Everett E. Colborn was born July 26, 1892 in DeLamar, Idaho. He grew up on a ranch and was familiar with and enjoyed all aspects of the cattle business. In time he became a roper of skill and entered many rodeos in that event. Finally moving into the business of furnishing livestock for area shows, he produced rodeos in Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming during the 1920’s and 1930’s.
In 1931, he entered into an agreement with the late Colonel W.T. Johnson, rodeo producer from San Antonio, to furnish a carload of top bucking horses each fall for the Madison Square Garden Rodeo. Colborn worked first as a judge, later as an arena director at the Garden rodeos.
In 1937, Everett, together with Harry Knight and a group of Arizona businessmen, purchased the rodeo from Colonel Johnson, moving it to Dublin, Texas. It became known as the World’s Championship Rodeo, with Everette E. Colborn as managing director. In the following 22 years, he continued to produce the rodeo at Madison Square Garden as wel as top rodeos in other parts of the nation. Gene Autry became a partner in 1942 and the name became World’s Championship Rodeo, Gene Autry and Associates.
Everett Colburn was a superb showman and the quality of the shows he produced added much to the prestige of rodeo. He sold his interest in the rodeo to Gene Autry in 1960 and returned to the cattle business. He died March 20, 1972 at his home in Dublin, Texas.
