Fort Worth

THEN & NOW: Historic photos of Fort Worth’s Stock Show All-Western parade back to ’30s

Jan. 29, 1965: Stock Show parade in downtown Fort Worth; 4-year-old Ellen Egloff rides on dad Jack D. Egloff’s shoulders.
Jan. 29, 1965: Stock Show parade in downtown Fort Worth; 4-year-old Ellen Egloff rides on dad Jack D. Egloff’s shoulders. Harry Cabluck Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s kickoff parade is Saturday, Jan. 14, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1896.

This will be the first All-Western parade since 2020. More than 2,000 horses are featured, as well as TCU’s marching band.

Here’s a look at photos from the stock show parades going back to the 1930s, along with some more recent images from the 2000s.

March 12, 1937: Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show parade in downtown Fort Worth
March 12, 1937: Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show parade in downtown Fort Worth FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM ARCHIVE/UT ARLINGTON SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
Jan. 17, 2015: Hundreds of horses and riders participate in the Stock Show Parade in downtown Fort Worth
Jan. 17, 2015: Hundreds of horses and riders participate in the Stock Show Parade in downtown Fort Worth Rodger Mallison Star-Telegram
1953:  The Stock Show parade nears the intersection of 7th and Main streets, heading north towards the Tarrant County Courthouse. American flags and Stock Show banners line the street. Businesses fronting the parade route include the Jack Collier Drug Co., KONC Radio, Dundee men’s clothier, Mid-Continent Supply, United Finance and Thrift Co., and the Downtown Club, a billiard hall.
1953:  The Stock Show parade nears the intersection of 7th and Main streets, heading north towards the Tarrant County Courthouse. American flags and Stock Show banners line the street. Businesses fronting the parade route include the Jack Collier Drug Co., KONC Radio, Dundee men’s clothier, Mid-Continent Supply, United Finance and Thrift Co., and the Downtown Club, a billiard hall. unknown Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 16, 2016: Stock Show and Rodeo VIPs lead the All-Western parade through Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth.
Jan. 16, 2016: Stock Show and Rodeo VIPs lead the All-Western parade through Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth. Paul Moseley Star-Telegram
March 10, 1939: Paul Whiteman, left, and Amon Carter ride horses at the head of the parade that opened the 43rd Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show.
March 10, 1939: Paul Whiteman, left, and Amon Carter ride horses at the head of the parade that opened the 43rd Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 22, 2000: Members of the Pure Country Riding Club make their way down Main Street in Fort Worth’s Stock Show Parade
Jan. 22, 2000: Members of the Pure Country Riding Club make their way down Main Street in Fort Worth’s Stock Show Parade Sharon M. Steinman STAR-TELEGRAM
Jan. 22, 1952: Ernest L. Allen Sr., vice president of the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show and marshal of the opening day parade. He was owner of Ernest Allen Motor Co.
Jan. 22, 1952: Ernest L. Allen Sr., vice president of the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show and marshal of the opening day parade. He was owner of Ernest Allen Motor Co. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 12, 2008: Sydner Snipes, 3, waits with her father, Anthony Snipes, of Fort Worth, along Main Street in downtown for the Fort Worth Stock Show all-Western parade.
Jan. 12, 2008: Sydner Snipes, 3, waits with her father, Anthony Snipes, of Fort Worth, along Main Street in downtown for the Fort Worth Stock Show all-Western parade. TOM PENNINGTON STAR-TELEGRAM
Circa 1971: Kevin Brown, 3, sits on father’s shoulders and cries during the Stock Show parade in downtown Fort Worth.
Circa 1971: Kevin Brown, 3, sits on father’s shoulders and cries during the Stock Show parade in downtown Fort Worth. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 17, 2004: Sean Brennan holds his 2-year-old son Parker while his son Ryan, 6, watches during the Fort Wort Stock Show Parade in downtown. The Brennans are from Fort Worth.
Jan. 17, 2004: Sean Brennan holds his 2-year-old son Parker while his son Ryan, 6, watches during the Fort Wort Stock Show Parade in downtown. The Brennans are from Fort Worth. Sharon M. Steinman FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
Jan. 14, 2006: Riders guide their longhorn cattle past the courthouse during the annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo parade in downtown
Jan. 14, 2006: Riders guide their longhorn cattle past the courthouse during the annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo parade in downtown TOM PENNINGTON STAR-TELEGRAM
