Oklahoma Kid brings history, fun to Hulbert
By GARRON MARSH
Press Staff Writer
Since the late 1800s, wild west shows have captivated audiences
across the U.S. and Europe, and trick roping has been a part of the
action since the beginning.
In years past, being handy with a rope was a necessary skill for many
American cowboys and ranchers to have. It is likely that, at some
point, a few of these cowboys wanted to show off their mastery of the
lasso to their buddies.
Eventually, what began as a simple pastime developed into a source of
entertainment, and even competition, for turn-of-the-century
Americans across the country.
On a wet Wednesday in Hulbert, many kids and adults were able to
catch a glimpse of this increasingly rare art form when Marty Tipton,
aka the Oklahoma Kid, rode into town.
Tipton gave the audience a brief look into the history of the wild
west, and more specifically Oklahoma itself. He showed the kids
several pictures of famous wild west personalities, and explained how
they were all connected to Oklahoma and the 101 Ranch, in Ponca City.
After that, Tipton showed off some of his trick roping skills, and
even got the kids involved with some tricks of their own – all with
the intention of “roping” them into learning a little more about
their state’s history.
“I like to bring the history into the program along with the trick
roping,” said Tipton. “I talk about these famous names, and the kids
come back to the library to read more about them.”
Tipton is a fourth-generation wild west show performer, and his
family ties to this livelihood stretch back more than 120 years.
“My grandfather was a performer and producer with the original Pawnee
Bill Wild West Show, and the Two Bill’s Wild West Show featuring
Pawnee Bill and Buffalo Bill,” Tipton said.
Tipton’s grandfather also worked with several other notorious western
personalities, such as Buffalo Bill Cody, Annie Oakley, Bill Pickett,
Tom Mix and even Geronimo.
If that isn’t enough of a family legacy, Tipton is also a relative of
Oklahoma icon Will Rogers, who was a trick roper himself, so it’s
easy to see how he got into this line of work.
“I’ve been performing shows since I was nine years old,” said Tipton.
“I got [recently] started with the educational programs after I was
asked to do a show at a birthday party for Toby Keith. Someone saw me
there and asked if I could come and do a children’s program. There,
someone else saw the show, and pretty soon, the program just kind of
took off. I’ve got 65 shows over the next 60 days.”
Tipton noted it was no big surprise that he’d be so busy doing trick
roping exhibitions.
“My family has been doing this for 120 years,” said Tipton. “When
someone wants a trick roper, they know where to go.”
The Hulbert Public Library brought Tipton in to perform as a part of
their Oklahoma Centennial celebrations during their summer reading
program, and their efforts seem to have paid off.
“I liked the show and I learned a lot about the wild west,” said
Hulbert student Trey Freed.
As for the Oklahoma Kid’s performance ability goes, the results speak
for themselves.
“It was fun,” said Shady Grove student Rob Clark. “And I learned that
it’s not easy to twirl a rope but have learned how!”
For those interested in the history of The Oklahoma Kid, more
information can be found at the www.theoklahomakid.com web site
or contact (405)512-4544.
By GARRON MARSH
Press Staff Writer
Since the late 1800s, wild west shows have captivated audiences
across the U.S. and Europe, and trick roping has been a part of the
action since the beginning.
In years past, being handy with a rope was a necessary skill for many
American cowboys and ranchers to have. It is likely that, at some
point, a few of these cowboys wanted to show off their mastery of the
lasso to their buddies.
Eventually, what began as a simple pastime developed into a source of
entertainment, and even competition, for turn-of-the-century
Americans across the country.
On a wet Wednesday in Hulbert, many kids and adults were able to
catch a glimpse of this increasingly rare art form when Marty Tipton,
aka the Oklahoma Kid, rode into town.
Tipton gave the audience a brief look into the history of the wild
west, and more specifically Oklahoma itself. He showed the kids
several pictures of famous wild west personalities, and explained how
they were all connected to Oklahoma and the 101 Ranch, in Ponca City.
After that, Tipton showed off some of his trick roping skills, and
even got the kids involved with some tricks of their own – all with
the intention of “roping” them into learning a little more about
their state’s history.
“I like to bring the history into the program along with the trick
roping,” said Tipton. “I talk about these famous names, and the kids
come back to the library to read more about them.”
