WILLCOX Cowboy Hall of Fame inductees
Joe Glenn (138)
1914-1984
2024 COWBOY HALL OF FAME POSTHUMOUS AWARD
Born in 1914, in High Lonesome Canyon on the Buckhorn Ranch just outside of Douglas, AZ. His father had homesteaded the place in 1896. His son Frankie said, “He came from a family when they told you to jump, you asked how high once you were in the air.”
They say Joe was an elite athlete in high school and that transferred into the roping arena, as he very seldom missed. But then he worked at it very hard. Joe basically did two things: He took care of his ranch and he roped steers and that is all that he did.
Joe stayed on the Buckhorn Ranch for years and he was very careful about what he did with feed. He was always riding through his herd and he knew his cattle very well. He knew which calf belonged to which cow. While riding through his herd, catching a calf or holding the cattle up, Joe was training his horses at the same time. He was very much from the school of “wet saddle blankets” make good horses.
Joe ran Hereford cattle, and branded them “Y 4”. He was the first to put Brahma Bulls on his Hereford cows. His F1 tiger striped heifers were really good cattle. Originally the Glenns shipped cattle via the railroad, but those tracks were pulled up in 1958 and Joe shipped his cattle via semi-trucks. His cattle were usually headed for Los Angeles and brought .14 cents a pound.
The Buckhorn ranch still shows signs of Joe’s footprint as he built a multitude of dirt tanks with his little D-6 Cat. He knew how to pick the right spot even in the roughest canyons. He built 24 tanks and today there are 24 dirt tanks still holding water.
Any conversation about Joe Glenn has to focus on his team roping skills. He entered his first rodeo at age 14. Turned pro in 1935 and proceeded to win two world championships, one in 1948 and a second one in 1967. They still talk about that in 1959 he was second by only $64. He was $64 dollars from winning three world championships in three different decades. A model of consistency.
His partner in 1948, when he won his first championship was Fred Darnell (a 2007 inductee into the Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame). These two families, the Glenns and the Darnells were neighbors and traded labor to help each other out. Joe would come to help Fred and Billy Darnell on their place and the Darnells would return the favor and come help Joe.
In 1967, his championship partner was Art Arnold. When their names were called to rope everyone made it to the arena fence to watch. They were simply the very best.
Joe truly earned his stripes as a roper. He spent hours honing his skills in a practice arena just up the canyon from his house. Literally a flat spot in the canyon that had been fenced. On the days when Joe practiced, he would usually rope 40-50 steers, but sometimes as many as 75 got roped. He would have 4 to 6 horses tied to the fence. If you have ever tried to rope that many steers in a row you will soon learn it is work. You have to be dedicated and mostly you have to love what you are doing.
Another horse training tidbit from Joe… If your horse worked right 3 or 4 times in a row… Put the halter on him, tie him up, and go get on another one.
He was a true pioneer in the sport of rodeo, but the two-time world champion wasn’t defined by the rodeo life. He was a husband, father, and rancher first and foremost, but the man sure could rope.
Joe was a prankster. He and Fred Darnell were in Payson for the rodeo and were checking into the hotel. As they were carrying their bags to the hotel room Joe just accidentally bumped Fred sending him into the swimming pool. There is more to the story as Fred may have deserved going for the swim. These two friends were at the ranch working on a steel rim tank and Joe was out on a platform doing something when Fred just accidentally bumped Joe off into the water. So maybe, just maybe, Fred did deserve the swim.
The second story Joe was the instigator. Joe and his first cousin, O.C. Glenn, had been to a roping and afterwards they had stopped off at a small bar. OC was sitting alone at the end of the bar with his head down enjoying his adult beverage. Joe was sitting off at a table having his drink when he noticed a man at the other end of the bar sitting on a bar stool and he had a red handkerchief hanging out of his pocket. Joe slipped around behind him and lit his hanky on fire and sat back down to watch. Well, when the flames got hot enough the ‘ol boy jumped up and to say the least he was not very happy. He was ready to fight someone, anyone. He turned to Joe and asked, Who did this? Joe pointed to OC.
Joe married Betty Geers and they had four kids. C.J., Suzie, Frankie, and Gary. Joe was not involved in many community activities, as he didn’t have the patience to sit and listen to someone tell you how important they were. Joe Glenn had a smile that was great, but also a frown that could look right through you. He was a little grumpy at times, but still was a great mentor to the neighborhood kids: Don Kimble, Billy Darnell and Rick Snure.
It should be noted that all three of these neighborhood kids, Don, Billy and Rick have all been inducted into the Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame. I’m sure they are proud of the fact that tonight one of their mentors, Joe Glenn, is being inducted into the Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Joe Glenn passed away in 1984. Gone but certainly not forgotten.
Joe Glenn.