HOOKER COUNTY HEADS THE NATION

by Claudia Tompkins

Entry T95 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

An annual Mullen Rodeo, one of many

A big benefit Rodeo was held for Infantile
Paralysis "Polio" in September of 1954. This
rodeo held, netted over $1200. Roy Haney
was the `kingpin' of the rodeo promotion. It
was a perfect day and there was a huge crowd
and many participates in the rodeo. The day
ended at twilight with Lloyd Buchfinck as the
announcer as well as his talent in entertaining
the audience. This event put Hooker County
in the lead per capita of the whole nation,
every man, woman, and child averaged $2.41.
The Hooker County Chapter National Foun-
dation of Infantile Paralysis are: Sylvester
Vanderbeek, Chairman; Claudia Tompkins,
Vice-Chairman and Emergency Campaign
Director; Josephine Humphrey, Campaign
Director; Ruth Barnebey, Treasurer and
Agnes Schackelford, Secretary.

It takes the whole community working
together to make an event like this to have
the great success it had. All of the organiza-
tions, business houses and the contributions
made by families helped keep our record in
the nation. Sandhill folks pull together in
emergencies at any time when called upon.
Hooker County had an epidemic of `Polio'
during this period.