Tom Three Persons is best described as Alberta’s most famous cowboy. Tom’s mother was a Blood Indian and his father was a white trader. Tom’s father left his mother before he was born. Later his mother married Three Persons, a member of her tribe. Tom spent his youth on the Blood Reserve, near Lethbridge, as a member of the Three Persons family and never met his natural father.
During his life Tom would prove himself to be a hard worker, an excellent horse rider, and a good businessman. In 1907, after he lost most of his own cattle in the terrible winter of 1906-07, he was hired as a cowboy for the fall roundup of government and Indian cattle. While working, his great riding and roping skills were noticed by his employers. In 1908 friends convinced Tom to enter a rodeo at the Lethbridge Fair. He entered the rodeo and placed second.Tom continued to ride in rodeo competitions for the next few years. By 1911, Tom Three Persons became known as one of the best bronco (wild horse) riders in the west.
The first ever Calgary Stampede was held in August of 1912 at Calgary,Alberta. At the end of the six-day event, and in front of a very large crowd,Tom Three Persons became the only Canadian to win a top award. He was crowned the world’s bucking horse champion, beating many experienced American professional cowboys.
