C.L. (Buck) Eckols, an active competitor from 1928 through 1956, was ranked among the top five calf ropers in the early 1940s. He was born on February 10, 1914, outside of Humble, Texas. His first title, at age 14, was at the Southeast Texas Junior Calf Roping and he won that the next seven years. At 16, he won the Fort Worth roping title on a borrowed horse. He competed in saddle bronc, calf roping, steer wrestling and bull riding, before focusing on roping.
Eckols toured with Juan and Tony Salinas and won roping honors in Houston, Texas (1938); Port Arthur, Texas; (1938) Burwell, Nebraska; (1940); Baton Rouge, Louisiana (1940); Phoenix, Arizona (1940); Madison Square Garden (1941); Boston Garden (1942); and San Diego, California (1944). Inducted into the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2001, Eckols was member #104 of the Cowboys’ Turtle Association, a member of the Rodeo Cowboys Association and a lifetime PRCA Gold Card member.
He died October 20, 1992, at 78.
