Rodeo superstar Casey Tibbs lives again in Rusty Richards' authorized biography of the memorable, charismatic cowboy from South Dakota. Movingly written, Richards spent over twenty years meticulously researching, interviewing, and capturing vibrant memories and recollections of the six-time world champion saddle bronc rider. Born in a log home in the wilds of South Dakota, the youngest of ten children, Tibbs grew to be the most well-known, popular rodeo star of all time. Richards' biography is all-inclusive and also covers the Roberts family, including rodeo greats Ken, Gerald, and E.C. Roberts, along with Jim Shoulders, Deb Copenhaver, Carl Olson, Ben Johnson, Gene Pruett, Bill Linderman and so many more. In addition, Richards recounts Casey's phenomenal success in Hollywood and his friendship with Audie Murphy, his Las Vegas associations, and his world tours promoting rodeo and the Wild West. Richards does not gloss over Casey's battles with alcohol and gambling addictions, either. This is a biography that inspires, amuses, saddens, and gives real meaning to determination and grit. Casey Tibbs deserves to have his story told, and Rusty Richards has done an excellent job of doing so.
Rusty Richards calls himself a cowboy who sings, and he has experienced the cowboy life in almost every way possible.
He began breaking horses when he was twelve, worked on ranches, and at age sixteen had his own TV show called Song Trails with Rusty Richards. After three years in the Marines he entered Eldon Yoast Rodeos around California, riding bulls and broncs.
Rusty worked in films as an extra and did stunt work. When the TV Westerns began to fade, Rusty received a call from a friend who told him The Sons of the Pioneers was looking for a tenor, and that Rusty had been recommended. Rusty joined the group and his career with them spanned twenty-one years.
While with the Sons of the Pioneers, the group was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, and the group s star was placed in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Smithsonian Institution declared the group a National Treasure, and the Academy of Country Music awarded them The Best Touring Band.
Rusty has received two Pioneer Awards in Arizona, is a Member of the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame and a Member of the Aksarben Hall of Fame in Omaha, Nebraska. The National Western Film Festival in Ogden, Utah, presented Rusty with The Golden Lariat Award, and the California Country Music Association gave him the Pioneer Award. The National Festival of the West awarded him the Cowboy Spirit Award, and the Western Film Festival in Sonora, California, presented Rusty with The Ben Johnson Award. In 2004 Rusty was inducted into the Western Music Hall of Fame.
