Montie Montana (born Owen Harlen Mickel; June 21, 1910 – May 20, 1998) was a rodeo trick rider and trick roper, actor, stuntman and cowboy inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1994.
Biography Montana was born in Wolf Point, Montana, in 1910. He was a perennial participant in the Tournament of Roses Parade until his death in Los Angeles, California, in 1998. Television viewers know him from more than 60 appearances, waving to the crowd from his silver saddle. During the first inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower as the 34th President of the United States on January 20, 1953, Montana lassoed the president after his swearing-in. He can be seen as a contestant on the May 7, 1959 television broadcast of You Bet Your Life, along with his horse Rex.
Montana would go to elementary schools and perform with Rex. He was at Camellia Avenue Elementary School in North Hollywood, California, in 1959, and he would talk about the rubber horseshoes Rex would be fitted with so Rex would not slip on the asphalt playground while Montie was riding Rex. He performed rope tricks on and off of Rex, and would pass out photos of him and Rex to the students at the end of his show.
In 1996, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to him. He was buried at the Oakwood Memorial Park in Chatsworth, California.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1932 The Saddle Buster Rodeo Performer Uncredited1934 Stand Up and Cheer! Rope Spinner Uncredited1935 The Circle of Death Little Buffalo, alias Jim Little 1935 Border Vengeance Montie Montana, Trick Rider Uncredited1935 Melody Trail Rodeo Rider Uncredited1936 Comin' Round the Mountain Roper Uncredited1936 Gun Smoke 1939 The Kid from Texas Trick Rider Uncredited1943 Riders of the Deadline Ranger Kelton 1944 Take It Big Show Performer Uncredited1944 Man from Frisco Montana Uncredited1949 Down Dakota Way Sheriff Holbrook 1952 The Story of Will Rogers Trick Roping Double for Will Rogers Jr. Uncredited1954 The Boy from Oklahoma Roper Uncredited1960 The Rifleman Stage Driver 1962 The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Cowboy on Pinto Pony Uncredited1963 Hud Cowboy Uncredited1964 Cheyenne Autumn Trooper Uncredited1968 Arizona Bushwhackers Stage Driver 1972 The Young Rounders (final film role)
Honors 1989 Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum 1990 Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame 1994 ProRodeo Hall of Fame 1997 Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame 2011 Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame 2015 Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage
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