Tipton is a fourth-generation wild west show performer, and his
family ties to this livelihood stretch back more than 120 years.
“My grandfather was a performer and producer with the original Pawnee
Bill Wild West Show, and the Two Bill’s Wild West Show featuring
Pawnee Bill and Buffalo Bill,” Tipton said.
Tipton’s grandfather also worked with several other notorious western
personalities, such as Buffalo Bill Cody, Annie Oakley, Bill Pickett,
Tom Mix and even Geronimo.
If that isn’t enough of a family legacy, Tipton is also a relative of
Oklahoma icon Will Rogers, who was a trick roper himself, so it’s
easy to see how he got into this line of work.
“I’ve been performing shows since I was nine years old,” said Tipton.
“I got [recently] started with the educational programs after I was
asked to do a show at a birthday party for Toby Keith. Someone saw me
there and asked if I could come and do a children’s program. There,
someone else saw the show, and pretty soon, the program just kind of
took off. I’ve got 65 shows over the next 60 days.”
Tipton noted it was no big surprise that he’d be so busy doing trick
roping exhibitions.
“My family has been doing this for 120 years,” said Tipton. “When
someone wants a trick roper, they know where to go.”
The Hulbert Public Library brought Tipton in to perform as a part of
their Oklahoma Centennial celebrations during their summer reading
program, and their efforts seem to have paid off.
“I liked the show and I learned a lot about the wild west,” said
Hulbert student Trey Freed.
As for the Oklahoma Kid’s performance ability goes, the results speak
for themselves.
“It was fun,” said Shady Grove student Rob Clark. “And I learned that
it’s not easy to twirl a rope but have learned how!”
For those interested in the history of The Oklahoma Kid, more
information can be found at the www.theoklahomakid.com web site
or contact (405)512-4544.
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Trick roper brings wild west legacy to Shawnee
Celebrate Oklahoma!
By April Wilkerson
Staff Writer
Web-Posted Sep. 21, 2007 04:10: AM
Trick roper brings wild west legacy to Shawnee Like his distant relative Will
Rogers, Shawnee resident Marty Tipton uses an uplifting saying in his public
performances: "It's not always how fast you run or how high you climb; it's how
you bounce."
Tipton, also known as The Oklahoma Kid, is a trick roper, joke teller and all-around
motivational kind of guy. More than 100 years of family history have prepared him
for his career of entertainment combined with a unique historical perspective.
Tipton's father, grandfather and great-grandfather worked with Pawnee Bill's Wild
West Show, and Tipton grew up in Ponca City, home of the historic 101 Ranch.
He's also related to Will Rogers by marriage in his grandmother's generation.
Those performance genes, witty outlook and care for his fellow human beings
have trickled down through the generations, and Tipton is having a ball, especially
in Oklahoma's centennial year, continuing his family's legacy. He will perform in
Shawnee this weekend during local centennial celebrations.
"I love people and I love Oklahoma," Tipton said. "I try to give a good image for
our fine state. I like to see things happen in the world that won't happen by us
sitting around."
Like his distant relative Will Rogers, Shawnee resident Marty Tipton uses an
uplifting saying in his public performances: "It's not always how fast you run or
how high you climb; it's how you bounce."
Tipton, also known as The Oklahoma Kid, is a trick roper, joke teller and all-around
motivational kind of guy. More than 100 years of family history have prepared him
for his career of entertainment combined with a unique historical perspective.
Tipton's father, grandfather and great-grandfather worked with Pawnee Bill's Wild
West Show, and Tipton grew up in Ponca City, home of the historic 101 Ranch.
He's also related to Will Rogers by marriage in his grandmother's generation.
Those performance genes, witty outlook and care for his fellow human beings
have trickled down through the generations, and Tipton is having a ball, especially
in Oklahoma's centennial year, continuing his family's legacy. He will perform in
Shawnee this weekend during local centennial celebrations.
"I love people and I love Oklahoma," Tipton said. "I try to give a good image for
our fine state. I like to see things happen in the world that won't happen by us
sitting around."
Tipton has been roping in one form or another for 31 years. He was riding a horse
before he could walk, he said, and at 6 he was in the rodeo arena. He later went on
to be a professional team roper, bull rider and bullfighter. He learned trick roping
from his father and grandfather, then went on to be professionally trained at the
101 Ranch.
Because he grew up in the center of a wild west show legacy, he didn't always
think too much of it, he said. But as he got older, he realized the heritage was his
to keep alive. From his relatives, he heard first-hand stories about the likes of
Pawnee Bill, Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley, and he was always surrounded by
original photographs of wild west performers.
