It is never easy to say goodbye to a legend, but so many did just that last week as they gathered to pay their respects to local legend Pat Hansel, also known in Arcadia as "Mr. Rodeo".

Late Tuesday afternoon, during a barbeque at Pat and Leola's home on Joshua Creek Road, there were handshakes, hugs, memories shared and cars parked along the road as far as the eye could see. Their daughter, Debbie Hansel Carlton said it was just as Pat would have wanted, a lot of people all gathered up at the house - and they would be eating.

I remember Pat telling how it didn't take very long to find out he wasn't cut out to ride a bronc or a bull, and a serious back injury ended his competition in the calf roping. He wasn't content to just leave rodeo so he began to accumulate rodeo stock. In 1960 he announced his first rodeo - and the rest is history.

As a stock contractor Pat probably tried scores of horses and bulls in the arena out behind his house. He would buy 'em, put 'em in a bucking chute and open the gate. Only a few ever filled that born-to-buck category Pat struggled to maintain in his string of rough stock.

We can all remember Wooley Booger, the big black Brangus bull that would kick higher than the top of the chute every time. Not many cowboys ever made it beyond that first jump. And the little red bull Bearcat, that could unseat some of the best professional cowboys who came to Arcadia from all across the country.

There were so many, but without a doubt Seminole Chief was the biggest, most feared bucking and fighting bull in the state of Florida and also Pat Hansel's pride and joy. Not only a bucking bull, but a fighting bull that sent many a cowboy, clown, bullfighter and photographer up the nearest fence. The Chief was just one of Pat's bulls that went to the National Finals Rodeos in Oklahoma City.

Bucking horses were also Pat's specialty and what he always described as "just spoiled saddle horses that made up their mind they weren't going to tote a man". Like little Dennis the Menace, a pony-sized roan horse, not even shoulder high. Pat took a lot of razzing about the little fella, but they didn't laugh long. Dennis the Menace stuck many a cowboy's head in the sand on a regular basis for a long time.

Then there was the legendary Claim Jumper. Any cowboy could lead the big bay horse around with only a halter and he rode all the way from Arcadia to the National Finals in Oklahoma in the back of a gooseneck trailer wearing a red horse blanket. Anybody could walk up to him out in the pasture, but when he was in the rodeo arena and the flank was pulled up it was his signal to go to work.

Claim Jumper's high kicking style earned many a cowboy a share of the prize money (and sent a lot more limping back to the chutes brushing their britches). Then, on July 4, 1985, five time all-around rodeo champion Matt Condo led Claim Jumper into the center of the arena. During a brief ceremony, Pat announced he was retiring the great bucking horse after 18 years. Claim Jumper didn't receive a gold watch, a bonus or a pension, just the priviledge of spending the rest of his life roaming free in the pasture.

There are more memories and stories than space to print them about Pat Hansel and his wife Leola, who was always there as rodeo secretary keeping scores and records through the years, but what all of us who were there remember most was at the beginning of every rodeo, Pat would ask all the rodeo fans to stand and bow their heads. He would offer a prayer, for the safety of the cowboys and cowgirls and for the rough stock, the horses and bulls and calves that were so much a part of his life as a rodeo stock contractor.

Then he would add, "Lord, we don't ask not to draw a chute-fightin' horse or a calf that won't lay. We just ask that when we make that last long ride to the arena up above, you will tell us - our entry fees are paid".

Then, as always, his booming voice on the microphone - WELCOME RODEO FANS, TO THE ARCADIA ALL-FLORIDA CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO!



God Speed, Pat. Your entry fees are paid!