Strawberry Roan
New in Town
- Messages
- 2
Hello Fedora Loungers,
I am new to this forum. I stumbled across FL in an internet search I was doing about my grandfather, Ray Bell. I was super surprised to learn that Stetson made a hat for him and even more surprised that there were multiple posts here about him and the Ray Bell Stetson. Some folks have asked for more information about him. I can provide that now.
My grandfather was one of six boys who came from an Irish ranching family in Wyoming, although some of the boys, including my grandfather, were born in Iowa. Ray was the second youngest and like many families in Cheyenne during that time, there wasn't really a clear path for the younger children as the eldest boys typically inherited the ranches, meat markets, and other better defined roles within the cattle business.
Ray was an outstanding athlete and a gifted rider. As some have discovered, he was a World Champion Steer Roper in Madison Square Garden in 1923 and won multiple steer roping and bronc riding events including The Pendelton Roundup. Ray is in The Cowboy Hall of Fame. In 1917 Will Rogers was traveling through Wyoming with his wild west show and saw my grandfather ride. At the age of 17, Will swooped Ray up and drove him to Los Angeles in his convertible where he began a career as a stunt rider in early Hollywood westerns. There are some passages of Ben Yagoda's book about Rogers that include stories about Ray and Will. They were great friends. Ray's story is rich and winding from here. Ray permanently settled in Los Angeles in the late 1930's with my grandmother, Florence. They raised three children, had ten grandchildren, and many great grandchildren. Ray died at the age of 96. I was 26 at the time and was lucky enough to grow up around him and all of his many fantastic stories.
I would REALLY like to understand more about this Stetson hat? Did Stetson regularly make hats of former rodeo stars? Does anyone know what year this hat was made? My grandfather worked for Louis B. Mayer for several years so I am wondering if that has something to do with how Stetson produced this hat? I went to the Stetson site but it doesn't look like they give out much information on vintage pieces.
Lastly, if anyone has a Ray Bell Stetson for sale, I am VERY interested. Thank you so much.
I am new to this forum. I stumbled across FL in an internet search I was doing about my grandfather, Ray Bell. I was super surprised to learn that Stetson made a hat for him and even more surprised that there were multiple posts here about him and the Ray Bell Stetson. Some folks have asked for more information about him. I can provide that now.
My grandfather was one of six boys who came from an Irish ranching family in Wyoming, although some of the boys, including my grandfather, were born in Iowa. Ray was the second youngest and like many families in Cheyenne during that time, there wasn't really a clear path for the younger children as the eldest boys typically inherited the ranches, meat markets, and other better defined roles within the cattle business.
Ray was an outstanding athlete and a gifted rider. As some have discovered, he was a World Champion Steer Roper in Madison Square Garden in 1923 and won multiple steer roping and bronc riding events including The Pendelton Roundup. Ray is in The Cowboy Hall of Fame. In 1917 Will Rogers was traveling through Wyoming with his wild west show and saw my grandfather ride. At the age of 17, Will swooped Ray up and drove him to Los Angeles in his convertible where he began a career as a stunt rider in early Hollywood westerns. There are some passages of Ben Yagoda's book about Rogers that include stories about Ray and Will. They were great friends. Ray's story is rich and winding from here. Ray permanently settled in Los Angeles in the late 1930's with my grandmother, Florence. They raised three children, had ten grandchildren, and many great grandchildren. Ray died at the age of 96. I was 26 at the time and was lucky enough to grow up around him and all of his many fantastic stories.
I would REALLY like to understand more about this Stetson hat? Did Stetson regularly make hats of former rodeo stars? Does anyone know what year this hat was made? My grandfather worked for Louis B. Mayer for several years so I am wondering if that has something to do with how Stetson produced this hat? I went to the Stetson site but it doesn't look like they give out much information on vintage pieces.
Lastly, if anyone has a Ray Bell Stetson for sale, I am VERY interested. Thank you so much.
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