Jan. 26, 1951: Texas Gov. Allan Shivers rides with W.R. Watt, right, who was president-manager of the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show, in the downtown Fort Worth parade.
Jan. 26, 1951: Texas Gov. Allan Shivers rides with W.R. Watt, right, who was president-manager of the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show, in the downtown Fort Worth parade. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 18, 2014: Two young performers were part of the Banda Sinfonica from Zacateca in the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo All Western Parade.
Jan. 18, 2014: Two young performers were part of the Banda Sinfonica from Zacateca in the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo All Western Parade. Joyce Marshall Star-Telegram
Jan. 14, 2012: A rider talks on his phone in the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo’s All-Western Parade in downtown.
Jan. 14, 2012: A rider talks on his phone in the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo’s All-Western Parade in downtown. Rodger Mallison STAR-TELEGRAM
March 8, 1945: Pat Henry with a laughing horse named Golden Lurce. “The smirking Palomino is a young stock horse owned by Mrs. Lucille L. Cofield of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mr. Henry is Golden Lucre’s trainer.” Behind the horse and trainer is a store called Pioneer Palace.
March 8, 1945: Pat Henry with a laughing horse named Golden Lurce. “The smirking Palomino is a young stock horse owned by Mrs. Lucille L. Cofield of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mr. Henry is Golden Lucre’s trainer.” Behind the horse and trainer is a store called Pioneer Palace. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 14, 2017: Circle L5 Riding Club in the All Western Parade in downtown Fort Worth, the kick-off event for the Fort Worth Stock Show.
Jan. 14, 2017: Circle L5 Riding Club in the All Western Parade in downtown Fort Worth, the kick-off event for the Fort Worth Stock Show. Max Faulkner Fort Worth Star-Telegram
March 8, 1946: Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show Parade: “Leading the longest and most colorful stock show and rodeo parade in the 50 years of the event were these four flag-bearer riders, from left: Duffy Crabtree, Great Falls, Montana. Vic Truitt, Stonewall, Oklahoma. Fay Kirkwood and Tad Lucas, both of Fort Worth. In the distance is the Fort Worth Texas & Pacific Railway station depot.
March 8, 1946: Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show Parade: “Leading the longest and most colorful stock show and rodeo parade in the 50 years of the event were these four flag-bearer riders, from left: Duffy Crabtree, Great Falls, Montana. Vic Truitt, Stonewall, Oklahoma. Fay Kirkwood and Tad Lucas, both of Fort Worth. In the distance is the Fort Worth Texas & Pacific Railway station depot. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 22, 2000: Fort Worth police officers lead the beginning of the Stock Show parade.
Jan. 22, 2000: Fort Worth police officers lead the beginning of the Stock Show parade. Ken Lawdermilk SPECIAL TO THE STAR-TELEGRAM
March 8, 1940: Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show opening parade. Thousands lined Main and Houston streets in downtown Fort Worth ahead of the 10-day show.
March 8, 1940: Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show opening parade. Thousands lined Main and Houston streets in downtown Fort Worth ahead of the 10-day show. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 23, 1999: The TCU marching band during the Fort Worth Stock Show western parade on Main Street.
Jan. 23, 1999: The TCU marching band during the Fort Worth Stock Show western parade on Main Street. Darrell Byers STAR-TELEGRAM
March 10, 1939: Amon Carter and others ride horses at the head of the parade to open the 43rd Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show in Fort Worth. Behind the men on the horses is a marching band.
March 10, 1939: Amon Carter and others ride horses at the head of the parade to open the 43rd Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show in Fort Worth. Behind the men on the horses is a marching band. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 17, 2004: Caden Moore, 3, of Arlington, watches as horses pass by during the Fort Wort Stock Show Parade in downtown.
Jan. 17, 2004: Caden Moore, 3, of Arlington, watches as horses pass by during the Fort Wort Stock Show Parade in downtown. Sharon M. Steinman FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
March 20, 1935: Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show, featuring eight-horse team of Clydesdales, advertising Anheuser-Busch Inc.’s Budweiser beer. Posed in front of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram building on Seventh Street.
