Deb Copenhaver

Deb Copenhaver was born Jan. 21, 1925 in Wilbur, WA. Copenhaver’s first competition was at a Keller Salmon Days Rodeo in 1940. After serving in the Navy Seabees during World War II, he came home to compete in all of the big North American rodeos.  He won the bronc riding two or three times each at Cheyenne, Calgary, Denver, Ft. Worth, Houston, Kansas City, Salinas and Madison Square Garden. Deb won the Pendleton Round-Up in 1955.

Copenhaver and his wife Cheryl and family had a dream, “I rode often and fast,” Copenhaver said. “I wanted acreage, it would be our future.” Copenhaver achieved his dream, buying land near Creston, where he bred and raised quality Quarter Horses and operated Copenhaver’s Cafe in town. During the heyday of Copenhaver’s Cafe, Hank Thompson, Bonnie Guitar, Ernest Tubb and other music greats all played.  Copenhavers raised their family in the wheat country of Creston.

Deb Copenhaver was World Champion Bronc Rider in 1955 & 1956. He started his rodeo career after being discharged from Uncle Sam’s service in 1946. He entered Pendleton that same year int he amateur bronc riding and bull riding; winning day money in both events and finishing 3rd in the average of the bronc riding. He competed in the Pendleton Round-Up for 15 consecutive years, winning open bronc riding on Harley Tuckers’ “News Flash”, winning the last go round and average in 1955. Copenhaver competed at the national level from 1948 through 1960 winning such great rodeos as Cheyenne in 1954, Pendleton in 1955, Salinas in 1952, Calgary three times in 1953, 1995 and 1958.  New York’s Madison Square Garden Rodeo in 1952 & 1955, Boston Garden in 1958, Houston in 1952, Fort Worth in 1954, Kansas City American Royal in 1952. Also, Lewiston, Walla Walla, Omak, Puyallup, Red Bluff, Phoenix and Tucson. He won Livermore, California rodeo in 1953 on Christensen Brothers great War Paint, as well as Stockton, California and Boise, Idaho.

Even after many other big wins, it wasn’t until 1955 that he was able to beat out legendary Casey Tibbs to become Saddle Bronc Champion of the World. For four years he had placed second to Tibbs, and by 1955 he recalls that he wanted “to win the title so bad it was an obsession”.

Copenhaver served two terms on the Rodeo Cowboy’s Association Board of Directors representing the bronc riders. Voted to hold the first National Finals Rodeo and competed in same, placing in four of the ten go-rounds.

His two oldest children, Debbi and Jeff, went on to participate in rodeos like their dad. Jeff was World Champion Calf Roper in 1975, and Debbie won barrel racing events in Northwest rodeos and was Miss Rodeo Washington and first runner-up for Miss Rodeo America.

Deb and Jeff are one or four father-sons to win world championships. Copenhaver tells the story of how he was instrumental in eliminating the saddle horn from the saddles that bronc riders use. In the mid ’50s, a friend borrowed his saddle for a bronc ride, which happened to be on an extremely tall horse called Cheyenne. As the horse ran through the de-saddling chute following the ride, it was so tall it broke the top of the saddle horn, leaving it flopping loosely. The next day Deb and other rodeo performers were flying to the next rodeo when Deb asked Bud Lenderman (a World Champion All-Around Cowboy) what he should do with the saddle. Lenderman said he would cut the horn off, so when they arrived at the airport the pair borrowed a hacksaw in the hanger and sawed the broken horn off.

Deb says, “Truthfully, that was the beginning of bronc riding with no saddle horn.” In fact, he adds, “they don’t even build them with horns anymore.”

Deb was inducted into the National Rodeo Cowboy’s Hall of Fame on December 1, 1991 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He reired from the national level in 1960 but competed in the Northwest through 1970. Deb made the last ride of his professional career in Pendleton in 1974.