First and foremost, Rosie was a cowgirl, but the deceased Council Grove woman was much more.
During ceremonies Saturday night at Dodge City, Rosie Rezac Clymer was posthumously inducted into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Recognition was at the Boot Hill Museum with more than a dozen close friends and family in attendance.
Barbara Stanbrough of Council Grove presented the acceptance acknowledgement on behalf of the family.
Raised on a farm near Onaga, Rosie, widely recognized throughout the Midwest, was inducted in the rancher/cattlewoman category.
Others honored during the ceremonies were Arlene D. LaMar, Kansas City, rodeo cowgirl; Van E. Haines, El Dorado, working cowboy; George Henrichs, Dodge City, cowboy historian; and Ron Wilson, the only living honoree, Manhattan, cowboy entertainer.
Chores caring for farm livestock was expected of and enjoyed by Rosie who always had a special fondness for horses.
From an early age, there wasn’t much Rosie didn’t help doing on the farm. She could milk cows, slop the hogs, help pull calves, and drive a tractor in the field.
Closest to Rosie’s heart was riding the family horses to gather milk cows and roundup grazing cattle. She rode in the county fair parade, other community activities, and just enjoyed riding horses around the farm.
By the time she was a teenager, Rosie on horseback was demanded helping neighbors with cattle roundups and day work. When a calf or stray yearling needed roped for return home or treatment, Rosie had the ability for the task
Family was always very important to Rosie who amply credited her dad, mom, and siblings, Rheve, Linda, Marjorie, Bob, and Don, for everything they did for her. Her 22 nieces and nephews were her especial pride and joy.
School days especially recess playing baseball and other playground games fit Rosie’s stout farm physique and image quite well. She was a big girl with an even bigger heart.
Always eager to talk in class perhaps a bit loud and with a giant grin, Rosie was everybody’s friend from classmates to teachers.
Faith was engrained into Rosie early in life regularly attending Sunday School. It was a heartfelt personal calling which Rosie followed throughout her entire lifetime.
Early membership in her Pottawatomie County 4-H club, Rosie found her cowgirl calling of participating in horse shows. Nothing gave her more joy than competing in every show class especially those running events, the faster the better.
There wasn’t a young horse that Rosie couldn’t handle never showing fright while gently masterfully patiently yet with firm hand training her own horses. Her talents became known throughout the neighborhood and beyond with horse owners even working cowboys from a wide area seeking Rosie to train their horses.
Goals in life were set early in admiration of her family’s farm life, her teachers in school, and being a cowgirl on horseback. She wanted to be a teacher developing youth physical fitness through athletics with continuing ties to farm work
Following high school graduation, Rosie worked her way through college training and shoeing horses. Farrier skills Rosie credited to learning from her dad were in demand over a wide area.
During college, Rosie became acquainted with Dr. Don Coldsmith an Emporia medical doctor and prolific author. She helped care for and train his Appaloosa horses while both were active in the Emporia Saddle Club.
Graduating with a college degree to become a physical education teacher, then known as Miss Rezac, yet often referred to by all as Rosie. She taught a one-room school in Wabaunsee County, Geary County Country School, Junction City Junior High, and USD 417 Council Grove Elementary School.
Beyond Bachelor’s, Rosie completed Masters and Specialist degrees in education. A Master Teacher Award nominee, she taught school more than 41 years before retiring to ranch and produce horses fulltime.
To have more horse shows in a closer locale with a set annual schedule, Rosie was instrumental in forming the Eastern Kansas Horseman’s Association (EKHA).
Competing in nearly all EKHA shows for many years, Rosie won awards in every class she entered at some time or another. Her home was filled with highpoint horse show awards. Rosie served as the EKHA president as well as other offices and committees of the organization throughout the years.