March 20, 1935: Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show, featuring eight-horse team of Clydesdales, advertising Anheuser-Busch Inc.’s Budweiser beer. Posed in front of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram building on Seventh Street. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archive/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 26, 1951: Crack riding groups from West Texas participate along with various Fort Worth organizations and residents in the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show Parade. The tallyho loaded with passengers belong to Ray Woods of Fort Worth.
Jan. 26, 1951: Crack riding groups from West Texas participate along with various Fort Worth organizations and residents in the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show Parade. The tallyho loaded with passengers belong to Ray Woods of Fort Worth. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 14, 2012: Jose Morales and his 2-year-old son, Miguel, ride with La Guadalupana riding club in the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo All Western Parade in downtown.
Jan. 14, 2012: Jose Morales and his 2-year-old son, Miguel, ride with La Guadalupana riding club in the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo All Western Parade in downtown. Rodger Mallison STAR-TELEGRAM
Jan. 30, 1953: “Mrs. Willard Davis of Crosbyton tightens the cinch on her horse as she prepares to mount and take part in Friday’s downtown stock show parade. Her husband looks on approvingly.”
Jan. 30, 1953: “Mrs. Willard Davis of Crosbyton tightens the cinch on her horse as she prepares to mount and take part in Friday’s downtown stock show parade. Her husband looks on approvingly.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 14, 2012: The Texas Girls Choir perform at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo All Western Parade in downtown
Jan. 14, 2012: The Texas Girls Choir perform at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo All Western Parade in downtown Rodger Mallison STAR-TELEGRAM
March 5, 1947: Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show visitors Earline Vaughan, Glenda Anderson, Dorothy Burgess, Barbara Guthrie, Betty Neil Marlow and Pearl Kemp.
March 5, 1947: Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show visitors Earline Vaughan, Glenda Anderson, Dorothy Burgess, Barbara Guthrie, Betty Neil Marlow and Pearl Kemp.
Southern Methodist University head football coach June Jones walks with Madeline Pickens, wife of T. Boone Pickens, in the Fort Worth Stock ShowÕs ÒAll Western ParadeÓ in downtown Fort Worth January 16, 2009. They were with the organization “Saving America’s Mustangs” to raise awareness to the plight of the mustangs. (Special to the Star-Telegram/ Richard W. Rodriguez)1
Southern Methodist University head football coach June Jones walks with Madeline Pickens, wife of T. Boone Pickens, in the Fort Worth Stock ShowÕs ÒAll Western ParadeÓ in downtown Fort Worth January 16, 2009. They were with the organization “Saving America’s Mustangs” to raise awareness to the plight of the mustangs. (Special to the Star-Telegram/ Richard W. Rodriguez)1 RICHARD W. RODRIGUEZ SPECIAL TO THE STAR-TELEGRAM
1950: The traditional all-Western, non-motorized Stock Show Parade through downtown Fort Worth featured many colorful entries and of course, dozens of horses.
1950: The traditional all-Western, non-motorized Stock Show Parade through downtown Fort Worth featured many colorful entries and of course, dozens of horses. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
March 8, 1946: Crowds line downtown’s Main and Houston streets for the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show Parade. “Although the crowds were well behaved it took every effort on the part of police along the line of march to keep the streets open. The view was taken at Ninth and Houston streets.”
March 8, 1946: Crowds line downtown’s Main and Houston streets for the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show Parade. “Although the crowds were well behaved it took every effort on the part of police along the line of march to keep the streets open. The view was taken at Ninth and Houston streets.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 15, 2005: A girl waves to the parade as thousands of people lined Main Street in downtown Fort Worth for the annual Southwestern Exposition and Stock Show parade.
Jan. 15, 2005: A girl waves to the parade as thousands of people lined Main Street in downtown Fort Worth for the annual Southwestern Exposition and Stock Show parade. Tom Pennington STAR-TELEGRAM
February 1953: Two men on white horses in Stock Show parade carrying U.S. and Texas flags in downtown Fort Worth.
