By Al Camp
Chronicle staff

     CHESAW — The thrill of a bucking animal beneath him at the Chesaw Fourth of July Rodeo remains for Andrew Joseph.
     He rode his first critter, a calf, when he was 6 at the rodeo.
     “He bucked like heck when I got out of the chutes,” Joseph said.
     Joseph rode cows at the 25th and 50th anniversaries of the rodeo.
     “I rode a cow on the 50th,” Joseph said, noting he was 61 when he did so. “I was too long-legged to ride a calf.”
     He returns this year with his wife, Gloria, as grand marshals of the 67th annual rodeo, presented by the Chesaw Rodeo Club.
     “I plan to ride again on the 75th anniversary,” he said.
     A dance is planned for 9-11 p.m. Friday, July 3, at the Rodeo Hall (Quonset Hut). Music will be by Powder River.
     On rodeo day, small sports for children start at 10 a.m. in the arena. No prior sign-up is required. There is no entry fee.
     Sports end with a tug-o-war between those from Chesaw against others from outside the area.
     The Josephs will reign over the parade that goes through town and into the arena starting at 12:30 p.m.
     The rodeo starts at 1 p.m. with events such as cow riding, calf roping, saddle bronc and bareback riding. There will be a men’s wild cow milking and open barrel racing.
     During the rodeo there will be a calf scramble for those age 12 and under. There is no entry fee or prior signup. Competitors should wear clothes they are willing to get dirty, organizers said.
     Junior events include cow riding, calf roping and barrels. Junior competitors entered in senior events cannot compete in junior events.
     Books open June 25 and run each day 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. until events are filled. Folks can enter by calling 485-3223.
     Rodeo stock will be provided by C&C Rodeo Co., Riverside.
     There will be concessions and gate prizes.
     Andrew Joseph, 73, said he and others from the Chesaw and Molson area used to practice up for the rodeo by riding Charlie Eder’s cows.
     “We tried to ride the same one (at the rodeo) we knew we could stay on for a while,” he said.
     Joseph said there were tryouts on bucking stock in nearby pastures a week before the rodeo.
     He said he misses the list of area service men serving in wars. Joseph said it was a feature during World War II at the concessions stands.
     “People could copy down an address and send them a letter,” he said. “The war effort is not like it was in WWII.”
     Joseph was born in Chopaka, a town he said no longer exists after being buried by an avalanche from Chopaka Mountain.
     “The town is buried 60 feet under now,” he said of a post office and railroad track that were covered. No one died in the mishap that he said he thought occurred around 1936.
     Joseph was raised by his aunt and uncle, Saul and Jennie Joseph. His mother, Elizabeth Comoshos, died in childbirth. His father was Eneas Comoshos, who lived to age 97. His mother’s grandfather was Chief Edwards.
     “I was raised with Indians in the Indian ways,” he said. “A Christian cowboy is what I am.”
     He attended the school in Chesaw, which was a one-room, one-teacher school for the first eight grades.
     He graduated from Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Ore., served in the Korean War, held a seat on the Colville Business Council for 20 years and worked for Community Action.
     Gloria Joseph (Friedlander) grew up in the Wilbur area. She is a secretary for Colville Tribal Enterprise Corp.
     “My wife is really looking forward to this,” he said. “It is an honor to be picked grand marshals.”


- Prepared by Omak Chronicle staff