With mutual interests in riding and showing horses, Rosie became best friends of Faye Peck Heath. It was such that when there was a horse event, people just assumed Rosie and Faye would be there and they were.
Most importantly the two cowgirls assisted children with their horses during the shows. Whether getting into the gate, remounting after falling off, or loading in the trailer. Rosie and Faye were eager to help.
Quite appropriately, Faye Peck Heath, Junction City, was posthumously inducted into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame last year in the rodeo cowgirl category.
Students looked to Rosie for assurance and guidance whenever there was issue with sports, classmates, whatever the situation. Rosie was a leader among her fellow faculty members working to benefit of teachers, students, parents, and administration.
Young people with an interest in horses, but sometimes limited in opportunities were provided assistance by Rosie. On several occasions, she hired young women to work for her doing farm-ranch chores.
Several horse trainers got their start in the business thanks to Rosie. When she became older, and didn’t feel comfortable starting young horses to ride, she offered eager young cowboys the opportunity to train a handful or more of the horses she raised every year.
A lifetime member of the Morris County 4-H Foundation, Rosie served as the Morris County 4-H Horse Project leader for many years. She conducted regular horsemanship sessions throughout the year and served as superintendent for the County Fair Horse Show.
Earl Clymer was a successful farmer and rancher in the Kelso community north of Council Grove. Large in size, mighty in strength with humbled tender attitude, Earl fell in love with Rosie. They were married becoming an unbeatable team working the ranch whether bucking bales, pulling calves, or gathering a wild stray.
Earl and Rosie also participated in horse shows on weekends and were tough to beat in rodeo wild cow milking contests. Rosie did the roping, Earl did the mugging, and Rosie milked the cow, and ran across the finish line.
The Clymer’s had a stock cow herd, a diverse farming operation, and custom grazed yearling cattle. Earl and Rosie helped other cattle operators doing day work, going to spring grass, roundup time, and whenever efficient dependable cattle assistance on horseback was required.
Big round hay balers were not invented until the late ’60s but became quite popular for ease of handling hay. Rosie bought one of the first big round balers in the area and custom baled literally thousands of big round bales every summer.
Very conscientious of land management, Rosie followed strict stocking rates for both native and tame grass pastures. Invasive rangeland intruders were controlled with carefully scheduled spring burnings as well as hand application and chemical treatment.
While many ranchers had Quarter Horses, Rosie had a number of mixed breed stock horses. Admiring the spirit and athletic ability of Arabian horses, Rosie started breeding her grade horses to her Arabian stallion.
Those half-blood and soon higher percentage Arabian horses were in demand by horse buyers. Services of Rosie’s stallions brought mares from many miles for horse owners to raise their own Arabian bred horses.
Arabian shows included percentage and purebred classes which Rosie showed her home raised Arabians to collect many championships. A member of national and state Arabian horse organization, Rosie became a leader in those groups as well.
Serving her faith in God, Rosie was active in leadership of both the Kelso United Methodist Church and the Council Grove Methodist Church. Serving as president of the Santa Fe Trail Parish Council, Rosie was a lay minister upon call for several area churches. Bible in hand Rosie portrayed realistically as a Circuit Rider in parades and gatherings over a wide area.
Never an idle moment, always a congenial smile, eager to help everyone, forever a horse lover, Rosie Rezac Clymer was the ultimate rancher/cattlewoman.
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CUTLINES

