Chris LeDoux Days Wraps With ‘The Last Go Round’ After 15-Year Run

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Ned LeDoux onstage with the LeDoux grandkids. Photo: Josh Wirth

Chris LeDoux Days, the annual event honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of the Hall of Fame rodeo champion and multi-Platinum-selling legend, just wrapped its “last go round” in LeDoux’s hometown of Kaycee, Wyoming on June 13-14 after 15 years.

This year’s Chris LeDoux Days welcomed over 5,500 fans to Kaycee (population 265) to honor the music and rodeo legend and local hometown’s favorite son. The performers for the final event were Sawyer Brown, Kip Attaway and for the 15th year, Chris’ son Ned LeDoux, who performed his music as well as classics from his dad’s catalog.

Chris LeDoux Days – “The Last Go Round.” Photo: Payton LeDoux

Created in 2010, the annual event celebrated the life and legacy of LeDoux and has hosted a variety of artists over the last 15 years including Cody Johnson, Aaron Watson, Corb Lund, Reckless Kelly, Micky & The Motorcars, The Great Divide, Kyle Park, Chancey Williams and more.

Chris LeDoux Days started as an idea Chris and wife Peggy LeDoux had to create a park with a small piece of land they owned in Kaycee. After LeDoux passed in 2005, Peggy and their kids, Clay, Ned, Will, Cindi and Beau, carried through on the idea of developing the Chris LeDoux Memorial Park for the community to enjoy. Artist and sculptor D. Michael Thomas created a life-size sculpture of Chris during his 1976 World Champion ride on Stormy Weather, and the family had the sculpture placed in the park.

On the day the “Good Ride Cowboy” sculpture was officially unveiled, the family booked bands to come play and had bareback and bronc riding—and thus, Chris LeDoux Days began. From that first event to this year’s “final round,” the LeDoux family have put on this event every year—an annual Father’s Day weekend tradition for 15 years.

Some of the LeDoux family at the final Chris LeDoux Days – “The Last Go Round.” Photo: Payton LeDoux

“We had ‘The Last Go Round’ of Chris LeDoux Days on June 14,” says Peggy. “We’ve had a great run! Starting with the unveiling in 2010 and ending with 15 years. It’s kind of bittersweet to end this event. We’ve met so many good fans that have kept this event going and it’ll be sad not to see them and meet the new ones.” She continues, “Thanks for putting Chris in your memories. Like our daughter Cindi said, Chris ‘wasn’t one to be doted over’ but I think he would be proud and I can just hear him saying, ‘OK Peg go ahead with it.’ If you’ve heard about the Hawk, well he’s here a lot and was flying over the house that week. So I guess he was ok with it. Thanks so much to everyone, and God Bless.”

“Mom sure knows how to throw a party,” says Ned. “What this grew into over the years was amazing. From the size of the crowds to the bands who performed. It’s always been about family and a family run event. It’s a celebration of life for Dad. All the things he accomplished and achieved in only 56 years would take most people maybe three lifetimes. And I’m sure he’d be blushing about the whole deal. But I’d like to think he’s got a big ol’ grin on his face about it all. It’s been a heck of a run. Who knows, maybe we’ll come up with something else later down the road. But for now, we’ll just reflect on the past 15 years of Chris LeDoux Days.”

Lorie Hollabaugh
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