Herman Linder
Herman Linder was a rancher, rodeo competitor, and rodeo promoter.
Linder was born at Darlington, Wisconsin 5 Aug 1907, to a circus performer who had emigrated from Switzerland to North America. The family later moved to Cardston, Alberta, Canada, where the young Linder began to ride young steers and unbroken horses for amusement. He and his brother, Warner, soon took to rodeoing. The first time he competed at the Calgary Stampede, Linder won both the Canadian championships for Saddle bronc and bareback bronc riding. He soon began to dominate the sport, becoming known as "King of the Cowboys" in the 1930s, winning the Canadian all-round championship 7 times, and the North American championship 5 times in a row.
In 1936, Linder joined 60 other cowboys in staging a rodeo cowboy strike at the Boston Garden. This action led to the birth of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Later he was involved in the foundation of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association. Following his retirement as a competing cowboy, Linder produced rodeo competitions, including one presented at Expo 67 in Montréal, Quebec.
Linder became a member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1980. He was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1955 when they opened their doors. He was made an honorary chief of the Blood Indians. In 1982, he was inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.
He died at Cardston, Alberta, on 18 January 2001.