Rosie Rezac Clymer, Council Gove, was posthumously inducted into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame at Dodge City in the rancher/cattlewoman category. (Photo from Barbara Stanbrough)

Barbara Stanbrough, Council Grove, presented the acceptance acknowledgement on behalf of the family for Rosie Rezac Clymer’s posthumous induction into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame at Dodge City in the rancher/cattlewoman category. (Photo from Barbara Stanbrough)

More than a dozen family and friends along with officials of the Boot Hill Museum posed during Saturday evening ceremonies posthumously inducting Rosie Rezac Clymer into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame at Dodge City. (Photo from Barbara Stanbrough)

The Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame (KCHF) inducted five new members during recent ceremonies at Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City.
“This was the 20th anniversary induction with permanent displays at the museum on Front Street,” said Lyne Johnson, executive director.
Kathie Bell, museum collections curator, compiled brief biographical sketches of inductees. Kim Goodnight, Hall of Fame founder and museum board member, presented the awards to inductee family and friends.
Rosie Rezac Clymer
Rancher/Cattlewoman
“Practice, practice, practice can make you better,” according to Rosie Clymer.
Born at Emmett, Kansas, to Matthew and Bernice Rezac, February 17, 1935, Rosie was raised on a farm near Onaga. She did all farm chores milking cows, slopping hogs, pulling calves, and driving tractors.
Developing an early fondness for riding horses, Rosie helped area cattlemen with ranch work. As a member of the Pottawatomie County 4-H club member, she competed in horseshows “the faster the event, the better.”
Rosie’s talent for training horses became known throughout the area. She was a farrier shoeing horses for prominent working ranchers.
After high school graduation, Rosie worked her way through college earning both bachelor and master’s degrees in education.
With no children of her own, children were important in Rosie’s life. She was important in the lives of children teaching school 41 years.
All through her teaching career Rosie was active ranching and showing home raised Arabian horses. Rosie helped form the Eastern Kansas Horseman’s Association winning the highpoint rider award five years.
Rosie was best friends with and competed against 2020 KCHF rodeo cowgirl inductee Faye Peck Heath.
On May 5, 1966, Rosie married successful farmer and rancher Earl Clymer at Kelso, Kansas. They were a powerful team until Earl’s death August 29, 1974.
Strong in faith, Rosie was a lay minister, dressing to play the role of 19th century circuit rider.
On November 4, 2000, Rosie Clymer died at her ranch in rural Morris County.
Van E. Haines
Working Cowboy
“If anyone could herd chickens down the road horseback and keep them between fences, Van Haines could.”
Van E. Haines was born to Herbert A. and Anna Pearl (Hanger) Haines, April 28, 1907, at Pontiac, Kansas. Raised on a nearby homestead, Van worked with horses and cattle.
By adulthood, Van knew most of the cowboy skills and competed in rodeo saddle bronc riding. Marrying Dottie Helen Daniel in 1934 at Rosalia, the couple often lived in homes without electricity and running water so Van could manage cattle operations on horseback.
Van earned the respect of area ranchers for his ability to quietly handle all responsibilities of a working cowboy. He had a knack for crafting much of his own gear.
Sons Gerald and Richard rode with Van checking cattle, fixing fence, roundups, and were proficient doctoring cattle. Highlights were receiving cattle from railroad pens, trailing them to pasture, and driving cattle back for shipping to market.
Marrying his second wife, Dorothy Marie Harsh-Hoyt in 1969, Van worked for a number of Butler and Greenwood County ranch owners including Gwynn Leggett, Merle Teter, C.R. Nuttle, Bob Zebold, Jahren Wiedeman, and Nelson Hobart.
His last assignment was as manager of the Gano Ranch near Ordway, Colorado, owned by Hobart, also Satchel Creek Ranch owner.
Van E. Haines died in El Dorado, Kansas on July 8, 1993, with Dorothy preceding him. Van left behind his two sons, several grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
George Henrichs
Cowboy Historian
“Let George do it,” people said when they wanted something done.
George Henrichs was born to George R. and Sylvia H. Henrichs at Miller, South Dakota, February 3, 1929. He grew up in Phillipsburg, graduating from high school there.
On August 21, 1949, George married Norva Jeanne Wolfe, and they had three sons, Kent, Kelly, and Kirk.
Graduating from Kansas State University, he served in the Army 1954 to 1956. Working for Montgomery Wards, George transferred to Dodge City, where his cowboy history work began.
Executive director of Boot Hill Museum, George guided the museum’s early growth. Lifetime Dodge City Chamber of Commerce member, he served as chairman and headed the Dodge City Centennial.
Founding member of Dodge City Days Roundup Rodeo, George chaired Dodge City Days and was the parade marshal.
George and Norva Jeanne purchased the Silver Spur Lodge in 1977, becoming leaders in travel and tourism. Founder of the Travel Industry Association of Kansas, George was on the Kansas Highway Commission
Instructor at Dodge City Community College, George taught Kansas History. He often spoke and wrote about Dodge City and Western history, writing” “The Dodge City Story.”
His vision of bringing gaming to Dodge City brought revenues helping Boot Hill Museum grow. Active leader in the Methodist Church, George sang in the choir and at charity events.
