Earl W. Bascom

Earl Bascom
FRSA
Cowboy of Cowboy Artists – Father of Modern Rodeo
Born
Earl Wesley Bascom

(1906-06-19)June 19, 1906
Vernal, Utah, U.S.
DiedAugust 28, 1995(1995-08-28) (aged 89)
Victorville, California, U.S.
EducationBrigham Young University
Occupations
  • Cowboy
  • rodeo champion
  • rancher
  • inventor
  • school teacher
  • Western artist
  • international sculptor
  • Hollywood actor
  • historian
  • writer
SpouseE. Nadine Diffey (1939–1995)
AwardsFellow of the Royal Society of Arts

Earl Wesley Bascom FRSA (June 19, 1906 – August 28, 1995) was an American-Canadian painter, printmaker, sculptor, cowboy, rodeo performer, inventor, and Hollywood actor. Raised in Canada, he portrayed in works of fine art his own experiences of cowboying and rodeoing across the American and Canadian West. Bascom was awarded the Pioneer Award by the ProRodeo Hall of Fame[1] in 2016 and inducted into several halls of fame including the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1984. Bascom was called the "Cowboy of Cowboy Artists," the "Dean of Rodeo Cowboy Sculpture" and the "Father of Modern Rodeo."[2] He was a participant member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

  1. ^ "Norwegian-Canadian cowboy honored". The Norwegian American. July 11, 2018. Archived from the original on October 20, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  2. ^ "LDS Cowboy Hailed as 'Father of Modern Rodeo'". LDS Living. October 12, 2015. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2019.