Exhibition
Ride of A Champion
February, 1942
Condensed from a story by Fog Horn
Clancy in the February 1942 Hoofs and Horns, page 3:
The day before the final performance of the 1941 Madison Square
Garden rodeo, Wally McConnell, a young first year cowboy at
the Garden's, from Boise, Idaho drew "Hell's Angel for
the final ride of the rodeo. They saved "Hell's Angle"
as a finally for the rodeo, as he was seldom ridden to the buzzer."
Wally was Fritz's roomate and friend. Wally had been busted
up in his nine rides at the Garden this year and Fritz was concerned
he would get injured if he rode Hell's Angel. Fritz made some
deals and was allowed to ride in Wally's place. Fritz made a
sucessful ride that night on the famous bronc.
Short Bio on Fritz Turan and Hells Angel
by Jim Drye:
Fritz Truan, World Champion All Around Cowboy
and also World Champion Bronc Rider, riding the great "Hell's
Angel," October 26, 1941, at Madison Square Gardens.
Hell's Angel ruled the arena from 1938 to 1941, and was voted
the "Greatest Bucking Horse in America" by the rodeo
cowboys." Fritz rode Hell's Angel five out of seven times
in his short career. Sergeant Fritz G. Truan lost his life in
WW II while leading his platoon against a Japanese machine gun
nest at Iwo Jima.
Cover art by Olaf Wieghorst: Fritz
Truan riding "Hell's Angel."
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