On May 4, 2008, George Henrichs passed away joining Norva Jeanne, who died earlier leaving behind his sons, five grandchildren, and three great granddaughters.
Arlene D. LaMar
Rodeo Cowgirl
“It was a thrill square dancing on our white horses with Roy Rogers calling the movie dance,” exclaimed Arlene LaMar.
Arlene Delores Petrowsky was born, the youngest of 11 children, to William and Margaret near Kingsdown, August 18, 1928. She began riding at five and attended rodeos determined to be a trick rider.
Mastering the skill as a teenager, Arlene contacted Joe Stoddard of Nampa, Idaho, who needed rodeo trick riders.
She was joined at the Stoddard Ranch by Donna Rosium who rode for the White Horse Ranch, Naper, Nebraska. They learned roman riding standing on two or more horses with each foot on a different horse.
First show was at Jordon Valley, Oregon, and they went on to Winnemucca, Nevada. Arlene fell off her horse when it spooked, got back on, and continued her trick riding act.
At Napa, California, Arlene met actor Bill Elliot, who played Will Bill Hickok, and rode his horse, Stormy Night.
Arlene relocated to the Broken Arrow Ranch in Hollywood where she met Roy Rogers. He gave her a part in the movie “Heart of the Rockies,” where Arlen square danced on her white horse.
On March 25, 1951, Arlene married Leon Dixon, and they managed Wichita’s Cowtown Stables while Arlene continued rodeo performances.
After divorcing, Arlene changed her last name to LaMar, inspired by a television ad. Arlene worked for the Love Box Company until three years before passing Christmas day, 2017, in Kansas City.
Ron Wilson
Cowboy Entertainer
“Cowboy poetry looks at those misadventures of life with tongue in cheek and finding humor in it,” Ron Wilson insists.
Poet “Lariat” Ron Wilson was born in Manhattan, October 18, 1955, to W. John and Glenna Wilson. He grew up on the Lazy T Ranch, where he and his family still work and live today.
As a young man, Ron was active in 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA). He was 4-H president and on the state winning livestock judging team. Ron served as Manhattan chapter and Kansas FFA president, and as national central region FFA vice president.
Earning Kansas State University agriculture education and communication degrees, Ron was legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Nancy Kassebaum. While there, Ron met Illinois native Christina Mosher, Secretary of Agriculture John Block aide. They married August 20, 1983, and have four children, Joanna, Stephen, James, and Elizabeth.
After working for Farm Credit Bank of Wichita, Ron became director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development. He began writing poetry as a hobby soon demanded for public performances. Kansas Governor Bill Graves proclaimed him “Poet Lariat,” not “Laureate.”
Ron was official spokesperson for the National Day of the Cowboy and ambassador for the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum. He has performed at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering and is the only cowboy poet performing at a Kansas governor’s inauguration.
Ron’s “Kansas Profile – Now, That’s Rural” is heard on Kansas radio stations and distributed to regional newspapers.
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“There is only one King of Quarter Horses.”
Of more than 6 million registered Quarter Horses, King P-234 is usually said with his registration number.
The “P” signifies King was permanently registered, not “tentatively” registered, during 1940s’ formation of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA).
According to research by renowned Quarter Horse writer Richard Chamberlain, King sired 636 registered foals that earned $156,132. That was a lot of money back then, when asking anybody still living from those days.
While he sired a few racehorses, King is best remembered for producing horses with performance ability and cow sense.
When the bay stallion died, he was on every AQHA halter and performance leading sire list. For that, King was in the first class inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame, Amarillo, Texas, 1989.
King P-234 was bred by Manuel Volpe, Laredo, Texas, and was foaled in 1935, five years before AQHA was founded.
He is a son of the Little Joe stallion Zantanon, considered “Man O’War of Mexico,” for his racetrack exploits. Volpe also owned Zantanon, thought to be the “best” among several sons of Little Joe, who in turn was a great son of Traveler.
Zantanon was out of Jeanette by Old Billy, a son of Shiloh and out of a daughter of Steel Dust. Zantanon’s granddams on both sides were by Sykes Rondo, again going back to Old Billy through McCoy Billy.
“In other words, if Zantanon had not been a good horse, it would not have been because of his breeding,” Chamberlain surmised. “A more purple pedigree could hardly be dreamed up.
“He had the intelligence, speed, and endurance that are supposed to go with good breeding,” Chamberlain evaluated. “More importantly, Zantanon had the prepotency to endow his get with the same. Zantanon Jr, Ed Echols, and San Siemon all got their share.”
Likewise, King got more than his share. Jabalina, King’s dam, was owned by a friend of Volpe. “The friend wagered the mare against one of Volpe’s fat heifers that his pregnant wife would have a baby boy. The woman produced a girl, and Jabalina entered the Volpe’s broodmare band,” as recited by Chamberlain.
When Jabalina foaled, Volpe sold the colt for $150 to Charles Alexander, who raced the bay horse a couple times. Known then as “Buttons” was a racetrack winner.

