Havre Gal Marie Gibson to be Inducted into the Cowgirls Hall of Fame

Marie Gibson

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame recently announced that Marie Gibson, a cowgirl with Havre roots, will be inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame during the 36^th Annual Induction Luncheon Ceremony to be held at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth Texas on October 26, 2011.

Marie was born in Holland Manitoba on August 18, 1894 to Belgium immigrants.  When Marie’s parents moved to the Havre area Marie stayed behind to marry Joe Dumont and her first of three children was born to her at the age of 16.  Three years later Marie’s family moved to Burnham Montana which is about 10 miles west of Havre.  Marie’s husband left the marriage and returned to Canada leaving her with three small children.  Marie’s neighbor was Long George Francis who encouraged Marie to ride the bucking broncs he was breaking for saddle horses.

Marie Gibson- Chicago

Marie first rodeo as a bronc and trick rider began in Havre in 1917 at the Great Northern Stampede where she placed third in the horseracing event.  She meet Englishman Tom Gibson at this rodeo who she would later become her husband.  After that first rodeo Marie continued on in the North American Rodeo Circuit and she won the Best Woman Bronc Rider award at the Saskatoon rodeo in 1919 where she met the Prince of Wales who later was crowned King Edward the VIII.  By 1992 Marie was considered one of the” best of the best” and was invited to participate in the very first Tex Austin rodeo in New York City.  The next year Austin’s performers were on London performing at Wembly Stadium.

Marie Gibson- Chicago

Marie continued earning top-dollar on the rodeo circuit until September 23, 1933 when her horse collided with the pickup man’s horse and she died of head injuries at the age of 39.

“She died as she lived, hearing the applause of the people.”

If you find Marie’s story interesting the following sources were used for this article
Photo collection from the University of Wyoming
Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame
History of Marie Gibson created by Havre’s own Danielle Barton
Cowgirl Hall of Fame Inductees
Montana Cowgirl Marie Gibson by Heidi Thomas

Marie Gibson - Trick Rider

Marie Gibson on "Silvertip"