Wild Bill Hickok Belt Buckle Auction nets $10,535 for rodeo

Dena O'Dell
Lifestyles Editor, The Abilene Reflector-Chronicle
Published August 07, 2006 8:42 AM CDT

The Wild Bill Hickok rodeo committee can throw up their hats and celebrate. This year's Belt Buckle Auction netted a total of $10,535--almost $2,000 more than last year's $8,575.

A handmade quilt made by Beverly Wilcoxon and embedded with the history of the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo was the biggest seller--topping off the bidding at $2,400.

Don Burns, whose picture is one of several pictures featured on the quilt, was the buyer.

All of the men who served on the rodeo committee are incorporated into the quilt, along with numerous people and performers who have graced the Wild Bill Hickok arena over the years.

This year's belt buckle featured Bob Pound, a well-known Abilene steer wrestler.

Pound was born and raised on a ranch in Brownlee, Neb. He started rodeoing when he was in high school and continued throughout college. He went on from amateur rodeos to professional rodeos. He won the steer wrestling championship at the Central Plains Collegiate Rodeo Association in 1972 and retired from the rodeo in 1977.

The No. 1 gold and silver buckle was purchased by Mike Brierton of Brierton Engineering, Inc., for $1,350. The gold and silver No. 500 buckle was purchased by Marvin Kuntz of Kuntz Drive-In for $850.

Sterling silver buckles were purchased as follows: No. 2, Susan Bauman, $250; No. 3, Holt Motors, $250; No. 4, Gary Fiegley, $200; and No. 5, Ada Wood, $350.

Brass buckle No. 6 was purchased by Bob Anderes for $110. Other brass buckles purchased were: No. 7, Marvin Kuntz, $150; No. 8, Ada Wood and Solomon State Bank, $125; No. 9, Linda Hawley, $125; and No. 10, Leon Kohman, $100.

The Green Ford Series No. 1 was purchased by Marvin Kuntz for $400. Proceeds from the sale of the buckle will go to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Dickinson County.

A 1992 Wild Bill Hickok rodeo committee jacket was purchased by Leon Kohman for $200 and a complete set of numbered buckles donated by Loren Gugler was purchased by Rawhide Corrals for $400.

Other items auctioned off were:

* an autographed picture of 2006 world champion bullrider Matt Austin and donated by Sammy Andrews, stock contractor for the rodeo, was purchased by Roger Watt for $675;

* a set of eight glasses and a pitcher engraved with the Wild Bill Hickok emblem and donated by 3 Rivers Engraving was purchased by Amy and Gary Fiegley for $175; and,

* a complete second series of buckles, No. 422, donated by Bob Glover were purchased for $425 by Dean Hocker.

Aside from the proceeds from the sale of the Green Ford Series No. 1 buckle, all other proceeds from the auction go toward rodeo improvements at the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo.