EVENTS
Champion Steer Roper
Champion Team Roper, 1929
Saddle Bronc Rider
Bull Rider
Born in San Benito County, California, in 1894, Charles Maggini grew up on his father’s ranch and learned to ride and rope at an early age. He first participated in local rodeos as a teenager and entered his first real competition at Salinas, California, in 1911. Following service in World War I, Maggini continued to rodeo and cowboy.
Rodeo contestant Charles Maggini holds the distinction of winning two Rodeo Association of America (RAA) event championships (for steer roping and team roping) in the first year such recognition was given (1929). He was an early member of the Cowboy Turtle Association, later competed in calf roping and bull riding, and was the holder of a PRCA gold card. But Maggini made his living as a cowboy, riding for many years for cattleman Henry Miller on ranches in California, Nevada, Utah and Oregon. He also trained and finished horses for reining and hackamore competition.
In later years Maggini managed Rancho San Felipe in San Jose, California. He was immortalized in the biographical film, Top Hand, in 1982, and passed from the arena and range the same year.
