Williams Rodeo Grounds renamed
Bob Dean comes from a long line of ranchers.
His father, Diz Dean, was one of the founding fathers of the Bill Williams Mountain Men, who annually ride horseback from Williams to Phoenix to promote this mountain town.
Bob was born in Flagstaff and raised right here in Williams and is the reason behind a number of rodeos that frequent this town.John Sullivan, Williams-grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce executive director, stands with Peggy and Bob Dean along with Ken Edes, mayor, during the celebration Monday which rechristened the rodeo grounds the Williams — Bob Dean Rodeo Grounds
It is for his dedication and the hundreds of volunteer hours Dean has contributed over the years that resulted in the rodeo area being named the Bob Dean Rodeo Grounds.
"The day before any rodeo, you can seen him out on the tractor fixing the grounds," said Ken Edes, mayor of Williams. "He does it all through volunteering. He’s taken it on his shoulders.
"He’s made the city proud to have one of the finest rodeo arenas around."
For three years in a row, the grounds have received the Justin Best Footing Award for the Turquoise Circuit, voted on by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.
"We’re shooting for four," said Peggy Dean, Bob’s wife.
It was seven years ago that Williams City Council said it would change the zoning at the rodeo grounds from industrial to recreational, if someone would put on a rodeo. At this point, Bob and Peggy stepped up and took the reins to lead the Williams arena out of the barn and into the pasture.
"The rodeo grounds were really not being used for anything," Peggy said about the arena, which was built in 1941. "The Labor Day Rodeo was non existent in Williams.
"Bob was asked to form a committee to bring the rodeo back. With a handful of dedicated volunteers and the (Williams-Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce) Ambassadors, we pulled off that rodeo."
After nine years of absence, the Williams Labor Day Rodeo returned and has been held here for the last seven years.
When the Cowpuncher’s Rodeo and Reunion moved to Flagstaff years ago, Bob fought to have it return to Williams — he won. The rodeo returned in 1997 and has been here ever since.
Peggy said her husband has put in countless hours at the rodeo grounds. "You could always find him over there patching on that arena," she said.
All the hard work has paid off, Peggy said.
"There’s not one piece of wood on the ground — everything is pipe," she said. "Everything has been completely rebuilt."
When Peggy heard about the award, she was delighted.
"I was very pleased, I feel honored myself because they chose my husband for this," she said. "I just think this is the highest honor the city could put on Bob."
Bob said he relied on his wife, the city, the rodeo committee and the chamber of commerce to help him.
"This is quite and honor," he said at the ceremony. "I certainly couldn’t have done it without them."
His daughter, Phyllis Billington; granddaughter, Carly Billington; brother, Charlie Dean and grandson Jake Dean and his wife Samantha all attended the ceremony. Delbert Dean, the Dean’s oldest son, was unable to attend, but Peggy read a letter from him.
"Not only did he want the place to look respectable but it had to work also," Delbert’s letter states about his father. "I know he would never ask for any recognition or thanks because a job well done has always been reward enough.
"You continue to be an example of how a man should be."
Bob starting ranching when he was 5 years old with a great uncle named Chick Kirby. Then he worked for Elbon Hardy and Thurman Mayes at the Quarter Circle Double X Ranch (now known as the Hat ranch).
When Bob married Peggy, they moved to Seligman where Bob worked at the Cowden Ranch, south of town. Then they moved back to Williams in 1961, and Bob worked for the highway department. But he also worked weekends on different ranches in the area, Peggy said.
The original idea to name the rodeo grounds after Bob came from John Sullivan, executive director of the chamber.
"When I first got here, being the chamber guy, I talked to a lot of people," he said. "I found out Bob had been the driving force behind the rodeo arena in Williams."
So Sullivan made the suggestion to the city council members and Edes.
"I think it’s great to recognize someone who works so hard in their community," Sullivan said. "It’s very appropriate recognition for Bob, and I think it’s something he truly deserves."
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