The Active Historian

Barbara Barnes, better known as “Tad Lucas” was born in 1902. She grew up around Cody, Nebraska learning to ride horses. She was given the nickname “Tadpole” as a baby and it was eventually shortened to “Tad.”

Tad would become one of the most fearless and innovative trick riders in the sport of rodeo. The accolades she won would go on to solidify this legacy – scroll to the end to see how many halls of fame she has been inducted in!

In 1917, she entered her first rodeo. She won first place in the steer riding contest at this rodeo! She decided to pack her bags and leave Nebraska for Fort Worth, Texas in 1921.

She spent some time traveling with “California” Frank Hafley’s Will West Show where she learned more riding skills from the trick riders.

She met Buck Lucas in 1922 and they would be married two years later in New York on May 23, 1924. Their honeymoon was spent competing in an international rodeo at Wembley Stadium in London, England.

She was named the All-Around Champion Cowgirl in 1926, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931 1932. Winning three consecutive All-Around Champion Cowgirl titles at Madison Square Garden meant she got to keep the coveted Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) Trophy worth $10,000. You can see her trophy at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City in the photos below.

The Cowboy has more of Tad Lucas’ trophies! She won the Montgomery Ward Trophy Cup in 1925 at the Tex Austin Chicago Championship Rodeo. (Left photo below) She won the Ranch Romances trophy at Fred Beebee’s 1926 World Series Rodeo at Madison Square Garden. This award was sponsored by Clayton Magazines. (Right photo below)

Tad’s second daughter, Mitzi was born in 1928 and she would later become her mother’s trick riding partner. They would travel and perform together for twenty years!

Tad retired from rodeo in 1958 because her horse had gotten too old and she did not want to train another one. She served on many important rodeo boards in her latter years including the PRCA Board of Directors. She was a founding member of the Rodeo Historical Society and served as their president from 1970-1974.

Tad Lucas passed away on February 23, 1990.

Halls of Fame

In 1968, Tad Lucas was inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. She was the first woman honored in this hall of fame. Her daughter, Mitzi was inducted in 1995.

In 1978, Tad Lucas was inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Her daughter, Mitzi was inducted in 1996.

In 1979, Tad Lucas was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

Tad Lucas became the first person to be inducted into all three of these prestigious halls of fame!

In 1990, the Tad Lucas Award was created by the Rodeo Historical Society at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. This award honors a woman who shows spirit, courage, passion, and promotes Western heritage.

In 1999, Tad Lucas was inducted into the Texas Trail of Fame. You can see Tad Lucas’ and Mitzi Lucas Riley’s Texas Trail of Fame stars in the photos below.

Concluding Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed reading about the life of Tad Barnes Lucas. She was a cowgirl who helped change the sport of rodeo forever.

I hope you’ll join me next time for another story in our next ‘Breaking Trail’ series. I’ll talk to ya soon!

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Sources

“Arena Legacy: The Heritage of American Rodeo” by Richard C. Rattenbury. [Pages – 59-61, 63, 66-67, 110, 168-169, 175, 251, 254, 293, 304-305, 375]

Tad Barnes Lucas Panel – National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Websites

“Mitzi Lucas Riley.” National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.

“Mitzi Lucas Riley.” National Rodeo Hall of Fame. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Jessica Strange. “Rodeo’s First Family: How three generations of fearless riders from Fort Worth left their mark on the rodeo world.” Fort Worth Magazine. January 9, 2023.

Mary Lou LeCompte. “Lucas, Barbara Inez Barnes [Tad] (1902-1990).” Texas State Historical Association.

“Tad Lucas.” ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

“Tad Barnes Lucas.” National Rodeo Hall of Fame. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

“Tad Lucas Award.” Rodeo Historical Society. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

“Tad Lucas.” National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.

“Tad Lucas.” Texas Trail of Fame.

Newspapers

“Cow Belles and Bucking Broncos.” The Anniston Star (Anniston, Alabama), September 18, 1926.

“Champion Cowgirl Gets Trophy.” Nashville Banner (Nashville, Tennessee), April 6, 1930.

“Mabel Strickland, Tad Lucas in Race.” Lincoln Nebraska State Journal (Lincoln, Nebraska), July 1, 1932.

“Tad Lucas, World’s Woman Champion, Coming to Rodeo.” Lincoln Nebraska State Journal (Lincoln, Nebraska), June 29, 1932.

“The Queen of the Rodeo.” St. Louis Globe-Democrat (St. Louis, Missouri), October 20, 1935.

“Tad Lucas Rodeo Star.” Johnson County Capital-Democrat (Tishomingo, Oklahoma), August 27, 1936.

“Nebraska’s Most Colorful Fair and Rodeo.” Northwest Nebraska News (Crawford, Nebraska), August 18, 1938.

Museums

Fort Worth Stockyards Museum (Fort Worth, Texas)

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame (Fort Worth, Texas)