“Buttons was only rough broke when raced. Yet he did 200 yards in :11.4-seconds,” said J.O. Hankins, early day Quarter Horseman.
Later, Byrne James, Encinal, Texas, paid $325 to become the stallion’s new owner. James’ wife Mary Elizabeth changed the colt’s name. “Buttons, I’m changing your name to King, for truly you are the king of Quarter Horses.”
James, rancher and professional baseball player, trained King for ranch work including roping. Winn Dubose offered James a profit of $225 over what he had paid for King and continued to use the four-year-old for roping.
In the meantime, Hankins (later AQHA’s 13th president), Rocksprings, Texas, had a mare he wanted to breed to a stallion of equal quality.
“When I saw King, I knew I had found the horse to whom I wanted to breed my mare,” Hankins said. “I also knew that I was going to own that stallion. He was the most magnificent horse I had ever seen.”
Dubose didn’t want to part with King and refused Hankins’ first offers, but finally sold King for $800.
A man could buy a new car, equipped with a radio and a spare tire, for less than Hankins paid for one horse. Friends predicted bankruptcy for Hankins.
One way to recoup his investment was for Hankins to increase King’s breeding fee. He stood him for $15 the first season and upped the ante to $25 the next year.
“When, the next year, Hankins raised the price to $50, there were predictions that he would lose all his business. However, the next year, he upped the price to $100 and had to turn down mares.”
The stud fee eventually reached $500. Although King was settling approximately 50 mares annually through artificial insemination, Hankins still had to refuse breeding’s.
Potential for propagation was not the only reason Hankins purchased King. The rancher was “a using-horse man through and through,” and it took a using kind of horse to work.
King acquired a reputation regionally as a sire. Squaw H was to attract the first widespread attention to King as a sire. She outran most of the horses in the country match racing, losing only to the great Shue Fly.
Other progeny added to successes. King’s daughter 89’er was a leading dam of race Register of Merit qualifiers. Royal King dominated in the cutting pens and began siring others to do the same.
Then came Poco Bueno, becoming his sire’s only rival at stud, siring Poco Lena and Poco Tivio, dominant performance sires
Tom B, Old Taylor, King’s Pistol, and Cactus King are but a few through performance and prepotency lifted King’s fame. Later generations have kept him there, including Joe Cody, Blondy’s Dude, and Peponita.
King sired a total of 648 horses, 217 of which entered AQHA performance events, with 20 becoming AQHA Champions. King’s daughters produced 50 AQHA Champions and 31 triple A (AAA) runners.
King had not been idle while all that was going on. He was grand champion at both Abilene, Texas, and San Angelo.
The bay stallion was champion stallion at Abilene, Texas, and second in cutting at Fort Worth, when retired from competition.
“King was an awful good-natured horse, a very obedient horse,” Hankins said. “He never did give me any trouble. Anybody who could lead a horse could handle King. I’d tie him right between other horses, geldings, and mares. If he acted a little fidgety, I’d just holler at him, and that’d be all of it.
“I used to turn him loose in the yard let him graze. I’d be sitting there, and he’d come by and nuzzle around, smell my coffee cup. After a while, he’d walk to the fence and look around.”
King died of a heart attack on March 24, 1958.
Many generations later, King still stands out as royalty.

CUTLINES

The Quarter Horse stallion King P-234 sired 636 registered foals mostly top conformation performance and ranch horses but also racehorses. King was in the first class inducted into the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Hall of Fame, Amarillo, Texas, 1989. (AQHA photo)

King’s biggest rival at stud was his own son, Poco Bueno. Shown with Pine Johnson, Poco Bueno sired the legendary Poco Lena and Poco Tivio. (AQHA photo)

King was sired by a son of the Little Joe stallion Zantanon, considered “Man O’War of Mexico,” for his racetrack exploits. (AQHA photo)