders of his career winning 100’s of saddles and many time N.R.A. champion.
54. Fay Vanness (Sprague), was a barrel racer in the 60’s & 70’s
55. Tom O’Conner, was a bareback rider in the 70’s
56. Doug Smith, was a bull fighter and bull rider in the 60’s & 70’s and continued in the Senior Pro Assoc. in the 90’s finishing 9th in the steer wrestling in ’93.
57. Russ Smith, was a bareback rider in the 70’s
58. Dude Smith, was a bull rider in the late 60’s & 70’s
59. Donny Garrison, was a bull rider in the 60’s and 70’s and qualified for the M.R.A. Finals 3 times in 1977,’78 & ’79.
60. Dick Rasmussen, was a saddle bronc rider in the 70’s & 80’s
61. R.T. Hendrickson, was a bareback rider & bull rider 60’s 70’s & 80’s and was runnerup 1976 to the M.R.A. Bull Riding Champion and in 1977 was the M.R.A. Bull Riding Champion. R.T. also produce’s rodeo’s and raises bucking horses and ranches in Arlee. He is also a very outstanding pickup man in the P.R.C.A.
62. Marty Lytle, was a bull rider in the 70’s
63. Tim Lytle, was a bull rider in the 60’s & 70’s
64. Zim Lytle, was a saddle bronc rider & bull rider in the 60’s 70’s 80’s & 1990, qualifying for the N.R.A. Finals 2 times in the saddle bronc riding and 5 times as the N.R.A. Finals judge. Zim continued riding saddle broncs and bulls qualified for for M.R.A. Finals 8 times in both events and since retiring in the early 90’s has focused his talents as a judge into the rodeo arena yet today. He now ranches in Arlee & Ronan.
65. Punky Lytle, was a barrel racer in the 80’s
66. Brent Powell, was a bull rider in the 70’s & 80’s and was the M.R.A Bull Riding Champion in 1978. Brent was also a tough competitor in the P.R.C.A. riding bulls and team roping 80’s 90’s & 2000’s and today ranches in St Ignatius. Brent is the son of Sidney Powell (Schall), and the nephew of Billy and Teddy Schall.
67. Jeff Powell, was a steer wrestler in the 80’s and is now the official starter at Gulf Stream, the famous thoroughbred race track in Miami, Florida. Jeff is the son of Sidney Powell (Schall), and the nephew of Billy and Teddy Schall.
68. Scott Schall, was a bareback rider in the 70’s & 80’s and won 2nd in the Rookie Bareback at the Calgary Stampede in 1978, he also qualified for the N.R.A. Finals 8 times, the Coors Finals 4 times & the Chinook Finals in Canada in 1981. Scott is the son of Teddy & Juanita Schall and the nephew of Billy Schall.
69. Jerry Matt, was a calf roper and team roper in the 50’s 60’s 70’s & 80’s, with an incredible roping talent certainly passed it on to all of his kids Shorty, Sharon, Debi, Jerome and grandson Shawn who ropes today.
70. Shorty Matt, was a team roper and bull rider in the 70’s 80’s 90’s & 2000’s and ranches in Moise.
71. Sharon Matt, was a team roper in the 70’s and 80’s
72. Debi matt, was a team roper in the 70’s & 80’s
73. Jerome Matt, started team roping in the 80’s and still ropes today
74. Shawn Matt, started roping in the 90’s and still ropes today
75. Lee Meyers, was a team roper in the 80’s and ranches in Arlee
76. Arlin Simms, started rodeoing in the 60’s in the calf roping and steer wrestling and is still competing in the Senior Pro Rodeo Assoc. and has won several Senior Pro World All Around titles and continues to travel the rodeo circuit as Wyatt Earp with his lovely Claire.
77. Carmen McClure, was a saddle bronc & bull rider in the 70’s
78. Gray Mapston, started rodeoing at the little britches rodeo in Missoula at fair time in the late 60’s. He also rodeoed in high school and has since rode barebacks, bulls and team roped but his main event is saddle bronc riding became a P.R.C.A. member in 1987. He ranches in Arlee at the family ranch.
79. Amber Mapston, was a all around cowgirl in high school and college 70’s & 80’s and was Miss Rodeo Montana 1986 and 3rd runnerup to Miss Rodeo America in 1987.
