ProRodeo Sports News - January 10, 2020

tough work ethic.

During his early rodeo travels, Wick met Dorothy Hanberg, of Bremerton, Wash. They married in 1951 and made their new home on the farm where they raised their children. He kept his lifetime habit of helping on the farm as much as possible. His love and support of his children and grandchildren’s endeavors were endless. Peth worked with his father and brothers as John Peth & Sons Inc. for decades. As their interest in rodeos increased through the 1940s, Wick found bull riding to be his favorite event. That fueled his ambition to become a bullfighter. He devoted considerable time and energy studying bulls and their behavior knowing he could better protect the riders. He was soon known nationwide as a pioneer in professional rodeo bullfighting, working and performing in the U.S. and Canada. Peck was featured in LIFE magazine in 1963. He didn’t smoke or drink, worked hard to stay in shape, and was serious about his job of protecting cowboys in the arena. Stocky and strong at 5-foot-6 and 170 pounds, Peth played harder than some cowboys fought and was frequently wrestling or roughhousing. He was unmistakable in the arena – he wore no makeup, dressed in a gray wig, red tights, track shoes and loose-fitting, cutoff jeans he called his “skirt.” The outfit was designed to give himmaximummobility for the quick movements which made him famous. He also had a knack for turning back bulls and saving hung-up or fallen bull riders. His courage and expertise were appreciated by the cowboys, including fellow ProRodeo Hall of Famer Larry Mahan, the two-time bull riding champion and six-time all-around world champion. “I felt during that time, or even possibly in this time, that Wick was probably one of the greatest athletes rodeo has ever known,” Mahan told ProRodeo Sports News in 1998. “He was in far better shape than anybody out there competing. An incredible athlete, very tough physically and mentally.” In the same story, Peth said, “I was never really satisfied with my performance. I always knew I could get better.” By the end of 1979, he had been elected bullfighter for the NFR eight times. On his plaque at the Hall of Fame, it says the only reason he didn’t make it every year was to give the other guys a chance at the job. “If I hadn’t started fighting bulls, I’d have been just another farmer,” said Peth, who was a pea farmer when he wasn’t fighting bulls. “There is not a thing in the world wrong with being a farmer or just another farmer – but it’s not for me. I like fighting bulls. I like the applause. I like the glory.” In addition to being inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Peth also was inducted into the National Cowboy Museum Rodeo Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, the Bull Riding Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas, and numerous U.S. cities’ rodeo halls of fame. The countless friendships he made in the sport, whether competitors or fans, were something he always cherished. Peth was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; his parents; brothers Jerry and Ted; sisters Darlene Benson and Sharon Anderson; and nephews Kirk, Kim, Brian and Brad. Peth is survived by his children and their spouses, Liza (Ron) Bott, Dan (Rondi) Peth and Lana (Henry Milczuk) Peth; grandchildren Karlyn Huddy, Eric Bott, Ria Peth and Owen Peth; four great- grandchildren; brother, Dale Peth; brother-in-law, Donald Hanberg; and nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend its gratitude to the loving staff at BirchviewMemory Care in SedroWoolley, Wash., where Peth enjoyed living his final four months. A private family interment will be held. Memorials are suggested to Skagit County Historical Museum or Youthnet Northwest. Share remembrances of his life at kernfuneralhome.com.

VIDEO

DeVere Helfrich photo

Bullfighter Wick Peth takes a break before working the rodeo in Cloverdale, British Columbia, in 1962.

ProRodeo Sports News 1/10/2020

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