A brief history of the Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo from its
beginning to today.
The Rodeo is held annually during the 4th of July events on the Mississippi Gulf
Coast.
The 60th annual Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo will be held July 3rd thru July 6th
2008.
This
page was last updated on Mar. 8, 2008.
A
Brief History of the Rodeo
How did it all begin?
Conceived in thought by Captain Horace Towell,
and adopted in resolution by American Legion Joe Graham Post 119
in Gulfport, the Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo came into
being in the year of 1947 with the first Rodeo presented in
1948. From a meager beginning, with competitive contestants
being mostly local sport fishermen and women, the Rodeo has
enjoyed great popularity and progressive growth through the
years since.
The American Legion in Gulfport staged the
Rodeo prior to 1958 exclusively, as a service to the Community.
The Legion's building was destroyed by Hurricane Camille in
1969, and was rebuilt at its present location, just North of the
Sand Beach on Courthouse Road.
While the Rodeo was successful in
popularity, it's financial history shows that the Legion Post spent some
$16,000 suffering a loss each year due to the cost of staging the annual
sporting event exceeding the revenue received. The American Legion Post
felt that these funds were well spent as a contribution to further the
ancient art of Sport Fishing and for the welfare of the beautiful
Mississippi Gulf coastal area.
In 1958, the Gulfport American Legion Post
incorporated the Fishing Rodeo as a Non-Profit Civic Improvement
Corporation and dedicated it's future development to the Civic Leaders
of the Communities of the Coast. This was done by resolution at a
regular meeting of the Post, in order to be relieved of further
financial strain from it's treasury as the Rodeo's financial
underwriting agency, and to widen the scope of promotional activities
with greater Civic interest. The active Members of the Post were divided
in their thoughts for the Rodeo's future. Some were in favor of
discontinuing it's program, some desired to continue it's program as a
Legion affair, some advocated turning over it's promotion to some other
organization...but the heavy majority vote was for adopting of the
present schedule which has proved to be extraordinarily successful.
Since the reorganization of the Rodeo in
1958, the Sport Fishing Festival has been staged annually by Civic
Leaders from the Communities of the Coastal area, and has grown in
acclimation by Outdoor Writers of the Press, Television, Radio,
Magazines and other periodicals...as one of the largest and foremost
Sport Fishing annual attractions in the World.
Who were the Rodeo's leaders?
Robert L. Rice (pictured) became the new organization
President, and with his leadership the Rodeo became successful.
Rice created a Board of Directors of outstanding Gulf
Coast Businessman including: Pete Casano, Tom George, Doctor
Bill Starr, Carl Alfonso, J. E. Minners, Lamar Switzer, Billy
Meadows, Laz Quave, R. E. Dedeaux, J. I. Dedeaux, Doctor R. E.
L. Stewart, Dick Lightsey, James Shorg, S. S. Lucket, Lionel
Keel, Jimmy Mitchell, Lawrence Mensi, Bob Gorsline, Walter
Helveston, Sam Williams, John Cook, George Bone, Doctor Burman,
and Clyde Hurlbert.
Each of the Directors had there own job, Finance,
Security, Prizes, Fish Bins, Booth Rentals, and many, many more
jobs.
What kind of building was the
Rodeo held in?
During the early years, the Rodeo was held in
the Jessup Brothers Tent, which then was the largest tent in the
World.
As the years passed, the
Rodeo moved
into the Ringling Brothers Circus Tent.
In 1966, because of the massive crowds and a bulky tent,
the Rodeo worked with the then Mayor of Gulfport Billy Meadows,
and with the Rodeo organization built a permanent pavilion
called the Rice Pavilion in honor of Robert L. Rice.
The Rodeo paid for the materials, and the United States
Navy Seabee Base in
Gulfport erected it.
In 1984 the Federal
Government gave the City of Gulfport a great honor by building
the new Coast Guard Station in it's Small Craft Harbor.
Unfortunately, for the Fishing Rodeo, the new Coast Guard
Station was to be built on the site of the Rice Pavilion.
The Rodeo meet with the then
Mayor of Gulfport Jack Barnett, and he informed the Rodeo
Committee that the Government had given the City finances to
rebuild the pavilion. and the Rodeo would be
"grand-fathered" in on the new building.
