Virgil Bailey

Virgil Bailey is the final member of the trio we have affectionately titled, “The Big 3.” Virgil, along with Russ Thornock and Roland Johns, laid the groundwork for the Cokeville Rodeo long before the Cokeville Stock & Saddle Club was ever created. We owe these three men a debt of gratitude.

For today’s story, we were hoping that we could receive a little help from our community members who knew him. Actually, we REALLY need your help so that we can pay this wonderful man the honor he deserves.

Virgil passed away in 2009, and we have tried our best to get a hold of his children so that we could learn more about their amazing father, but so far we have been unsuccessful. (We will keep trying, and will update this story as soon as we connect.)

If any of you who knew Virgil, who worked alongside him, who shared your time and talents with him…if any of you would please be so kind as to share your memories of him in the comments below, we would be extremely grateful. All you have to do to leave a comment, is share your story in the comment section, and then leave your name when it takes you to the “confirmation” screen.

We Remember Virgil! His name has come up in at least half a dozen of the interviews we have conducted, and he has been nominated more than once. His contribution to the Cokeville Rodeo absolutely did not go unnoticed, as is evident by his name being so graciously named in many of the stories we have received thus far.

Could we please come together and share your personal stories about this amazing Rodeo Pioneer? We can’t thank you enough for helping us out.