Two Seats With Special Meaning At SLE Rodeo
Every year thousands of people enjoy the 59 year tradition. But for one man, this is a 44-year long tradition that's not just about the cowboys and bull riders.
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It’s night two of the SLE Rodeo. Every year thousands of people enjoy the 59 year tradition. But for one man, this is a 44-year long tradition that’s not just about the cowboys and bull riders.
There’s something for everyone at the rodeo, but for John Chapman that something—is tradition.
John Chapman, from Little Rock, Arkansas said, “it’s kind of funny we have a rodeo in Little Rock and other places I rarely go to, it’s just the tradition of doing this. Not many people keep something going for 44 years.”
These are his seats, “I got here about an hour early to make sure I had my seats.”One for him and one for his lifelong friend Danny. “We started coming in 1973. We came 38 straight years, never missed a Friday night, regardless of wherever we lived and since he died last thing he told me before he died was he wanted me to keep coming so I still buy both tickets and drive from Arkansas on Friday night every year,” he said.
A tradition he’ll keep alive, “it’s pretty emotional I mean we always had such a routine, we’d eat at the same place sit in the same seats, do the same things. So it’s emotional but he wanted me to keep it going and as long as I can, if I can make it up the stairs I will keep going.”
