As I became involved with The Calgary Stampede and especially when I became the director responsible for the rodeo and chuckwagon committees, I was very enamored with the beautiful, colored bronzes that were produced by Jay Contway that were used by both committees as prizes.

It was an honor to finally meet Jay at his booth in the Western Showcase at The Calgary Stampede. Little did I know that meeting would lead to a lifelong friendship with Jay and his wife, Lynn.

In 1996, my wife Marci organized a fiftieth birthday party for me, and I was given my first Jay Contway bronze “Calf Roper.” Today we have acquired fifteen of Jay’s bronzes and one oil painting. He was also an incredible artist of oil paintings.

Every year at The Calgary Stampede Western Art Auction, Jay was a participant in the Quick Draw Competition. He had done a bronze bust of several well-known Stampede personalities such as Joe Carberry, Tommy Glass, Herman Linder, and Premier Ralph Klein. I was very honored in 2005 when Jay phoned and asked me to be his model because he had never done a Calgary Stampede President.

To this day I miss Jay Contway. He was someone that I respected for the detail and accuracy of his bronzes and for his friendship. I believe that his work will live on forever.

– Rob Matthews

“I met Rob through The Calgary Stampede. He has been a great supporter of my work and a friend who assisted me in selling in Alberta.“

– Jay Contway