"As I got older, I realized it was my responsibility to my family and to Oklahoma to
continue the legacy of the wild west shows," he said. "I do some trick roping and
tell the history of wild west shows and Oklahoma, and my family relationship to
that."
Tipton even holds a world's record: He's taught more students how to rope than
anybody else, including a recent Oklahoma show for 6,000 students from 51
schools.
But his performances are about much more than providing a historical
perspective. Tipton's heart is with people who need a hand up in life, and he
weaves inspirational messages, and a theme of equality, through his
performances. His ancestors worked with a multicultural cast in the wild west
shows, from the African-American Bill Pickett to Geronimo, an Indian, to Annie
Oakley, who could out-shoot any man. It took lots of different people many of them
once maligned by the world to put on the shows.
"I want to tell of a world that started to open up to all cultures," Tipton said.
Tipton also uses his performances to benefit Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City
and Project Safe in Shawnee. Proceeds from the sale of ropes go to Children's
Hospital, where Tipton plans to visit and give roping lessons.
"A lot of kids go in the hospital, and some won't come out," he said. "They need
some hope."
Tipton also promotes literacy and sends out a message to youth that if they've
been knocked down, they need to get up and keep trying. Many youngsters are on
the fast track to success, he said, but others have to overcome obstacles before
they meet their goals.
"That's why I say it's how high you bounce in life," he said. "Everyone has a hard
time in one way or another growing up, and some people stay down. Life is like
riding a horse. If the horse throws you off, you have to keep getting back on until
he doesn't throw you anymore."
For more information on Tipton's performances, go online to
www.theoklahomakid.com.
| Shawnee News-Star |
| Hulbert News |
Norman Transcript
The Oklahoma Kid to bring wild west legacy to fair Sept. 6
Shawnee resident Marty Tipton, also known as The Oklahoma Kid, will perform at
the annual Cleveland County Free Fair which will be Sept. 4-6 at the Cleveland
County Fairgrounds at 615 E. Robinson St. Tipton is a trick roper, joke teller and
motivational speaker.
"More than 100 years of family history has prepared me for my career in
entertainment," Tipton said.
Tipton's father, grandfather and great-grandfather worked with Pawnee Bill's Wild
West Show, and Tipton grew up in Ponca City, home of the historic 101 Ranch. He's
also related to Will Rogers by marriage in his grandmother's generation.
Performance genes, a witty outlook and care for his fellow man?have trickled down
through the generations, and Tipton is having a ball continuing his family's legacy.
He will perform?Saturday, Sept. 6 at the Cleveland County Free Fair.
"I love people and I love Oklahoma," Tipton said. "I try to present a great image for
our fine state. I like to see things happen in the world that won't happen by us
sitting around."
?Like his distant relative Will Rogers, Tipton uses an uplifting saying in his public
performances: "It's not always how fast you run or how high you climb; it's how
high you bounce."
Tipton has been roping in one form or another for 31 years. He was riding a horse
before he could walk, he said, and at 6 he was in the rodeo arena. He later went on
to be a professional team roper, bull rider and bullfighter. He learned trick roping
from his father and grandfather, then went on to be professionally trained at the 101
Ranch.Because he grew up in the center of a wild west show legacy, he didn't
always think too much of it, he said. But as he got older, he realized the heritage
was his to keep alive. From his relatives, he heard first-hand stories about the likes
of Pawnee Bill, Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley, and he was always surrounded by
original photographs of wild west performers.
"As I got older, I realized it was my responsibility to my family and to Oklahoma to
continue the legacy of the wild west shows," he said. "I do some trick roping and
tell the history of wild west shows and Oklahoma, and my family relationship to
that."
?Tipton also promotes literacy, and sends out a message to youth that if they've
been knocked down, they need to get up and keep trying. Many youngsters are on
the fast track to success, he said, but others have to overcome obstacles before
they meet their goals.
?"That's why I say it's how high you bounce in life," he said. "Everyone has a hard
time in one way or another growing up, and some people stay down. Life is like
riding a horse. If the horse throws you off, you have to keep getting back on until he
doesn't throw you anymore."