The Active Historian

Leonard Stroud was born in Monkstown, Texas on December 1, 1893. He was the son of Leona and William Stroud.

Leonard competed in saddle and bareback riding, steer roping, bulldogging, trick riding, and trick roping. He was most well-known for his trick riding and trick roping skills.

From 1915-1925, Leonard Stroud “was the undisputed champion trick rider throughout the sport of rodeo.” (National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum label for R.241.3)

Leonard Stroud was the first trick rider to go underneath the belly of a galloping horse and this trick is now called “the Stroud.” He also invented the Stroud Stand Out – a dangerous and extremely difficult trick riding movement where you stand on the side of a galloping horse. You can see examples in the photos below.

Leonard worked with the Ringling Brothers Circus in addition to competing in rodeos.

Leonard Stroud married Mary F “Mayme” Saunders on September 11, 1916. Mayme was an expert horsewoman herself who competed in trick riding as well. Leonard and Mayme lived in Manzanola, Colorado, a town located in Otero County. They moved here around 1920 and lived there for the next several decades.

Leonard and his wife, Mayme were both able to jump a horse over an automobile.

In 1918 and 1919, Leonard won two state championship titles in Colorado at the Rocky Ford Rodeo. He took the steer roping title in 1918 and the bronc riding title in 1919.

In 1918, Leonard won the bronc riding title at Cheyenne, Wyoming.

In 1919, millionaire oilman, A.J. “John” Van Cleave purchased a horse and presented it to Leonard Stroud. He had purchased the seven-year-old horse in Gainesville. It was Stroud’s intention to train the horse and use it in future trick riding events.

In 1922, Leonard Stroud won the Zall’s Frontier Trophy Cup at Cheyenne Frontier Days for the “World’s Championship Trick and Fancy Riding” title. This award was sponsored by Zall’s Jewelry Co. He also received a belt buckle made by the same company. The trophy cup is pictured below and is on exhibition at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

In August 1924, Leonard Stroud was the Arena Director for the Second Annual Rodeo held in Joplin, Missouri.

At the age of 48, he registered for the World War II Draft in Colorado.

Leonard Stroud passed away in 1961 in Denver, Colorado. 

In 1965, Leonard Stroud was inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

You can see several items belonging to Leonard Stroud on exhibition in the American Rodeo Gallery at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The custom saddle below was used by Leonard Stroud specially designed for trick riding. This saddle has an extended horn, auxiliary straps, and crupper hand holds. 

“Porter Trick Saddle/Designed Especially For Leonard Stroud” is stamped on the back of the cantle. You can also see his name on the edge of the stirrup leathers and his initials on the saddle pad above.

Concluding Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed reading and learning about Leonard Stroud – one of the best trick ropers and trick riders of all time. I look forward to seeing you next time as we continue ‘breaking trail’ through American Western history.

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Sources

“Leonard Stroud” panel – National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Secondary Sources

Books

Richard Rattenbury. “Arena Legacy: The Heritage of American Rodeo.”

Websites

“Leonard Stroud.” National Rodeo Hall of Fame. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

“William Leonard Stroud.” Find A Grave.

Primary Sources

“Leonard Stroud.” The National Archives At St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War Ii Draft Cards (Fourth Registration) For the State of Colorado; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147; Box or Roll Number: 134.

Census Records

“William L Stroud.” 1900 United States Federal Census. 1900; Justice Precinct 6, Fannin, Texas; Roll: 1634; Page: 19; Enumeration District: 0078.

“Lenard Stroud.” 1910 United States Federal Census. 1910; Justice Precinct 4, Red River, Texas; Roll: T624_1585; Page: 20b; Enumeration District: 0123; FHL microfilm: 1375598.

“Leonard W Straud.” 1920 United States Federal Census. 1920; Rocky Ford, Otero, Colorado; Roll: T625_169; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 168.

“Leonard Stroud.” 1930 United States Federal Census.  1930; Precinct 20, Otero, Colorado; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0032; FHL microfilm: 2339983.

