Tenth Generation

4722. Emmett Chester Roberts was born on 11 Feb 1895 in Morris County, Kansas. He died on 1 Sep 1992 in Cottonwood Falls, Chase County, Kansas.

From the Roberts Family Rodeo webpage:

"On October 5th, 1919, in a limestone country house in Council Grove in the Flint Hills of Kansas, Gerald Roberts became the third child of a rodeo-destined family.

"At the helm of this hard-working, ranching family were E.C. Roberts and his wife Clara. E.C. married Clara Marie Suebert on December 23, 1914 in Council Grove, Kansas. Emmett Chester Roberts, born February 11, 1895, was a respected cowboy and rodeo and stock producer who started Roberts Rodeo Company. He'd been born when horses were still the only mode of transportation - horses became his life, his business (Frank Buchman, Grass & Grain - Hey Neighbor, Sept 1992). E.C. Roberts was named Mr. Rodeo by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association at the Denver Stock Show in 1979.

"E.C. started the annual Flint Hills rodeo in Strong City, Kansas on his own ranch in 1937. The rodeo is still held in Strong City every year in June. At 97-years-old, E.C. passed away September 2, 1992 in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. His funeral service was held at the Flint Hills Rodeo Grounds - the rodeo he had started on his own land more than fifty years earlier. At the time of his death, E.C. was survived by 2 sons, 1 daughter, 1 sister, 20 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren and 27 great-great-grandchildren.

"'I've had a good life and a world of friends and probably wouldn't have had either without the rodeo,' E.C. once said. (1990 interview, Chase County Leader-News).

"There would be 6 children in all - four boys and two girls.

"The first child was Marjorie Mae (or Margie as she was sometimes called), born July 3, 1916. She was a beautiful, awe-inspiring woman who grew up to be a nationally acclaimed trick rider and a champion bareback bronc rider (when the event was still open to women).

"At the age of 19, Margie originated the "diving girl" trick ride in which she stood in the saddle and leaned far forward over the neck of her speeding horse. She discovered the trick by accident when she lost her balance while standing in the saddle and realized that the resistance of the wind and the speed of her horse kept her from falling. The thunderous applause that followed her "accidental" trick ride led Margie to perfect it and incorporate it into her act in Clyde Miller's Wild West Show.

"She rode bareback at all the big rodeos of her day including Cheyenne and Madison Square Garden. She won the women's bronc riding in 1940 at Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Margie (Hart), who died of cancer on April 23, 1982, is recognized as the champion cowgirl she was . . . she's in the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas (inducted in 1987).

"The second was Ken, a three time World Champion Bull Rider - and younger brother Gerald's idol. Ken was born January 22, 1918 in Council Grove, Kansas. Ken credited older sister, Margie, for leading him and Gerald into rodeo. Ken was World Champion Bull Rider 1943, 1944 and 1945. Ken died in Strong City, Kansas on September 12, 1975.

"The third child, of course, was Gerald. The fourth child, Howard, who did a little rodeoing, mostly stayed on the family farm to tend to the rodeo stock. Now a wheat farmer, he and his wife, Connie, live in Strong City, Kansas. The fifth child, Clifford, grew up to work on the railroad and fly planes. Clifford tragically died in a plane crash - he crashed in a deserted field to avoid the risk of injury to persons on the ground. And the baby of the family, sweet-hearted and beautiful Gloria, grew up to be a school teacher and she and her husband, Joe, live in Clay Center, Kansas.The three younger siblings didn't follow in their older siblings' footsteps - only Margie, Ken and Gerald took up the sport of rodeo.

"Shortly after Gerald was born, the family bought a house and some land in Strong City, Kansas. E.C. used to take the kids to "lil' ol' pasture rodeos." At the age of 5, Gerald not only knew he wanted to be a rodeo cowboy, he wanted to be a champion.

"The kids grew up raising livestock, breaking wild horses, and working the ranch. Any chance they got, they were riding unruly animals and even rode horses to school to break them in.

"Margie, the oldest, and Ken, one-and-a-half years Gerald's senior, went off to join Clyde Miller's Wild West Show when Gerald was about 12. It didn't take long for the younger brother to follow suit and at the age of 13, Gerald went off to join Clyde Miller's Wild West Show too.

"The Roberts' clan was known for putting on impromptu rodeos on the Roberts' ranch. Parked cars would form the arena and the Roberts' kids would put on a show for anyone around town who wanted to watch. E.C. and friend Wally Evans got the idea to start the Flint Hills Rodeo when Margie, Ken and Gerald decided to have a rodeo on the family farm in 1937. "They threw up some snow fence and the fun began."

"Famous rodeo cowboys, such as Jim Shoulders and Casey Tibbs, who were lifelong friends of the family, spent countless hours on the Roberts' ranch learning the ways of the rodeo business.

"From working the livestock on the farm and riding all day long in the Wild West Show, Gerald had all the hands on training a future Professional Cowboy could ask for. There was no question about it . . . Gerald loved to ride and he rode anything and everything in sight."

Emmett Chester Roberts and Clara Marie Schubert were married on 23 Dec 1914. Clara Marie Schubert was born on 2 Feb 1896 in Wakefield, Clay County, Kansas. She died on 26 Feb 1982 in Emporia, Lyon County, Kansas. She was buried on 2 Mar 1982 in Strong City Cemetery, Strong City, Chase County, Kansas. Emmett Chester Roberts and Clara Marie Schubert had the following children:

+6649	i.	Marjorie Mae (Margie) Roberts.
+6650	ii.	Kenneth Sherwood Roberts.
+6651	iii.	Gerald Gordon Roberts.
+6652	iv.	Howard Leslie Roberts.
+6653	v.	Clifford Clayton Roberts.
+6654	vi.	Gloria Ann Roberts.