Howell Wright Discusses The Interesting History of the Rooftop Rodeo

Howell Wright has spent much of his life collecting monikers. At different times, he has responded to Dr., Professor, Colonel, Deputy, Agent, Officer, Clown, Bullfighter, and Author. It is in the capacity of these last three titles that he recently wrote The Rodeo With Altitude: The History of Estes Park's Rooftop Rodeo.

He began his rodeo career upon graduating from high school in Lonoke, Arkansas. After trying 21 bulls and not coming close to riding any of them, he realized bull riding was not in his future. However, while trying to figure out why he kept getting bucked off, he studied bull behavior. He learned that bulls were generally consistent in their bucking patterns, and when they deviated from their normal, there was a reason.

Howell was on the University of Arkansas Track and Field Team and was pretty quick on his feet, so he was asked by a friend if he would be a bullfighter for the Agri Day College rodeo. This began six years of professional rodeo, interrupted by two years in combat in Vietnam.

After Vietnam, he spent two years on the Marine Corps Rodeo Team at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Howell then moved to the East Coast, which began a long period when family, the Marine Corps, and professional life kept him away from rodeo.

However, in 2005 he and his family moved to Estes Park, where he joined the volunteer Rooftop Rodeo Committee for 2 years, and then served as its president for six years. As president, the committee won Best Small Rodeo Committee of the Year three times and was in the top five committees the remaining years. For the last several years, Howell has been one of the announcers for our rodeo parade.

Howell has written a series of short stories, and published two books. He is a certified Whisky Ambassador, the subject of a previous book he compiled and edited with other experts.
 

Our program on October 1st will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.

Click on the link below to be admitted.

Meeting link:

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/6699965961?pwd=SIazSZwTeOJFvlIrinb2QYB7ohYAoU.1

Rotary Weekly Luncheon

Place: American Legion

Time: Lunch served from 11:30 – 12:00

Cost: $20

Parking:  American Legion and the church only       

As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.

Thank You!

October 1st LUNCH MENU

2026 Matching Charitable Donation Program

Noon Rotarians At Work

President Guy Van der Werf cooking onions, peppers, sauerkraut

Thank you so much for coming out to support the Sunrise Rotary’s Autumn Gold this weekend.  I have worked most Sunrise events for years because I am married to a Past President x 2. This weekend was the absolute best turn out of our club members I have ever seen.  We worked Saturday and Sunday.  Our members included Dave Boon, Past President Jack Ford (who walked from the Legion due to parking limitations), Tara Moenning, Scott Robbins, Carl Robicheaux, Bill Smith, Bill Solms, Sarah Walsh, myself and President Guy Van der Werf!  If I have missed any of our members, forgive me.  Jack Boatman, a former member of our club, was also present.  Way to go The Rotary Club of Estes Park!! 

Annie

International Service: Committee Meeting Reminder, and Results

International Service Committee meeting October 1^st, after the Club meeting! 

Have a look at the video from the Ukrainian kids wearing the shoes 'we bought'. 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NhOzzqCvj5Q

Officer and Director Nominees for Rotary Year 2027-2028

From Past-President Jack Ford:

In accordance with our Club's By-Laws, we are required to advise our membership of the Nominees for three consecutive meetings prior to our Election Meeting on the second Thursday of October, which falls this year on the 8th.

The nominees are the following named persons: 

Officers: 

President, Rick Life

President-Elect, Carl Robicheaux

Past-President, Guy Van der Werf

Secretary, Sarah Walsh

Sergeant-at-Arms, Bill Solms

Treasurers, Longley Parker and Gregg Jurgens

Directors:

Club Administration, Karol Rinehart

International Service, Dale and Chuck Bonza

Community Service, Beth Weisberg

Fund Development, ________

Youth/New Generation/Vocational, Chris Davis, Dave Boon, and  _______

Membership, Paul Harris, and Public Image, Scott Robbins

Big Duck, ________.

Meeting Notes 9-24-26

President Guy Van der Werf called the meeting to order.

Karol Rinehart offered the Invocation

Guy led the Pledge of Allegiance.

We sang “Sidewalks of New York”, accompanied by Madison Casey.

Guests of Rotarians

Carl Robicheaux introduced guests:

• Shane O’Meara and Mark Ulfers are joining our club.
• Andrew Grant, visiting Rotarian, summer resident from Galveston. 

Announcements:

• Carl Robicheaux said the Fund Development Committee is meeting today after this meeting.
• Karol Rinehart informed us that there will be kitchen construction for 3 weeks and we must use the west door.   Lunches will be brought in for us and she listed the menus.
• Jim Whiteneck is back with us today!  He expressed his great appreciation for the support and caring we sent to him during this past year of Carol’s cancer.
• Annie Slack said Sunrise Rotary still urgently needs help to work this weekend’s Autumn Gold Festival. Contact her at anneslack@aol.com.  You get a free brat and beer.
• Scott Robbins said to pick up a new club roster on the front table.  He announced Shane O’Meara is joining our club.
• Dave Boon encouraged us to join him working at Autmn Gold this weekend. He is working both days and they need our help.

Happy Money:

• Pete Sinnott is elated that Jim Whiteneck is back.  Pete is grateful for our club’s grant to the Estes Dementia Day Center for financial assistance.  We are now enrolling two clients who will use these.
• Annie is happy Jim is back and Shane is joining.
• Jim Jonell is happy that Jim is back.  Jim then put in $105 – 85 for his birthday and 20 for his wedding anniversary
• Scott Robbins is happy his wife Mary just surprised him by walking in now to join us.
• Carl gave his Tom Maher $2 bill to encourage us to join him volunteering at Autumn Gold Saturday.
• Bill Solms is happy Jim is back and reminded us we need a Fundraising Chair next year and Little Duck now.
• Dave Boon is happy he gets a free brat and beer at Autumn Gold.

 Program:

Randy Repola is representing the elections Issues Committee to talk about the proposed .5% sales tax increase for our Volunteer Fire Department District for wildland fire training, volunteer training, timely response. 

Randy presents the proposed              Guy gives Randy a Piece

      .5% sales tax increase                              of the Rock

Adjournment

We concluded with the five-way test.

Notes by Madison

Meeting Recording September 24, 2026

Randy Repola discussed the Estes Valley Fire Protection District Ballot Measure