By the 1985 Rodeo, the new Rice Pavilion was
finished...one-third the size of the old pavilion. By the next
Rodeo, realizing that there was not enough room, the Rodeo added
30 feet along the south end of the Pavilion to be used for the
Fish Bin displays, Prize Bin, and a Stage.
That same year, the Rodeo built on the north side of the
Pavilion, with City approval, an Office for the Rodeo and City
and Public Bathrooms. The Fishing Rodeo paid for all the
material, and for a class project, the Mississippi Gulf Coast
Junior College did the construction.
These two pictures show the Carnival, the large parking
areas, and the entrance to the pavilion as it appears today.
When did the Rodeo become
Mississippi's official fishing event?
In 1953, before the
sixth Rodeo, the then Governor of the Great State of Mississippi, Hugh
L. White, proclaimed the Rodeo as the "State's Official Fishing
Event.” With this, the Rodeo became the State's Official Fishing
Tournament, and the Rodeo's Fishing Records become the beginning of the
State's official Fishing Records. Each Governor thereafter has made the
proclamation...“The first week of July will be Mississippi Deep Sea
Fishing Rodeo Days."
Who were the Rodeo's
entertainers?
Entertainment was under Doctor Bill Starr’s leadership.
During his first year, Jacqueline Hines of the Gulfport
Recreation Center danced and performed gymnastics on the Rodeo
Stage for 4 days. The 2nd year, Mrs. June Jones, shown in the
picture, brought her Dance School, and with Mrs. Hines they were
the entertainment for the first few Rodeos.
As the years passed, different local Bands donated their
time and many local entertainers followed. The Gulfport High
School Band preformed many times, as well as the Kessler Air
Force Base Band, the Air National Guard Band and even the main
Air Force Band.
Many National
performers came to the Rodeo such as Dizzy Dean, Paul Harvey,
Jane Mansfield, Percy Sledge and many more. In the later years
Billy Joe Royal, Doctor Hook, Cool & The Gang, Black Oak
Arkansas, and many others performed on the Rodeo stage.
Today Entertainment is under Aaron Mcgill who attempts to utilizes the best in local talent along the coast.
Who sponsors the 4th of July
fireworks?
Our Giant 4th of July Fireworks Display has
been held annually since the first Rodeo when it was sponsored
by the American Legion, which was the main sponsor
for the first ten years. The Coca-Cola Bottling Company
co-sponsored with the Legion for several years.
The Fireworks display is a major event and draws large crowds from all over the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
The latest Fireworks
Displays were sponsored only by the Rodeo organization with no support from the City of Gulfport. The City of Gulfport also charged Rodeo organization for all Police overtime due to the event.
How important is the Rodeo to
the Mississippi Gulf Coast?
Shown in the pictures above: Left picture, Senator Thad
Cochran. Right picture, Representative Gene Taylor.
Center picture from left to right: Roy Dedeaux, Pete Casano,
Senator Trent Lott, Cary Starr and Tom George.
Over the past 55 years, many
distinguished visitors have honored the Rodeo by their presents,
including all the Governors of our great State. Other visitors
have been United States Senator Trent Lott, shown holding a
Rodeo Photographs Book, United States Senator Thad Cochran
(left), U.S. House Representative Gene Taylor (right) and many
more. Paul Harvey came and talked about the Mississippi Deep Sea
Fishing Rodeo on his Radio Show.
Also visiting the Rodeo (left seated) was our
own United States Senator John Stennis.
Dizzy Dean, (right center) came to South
Mississippi to help give out Fishing Awards.
During
preparation for the 1966 Rodeo, Robert Rice, City of Gulfport
Civic Leaders and members of the State Port Authority worked
together to locate what is now known as Dole Fresh Fruit today.
A group of businessmen from South America were invited to
Gulfport during the Rodeo event. The Rodeo volunteered to pay
for room and board and honor them at the Rodeo. The Rodeo,
expecting 4 or 5 people, were surprised when over 30 people
showed up to honor them. The Rodeo's hospitality was one of the
leading factors in convincing them to come to the State Port in
Gulfport. When the City of Gulfport decided to acquire and
restore the Old Courthouse on Courthouse Road, the Rodeo
volunteered to help with this project.
What is the biggest part of the
Rodeo?
Besides promoting
the Mississippi Gulf Coast, fishing is the biggest part of the
Rodeo. The Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo is an annual salt
and fresh water competition for all ages. Since the beginning of
the Rodeo, the competition has been FREE to all fishermen and
fisherwomen. Each year, the registration exceeds 3,000 entries.
