George Fletcher

George Fletcher arrived in Pendleton around 1900 at age 10 with his mother and stepfather. His home life was unstable, and he faced hardships as an African-American. A local minister, Reverend Cornelison at the Tutilla Presbyterian Church on the Umatilla Indian Reservation east of Pendleton, took him under his wing, and friends from the tribes helped him learn to manage, train, and work with horses. He was the only African-American to compete in the first Pendleton Round-Up in 1910. In the 1911 Round-Up competition, he contended for the World Bronc Riding Championship. Although John Spain was declared the winner, many fans believed Fletcher should have taken first place. The first-place prize, a $350 saddle, went to Spain, but Sheriff Til Taylor raised enough money by cutting up Fletcher's black cowboy hat and selling the pieces to the crowd to buy Fletcher a $350 saddle as well, with an additional $350 to spare. Fletcher became known as the People's Champion. He competed in rodeos until the outbreak of World War I, when he was drafted and sent to France as part of the SOS Unit of the 815 Pioneer Infantry. After an injury during the war left him with a limp, he retired from rodeo competition and worked for various ranches, remaining a familiar face in Pendleton for the rest of his life.

Pendleton, Oregon · United States