Dublin Rodeo

The rodeo's fame rested on riders as well as stock. The Handbook of Texas names Harry Tompkins of Dublin, born in upstate New York, as world champion bull rider in 1948 through 1950, in 1952 and in 1960. In 1952 he won three world titles, bareback riding, bull riding and all-around, which the Handbook calls the first all-around title for a cowboy who called Texas home. The Handbook also lists a world-championship rodeo among Dublin's distinctions, beside its birthplace of golfer Ben Hogan and its former annual Grand Army of the Republic reunion.

What the plaque says

Dublin Rodeo DUBLIN RODEO IN 1936, EVERETT COLBORN, AN ARENA DIRECTOR FOR THE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN RODEO, PURCHASED INTEREST IN A RODEO COMPANY AND SETTLED IN ERATH COUNTY ON THE LIGHTNING C RANCH. THE FIRST "WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO" IN DUBLIN WAS HELD AT CITY PARK IN 1940. THE RODEO WAS A COMMUNITY EFFORT WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ACCEPTING TICKETS, PARKING CARS AND PREPARING FLOATS FOR THE PARADE. THE COLBORN BOWL WAS BUILT IN 1946 AND WAS THE LARGEST OUTDOOR ARENA IN THE SOUTHWEST. ALONG WITH INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION, THE RODEO BROUGHT IN THOUSANDS OF VISITORS AND FEATURED CELEBRITIES INCLUDING GENE AUTRY AND ROY ROGERS. THE DUBLIN RODEO HELPED LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR THE MODERN SPORT OF RODEO. (2012)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Dublin Bottling Works — steps away
  The Erath County plant that bottled Dr Pepper with cane sugar from 1891 until a 2012 settlement ended its Dr Pepper license, and that still makes its own sodas the same way.

More markers nearby

• Early Commercial Building — steps away
• Dublin National Bank — steps away
• Dublin Dr Pepper Bottling Company — steps away
• Hogan Blacksmith Shop — steps away