The Fishing Rodeo has 28 categories and present daily prizes on
each and a first and second place on the final prizes including
a King and Queen Fisherman Trophy. Giant crowds pack in to the
Rice Pavilion to see the catch each year.
For the really Competitive Fisherman, we have
added Shootouts where the contestant contributes a small entry
fee...with the winners receiving a cash prize. There is a 100%
cash payback plus a Rodeo contribution. The categories for these
Shootouts are: Cobia, Redfish, Bass, and a new category in 2004
Speckled Trout..
What happens to the fish caught
at the Rodeo?
Director Jim Franks and Marine Biologist D.M.R. Buck
Bucanon of the Research Lab, come to work as our Rule Judges.
The number one question of what happens to all the fish that
enter the Fish Bins can be answered by starting with donation of
fish to Universities on a tri-state level for their Marine
Biology research.
The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, a division of the
National Marine Fisheries, comes in force, attacking each fish
that is entered and saving all their "innards" for
their laboratories in Jackson County.
The excess fish produced from the
Fish Bins are donated to Church groups, the Battered Women Association,
the Gulf Coast
Conservation Club, the Gulfport Police Department, the Harrison County
Sheriff's Department, the Gulfport American Legion, and many donations
to needy people only to name a few. In the last 12 years the Rodeo has
avoided stockpiling fish in the Fish Bins.
All eatable fish are used or donated. Past Director and Weigh Master,
Ken Ernst, developed this, decreasing spoilage and fish odor.
Who backs the Rodeo through
their publicity?
The Rodeo has backing
from the News media, WLOX-TV, WXXV-TV, Radio, Sun Herald Newspaper,
National Wide Sports Magazine, Mississippi Outdoors, National
Geographic, and the Department of Wildlife Fisheries & Parks to name
a few. For
National recognition, the South Eastern Tourist Administration has
awarded us as one of the Top 10 Events of the southeast section of our
Country for 10 consecutive years. This is a great honor, because Disney
World is another recipient of this award. In the June 2004 edition of
National Geographic, the Rodeo will be honored by being chosen as one of
the two greatest annual events in Mississippi.
The Kids Fishing Rodeo
The Kids Fishing Rodeo is a recent addition to our Rodeo.
Over 300 kids participated last year. Sponsored by Coca-Cola,
the tournament is free to all kids 4 to 12 years old. A parent
or guardian must accompany the contestants.
Prizes are given for the top five
fish in each category and a "King Fisherman" and Queen
Fisherette is determined on a point basis. Five points for
1st, four points for 2nd, three points for 3rd, two points for
4th and one point for 5th.
The Military Division
A Military Division was added to
the Rodeo to give our Military Servicemen an even chance to
compete in unfamiliar waters.
Rodeo Queens and Shrimp?
Each year, the Rodeo puts on a Queen’s
Pageant, where Girls from a four County area compete for this
Honor. Each girl receives a College Scholarship.
Before each Rodeo begins, a "Kickoff
Banquet" is held. The Kickoff Banquet begins with an
introduction of the Rodeo Queen Contestants.
As many as 500 supporters come to the
American Legion in Gulfport, enjoy the fellowship, and cook
approximately 1,000 pounds of shrimp for the Kickoff Banquet.
Would you like to know more?
This has been only a short history of the
Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo.
If you want to know more about our Rodeo, write us at
Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, Inc.
P.O. Box 1289 Gulfport, Mississippi 39502-1289. Also, you
can call us 1-228-863-2713.
If you prefer, you can email us at msdfr1947@yahoo.com or
just come to the Rodeo and ask us.
We are all proud of the Rodeo, and we can tell you more
Rodeo history than you may want to know.
In conclusion...
We are now in our 59 year. Your
Fishing Rodeo Committee is modestly proud of all of the
Rodeo’s outstanding achievements and it's all-around success,
but we fully realize that much of the crowned successful glory
goes to the hundreds of Civic Leaders, Civic Workers, Political
Leaders, the public's interest, and the gentlemen of the Press,
Television, Radio and other News mediums whose columns
and contributions have spotlighted the Rodeo as a National and
International Sport Fishing attraction.
We
will continue with our efforts to make the Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing
Rodeo
an outstanding State, National, and World recognized annual Sport
Fishing event.
Thank you for visiting our
brief history of the Rodeo.