February 1953: Two men on white horses in Stock Show parade carrying U.S. and Texas flags in downtown Fort Worth. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 14, 2012: Good weather brought large crowd to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo All Western Parade in downtown.
Jan. 14, 2012: Good weather brought large crowd to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo All Western Parade in downtown. Rodger Mallison STAR-TELEGRAM
March 5, 1947: Watching the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show Parade are Miss Polly Boswell, R.M. Davidson and Texas Harner of Cleburne.
March 5, 1947: Watching the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show Parade are Miss Polly Boswell, R.M. Davidson and Texas Harner of Cleburne. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 19, 2013: Western reenactors on the Legends of Texas entry in the All Western Parade make their way through downtown Fort Worth, kicking off on the Stock Show and Rodeo.
Jan. 19, 2013: Western reenactors on the Legends of Texas entry in the All Western Parade make their way through downtown Fort Worth, kicking off on the Stock Show and Rodeo. RON T. ENNIS Star-Telegram
March 8, 1946: “Even as it was in the Western highwayman’s day, this stage coach in the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show parade Friday afternoon was ‘protected’ by a rifle-bearing rider.” A Renfro’s Drugs store is seen on the corner of the building.
March 8, 1946: “Even as it was in the Western highwayman’s day, this stage coach in the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show parade Friday afternoon was ‘protected’ by a rifle-bearing rider.” A Renfro’s Drugs store is seen on the corner of the building. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 23, 1999: The Fort Worth Stock Show western parade heads north on Houston Street in downtown.
Jan. 23, 1999: The Fort Worth Stock Show western parade heads north on Houston Street in downtown. Darrell Byers STAR-TELEGRAM
March 9, 1945: A mounted parade through downtown Fort Worth ushered in the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show in Fort Worth. Gov. Coke R. Stevenson, a rancher, led the way on his paint horse. John C. Burns, president of the exposition, rode alongside the governor.
March 9, 1945: A mounted parade through downtown Fort Worth ushered in the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show in Fort Worth. Gov. Coke R. Stevenson, a rancher, led the way on his paint horse. John C. Burns, president of the exposition, rode alongside the governor. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections
Jan. 15, 2011: Saginaw cowboys K.J. Beavers, 5; and 6-year-olds Levi Johnson, Cade DeSantos and Hayden Norwich wait for the Stock Show Parade to begin in downtown Fort Worth.
Jan. 15, 2011: Saginaw cowboys K.J. Beavers, 5; and 6-year-olds Levi Johnson, Cade DeSantos and Hayden Norwich wait for the Stock Show Parade to begin in downtown Fort Worth. Ron Jenkins Star-Telegram
March 20, 1935: An Anheuser-Busch wagon drawn by Clydesdale horses made an appearance at the Stock Show. Beatrice Brenner, a torch singer with the Johnny Robinson’s Orchestra at Fort Worth’s Blackstone Hotel, rode in the wagon. She is pictured here with Ben E. Keith, president of Ben E. Keith Co., a regional wholesale distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables and distributor for Anheuser-Busch products. Keith entered the wholesale produce business in 1906 and helped organize the Harkrider-Morrison Co., which became Harkrider-Keith-Cooke Co.. In 1918 Keith purchased controlling interest and was named president.
March 20, 1935: An Anheuser-Busch wagon drawn by Clydesdale horses made an appearance at the Stock Show. Beatrice Brenner, a torch singer with the Johnny Robinson’s Orchestra at Fort Worth’s Blackstone Hotel, rode in the wagon. She is pictured here with Ben E. Keith, president of Ben E. Keith Co., a regional wholesale distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables and distributor for Anheuser-Busch products. Keith entered the wholesale produce business in 1906 and helped organize the Harkrider-Morrison Co., which became Harkrider-Keith-Cooke Co.. In 1918 Keith purchased controlling interest and was named president. Fort Worth Star-Telegram archives/UT Arlington Special Collections

This story was originally published January 10, 2023 at 11:53 AM.

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Matt Leclercq
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Matt Leclercq is senior managing editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He previously was an editor at USA Today in Washington, national news editor at Gatehouse Media in Austin, and executive editor of The Fayetteville (NC) Observer. He’s a New Orleans native.
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