FRESNO, CA (KMJ) Rodeo Hall of Fame legend and Sanger resident Wilber Plaugher has died, after living a long and colorful life.
Plaugher’s longtime friend and country-western musician Jack Hannah called him “the greatest living cowboy.”
Grandson Reverend Nic Pope says he was a Valley icon.
“He was such a superb rodeo athlete, so he was mainly known for being a rodeo clown, where he could fight bulls, jump over bulls’ heads but he was also an incredible horseman. So he was a champion bronc rider, bareback rider, and he was also a champion steer wrestler. He had at one time held the record for steer wrestling.” – Nic Pope, Grandson.
Plaugher was born in Ohio and moved to the Central Valley at six. Later, his career took him all around the world.
Pope says his grandfather wore many hats; rancher, rodeo clown, camp bullfighter, bulldogger, and actor – seen on the Daniel Boone TV show, and in Bus Stop with Marilyn Monroe.
“He is absolutely a legend. A legend in the Central Valley. He is a Rodeo Hall of Fame cowboy, really the last of the greatest American cowboys.” – Nic Pope, Grandson.
Plaugher was married 69 years with four kids. Pope says his grandfather died Tuesday, January 2nd at the age of 95 of natural causes.
Click below to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
