Jay enjoyed talking with men like eight-six-year-old Herman Linder. They had so much history to share. In 1929 Herman won his first championship at The Calgary Stampede. Between 1929 and 1939 he won twenty-two championships competing in all five major events, a record still unbroken. He retired from competition in 1939, going on to produce many rodeos in Southern Alberta as well as the rodeo at the World’s Fair in Montreal in 1967.

In 1982, as a Salute to the Cowboy, Herman was honored to open the Stampede. In 1999 as a Salute to Seniors, at the age of ninety-two he was the parade marshal in The Calgary Stampede parade. Herman loved the sport of rodeo, was a great competitor, and remained a loyal fan until his death in 2001. Herman was a gentleman and a gentle man.

“I remember Herman as a typical old cowboy like the men I knew. As I worked, he opened up to me and answered any question I asked. I could tell from his manner that he was a man whose word was good. He enjoyed the attention paid by spectators who gathered around and they, in turn, enjoyed visiting with an authentic cowboy.“

– Jay Contway