80. Ryan Mapston, started in kids rodeo’s in the mid 70’s went on to the High School National Finals and the College National Finals. He then bought his P.R.C.A. permit in 1989 and went on to qualify for the N.F.R. in the saddle bronc riding 1996 and is a 9 time N.F.R. qualifier. In 2000 Ryan won the saddle for the average in the bronc riding at the N.F.R. and continues to rodeo today.
81. Patty Simms, was a all around cowgirl in high school in the 70’s and is the daughter of Arlin Simms.
82. Sharlyn Reed, was a all around cowgirl in high school in the 70’s
83. Stephanie Schall, was a all around cowgirl in high school in the 70’s
84. Janell Espinoza, was a high school all around cowgirl still barrel racing and is the mother of Jaylin Garrison and the wife of Donny Garrison
85. Susan DuMontier, was a all around cowgirl in high school in the late 70’s & early 80’s.
86. Sharon Schall, was a all around cowgirl in high school in the late 70’s and early 80’s.
87. Ernie Moran, was a calf roper in high school in the late 70’s and early 80’s
88. Shane Hendrickson, started junior bull riding in the 70’s, rodeoing in the M.R.A. saddle bronc and bull riding in the 80’s, and open rodeo’s in the 90’s
89. Stuart Schall, was a steer rider and high school & college rodeoed in the 80’s and has since become one of the premier judges in the P.R.C.A.
90. Tracy & father Bill Gardner, started raising bucking horses offspring from Bob Schall and Marvin Brookman in 1986. Tracy started furnishing horses to rodeo’s in 1991, going producing N.R.A. rodeo’s, bareback of the year in ’98 & ’01. Senior Rodeo Assoc. furnished bronc’s, bareback’s & bulls, winning 2 saddle bronc awards and 1 bareback award. Tracy’s stock has made the N.F.R.
Dan Harklis, was a team roper & calf roper in the 70’s & 80’s
91. Dan Picchietti, was a team roper in the 80’s, 90’s & 2000’s
92. David Hoback, was a team roper in the 80’s & 90’s
93. Randy Willison, was a team roper in the 90’s
94. Brad Ivonoff, was a team roper in the 90’s
95. Darren Thomas, rode steers in the kids rodeo’s and in high school he rode bulls & steer wrestled. Darren also rode bulls in the wrestled steers in the Indian Rodeo Assoc.
96. Rachell Mylymaki, in 1988 Rachell was 10yrs old, making her the youngest qualifier and contestant to ever compete in the National Finals Rodeo in the barrel racing.
She went on to high school and was a 2 time All Around Champion, and was a college finals qualifier. Rachell also is a 2 time Dodge National Finals winner in Pocatello and was won many saddles and buckles to in her carrier
97. Lyle Zieler, was a bull rider in the 80’s
98. Nate Smith, was a bull rider in the 90’s and is currently a jockey.
99, Russ Weider, was a bareback rider in the 90’s
100. Brad Weider, was a saddle bronc rider in the 90’s
101. Rob Weider, was a bull rider in the 90’s
102. Rich Weider, was a bull rider & saddle bronc rider in the 90’s
103. Jackie Hendrickson, was an all around cowgirl in high school in the 80’s
104. Billy Hendrickson,
105. Levi Hendrickson,
106. Rusty Hendrickson, was a kids steer rider in the 90’s
107. Chad Espinoza, was a bull rider in the 90’s & bull fighter in the till the early 2000’s
108. Jill Ursua, is a barrel racer from the 90’s -2007
109. Kaylina Ursua, is a junior rodeo cowgirl
110. Kyrin Ursua, is a junior rodeo cowboy
111. Cammeron Lytle, was a high school bull rider in the early 2000’s
112. Jesse Picchietti, is a high school rodeo all around champion.
113. Emily Schall, is an all around junior rodeo cowgirl and the daughter of Bobby Schall.
114. Christine Dix, is a barrel racer
115. Krista O’Reilly, is a high school all around rodeo cowgirl
116. Jaylin Garrison, is a junior rodeo cowgirl
117. Callie Otoupalik, is a junior rodeo cowgirl