Jaycees book tells rodeo's history

SIKESTON -- This isn't their first rodeo, but it may be the Sikeston Jaycees' first rodeo book.

"The Story of the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo: 60th Anniversary Edition" will be 192 pages of history captured on 8.5-by-11-inch high-quality glossy enameled paper bound into a hardcover coffee table book.

"To my knowledge, we've never done one of these before -- not to this extent, at least," said Nathan Cox, vice president of the Jaycees' rodeo board. "There's hundreds of great photos and some great stories, too."

Many of the photos were given to the Jaycees by the Sikeston Depot Museum, Cox said.

"When I first looked through the photos, one that stuck out to me was of Clint Eastwood getting out of the plane at the Sikeston airport," he said. "Another is of Warren Hearnes when he was running for governor and was in our parade. He was riding on a stage coach pulled by some donkeys."

Text for the book was gathered by Daniel Beck, co-chairman for the 60th Annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, and Charles Francis of Acclaim Press in Sikeston, the book's publisher.

"I did most of the history part. It was pretty interesting learning where we're from, what we've done," Beck said. "It was neat for me, since I've been out there since I was a young child. My dad, Lee Beck, was a Jaycee and was the rodeo chair in 1981, so I've been out there every summer since then, for the most part."

Gathering the history took nearly a year, Beck said.

"Most of my information came from interviewing people," he said, as well as reviewing old program books, and one source he found to be "a history book" on the Jaycees: The Standard Democrat.

Cox, who helped check the book for errors, said he enjoyed reading "how the rodeo came to be, some of the challenges we've had over the 60-year history and how we've been able to give back to the community. I learned more about our history and the history of the rodeo from this book than in the past eight years I've been an active member of the Jaycees."

"It was fun to write, and I hope everybody enjoys it," Beck said.

The regular version, bound in a swirl-grained leatherette cover with silver foil stamping, will be offered for $39.95.

Acclaim also will publish a deluxe leather edition, priced at $79.95, which includes a limited edition reproduction of a letter from Kenny Rogers congratulating the Jaycees on their 60th rodeo.

"If you want that genuine, nice leather edition with your name on it, you have to order it now," Cox said.

The deadline to place an order for a deluxe version or custom embossed cover is June 30. The orders may be made by calling 573-472-9800.

"We're hoping to have the book available for sale to the public before the rodeo," Cox said. "They should all come in at the same time."

Money from book sales will be used as the proceeds from 60 years of rodeos are: to support charitable work in the community.