“Leonard W Strond.” 1940 United States Federal Census.  1940; Otero, Colorado; Roll: m-t0627-00473; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 45-28.

[MAYBE HIM] “William L Stroud.” 1950 United States Federal Census. 1950; Amarillo, Potter, Texas; Roll: 473; Page: 2; Enumeration District: 255-68.

Newspapers

“Champion Trick Rider Exhibits Here.” The Kansas City Post (Kansas City, MO), October 4, 1916.

“The Cowpuncher Ropes Them While Standing on His Head.” Fort Worth Record-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX), February 11, 1917.

“Fat Stock Show Winners and Parade Features.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX), March 16, 1917.

“Frontier Sports.” Albuquerque Morning Journal (Albuquerque, NM), October 11, 1917.

“Big Carnival of Frontiersmen.” The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, KS), January 15, 1918.

“Wild Riders Predominate In City Now.” The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, KS), January 20, 1918.

“Champions Who Will Entertain Fort Worth This Week.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX), March 10, 1918.

“Man And Wife Are ‘Busters’ Supreme.” Fort Worth Record-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX), March 19, 1918.

“The One Big Stampede And Cowboys’ Reunion.” The Shreveport Journal (Shreveport, LA), November 25, 1918.

“Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show.” Fort Worth Record-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX), March 2, 1919.

“Rodeo, Played With Rules As Strictly As Those In Other Games, Will Be Thrilling Event At This Year’s Stock Show; Stars To Participate.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX), March 9, 1919.

“World’s Champion Bronco Rider To Perform At Rodeo.” Fort Worth Record-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX), March 11, 1919.

“Leonard Stroud Has New Pony Presented By John Vancleave.” Wichita Falls Times (Wichita Falls, TX), May 30, 1919.

“Stunts Like This Easy for Stroud, Champ Cowboy, Here July 28 to 31.” Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), July 18, 1920.

“Leonard Stroud Presented With A Horse.” The Pioneer-Review (Philip, SD), August 19, 1920.

“Round-Up Exhibition.” & “Champion Riders Will Be Seen At The Fair Ground This Week. The Altus Times-Democrat (Altus, OK), May 12, 1921.

“Wild Bronchs Have No Fear For Champions.” El Paso Herald (El Paso, TX), December 17, 1921.

“Cowboy Contest.” El Paso Herald (El Paso, Herald), December 31, 1921.

“Getting Even With the Auto.” The Lewiston Daily Sun (Lewiston, ME), December 18, 1922.

“Scratch ‘Im Cowboy: The Great Event of the West.” Argus-Leader (Sioux Falls, SD), June 9, 1923.

“Leonard Stroud Worlds Champion Cowboy Specializing in Trick Riding and Roping Wear’s Michaels Stern Clothes.” The Hastings Tribune (Hastings, NE), June 18, 1923.

“Broncho vs Thoroughbred.” Concordia Press (Concordia, KS), July 12, 1923.

“This Trick Roping Act is a Difficult One…” Concordia Press (Concordia, KS), July 12, 1923.

“Leonard Stroud…” Concordia Blade-Empire (Concordia, KS), July 16, 1923.

“Returning Here for Rodeo.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX), February 6, 1924.

“He’ll Boss the Second Annual Rodeo.” Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO), July 29, 1924.

“Rodeo Information.” Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO), July 31, 1924.

“Try This on Your Pony.” Stockton Evening and Sunday Record (Stockton, CA), February 12, 1925.

“Coming, To the Rodeo — Leonard, Mayme Stroud.” The Hinton Record (Hinton, OK), June 22, 1932.

“Kiwanis Rodeo At Hinton…” The Hinton Record (Hinton, OK), July 27, 1932.

*All newspaper clippings in this blog post were pulled from newspapers.com. All digitized primary sources were found on ancestry.com unless stated otherwise. I am not affiliated with either website. I just wanted to let you know where I found my digitized sources.

*Blog Cover Photo: This photograph is on exhibition in the American Rodeo Gallery at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.