Gary Williams, longtime general manager of the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros and a key figure in the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association for a quarter-century, died Sunday at the Tucson Medical Center after suffering a stroke. He was 73.
Williams became the first general manager of the Tucson Rodeo in 1995 and distinguished himself until his retirement in December 2020.
A 1967 graduate of Rincon High School, Williams earned a business degree from the University of Arizona, but his love of being a cowboy and the rodeo kept him in Tucson. He started attending rodeo as a child because his father, Gene, played in a Western band that performed during the rodeo. He got his first horse at age 4, and ultimately became a bull rider.
Williams rode bulls for 16 years and was a rodeo clown for three. In 1985. he became a member of the Tucson Rodeo Committee, a volunteer organization for which he worked as chairman of the publicity and promotion committee. He eventually became vice chairman of the committee and then chairman of the Tucson Rodeo Committee in 1995.
During the time he was volunteering with the Rodeo Committee, he was director of human resources at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Before he retired, Williams was one of the most recognizable faces on the PRCA calendar. He was chosen to be part of the executive committee of the National Finals Rodeo every December in Las Vegas, where his ever-present cowboy hat and western-style mustache made him one of the most identifiable figures in the rodeo industry.
Gary Williams helped turn Tucson Rodeo from an event that barely broke even into one that landed several sponsors.
He described his long tenure on the Tucson Rodeo Committee as βa wonderful life.β Williams was inducted into the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
βHeβs got such a presence,β Dr. Eddie Taylor, a UA grad who was the 2019 RCA Veterinarian of the Year, told the Star in 2020. βHeβs known and respected around the country not only by the stock contractors and announcers but by the bull riders and cowboys.
βIf you see Gary at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, everybody knows him.β
Gary Williams is thrown from Grandmama Alice after a successful ride at the 1982 Tucson Rodeo. Williams, a longtime cowboy, was named the first general manager in event history in 1995.
In 1996, after 71 years, the Tucson Rodeo Committee hired Williams as its first paid employee and its first general manager. As GM, he was responsible for the overall everyday operations that included securing sponsors, enlisting cowboy athletes to participate and putting on the biggest sporting event in all of Southern Arizona.
βHe was like an encyclopedia around here,β Tucson Rodeo committee chairman Mark Baird told the Star in February. βEvery day I want to ask a question and I turn to him and heβs not here. It was tough to replace him. It was like, βWhere do I go now?ββ
Photos: La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo through the years
Little Cowpunchers riding in the 1938 Tucson rodeo parade. Victor Aros is in the front, left. Pete Aros is standing in the middle, the only one without a cowboy hat. Photo courtesy of Victor Aros.
1948 rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds on South Sixth Ave.Β
Roping action at La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo in 1949.
Tucson Citizen newsboys distribute newspapers at the 1951 rodeo parade.
Rodeo parade spectators fill the streets at Stone and Alameda in 1951.
A couple of cowboys participate in a wild horse race during the 1961 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros. A three-man team tries to control a wild horse long enough to put a saddle on its back. Then one of the team members has to ride it, usually across a finish line. Tucson Citizen file photo
A bull rider crawls away from a bull, most likely as fast as he can during the 1961 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros. Photo by Bruce Hopkins / Tucson Citizen
With a firm grip, a steer wrestler brings his steer to a stop during the 1963 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros. Tucson Citizen file photo
Dick Pttman hangs on during bronc riding at the Tucson Rodeo in 1971.
Competitors for the bushiest beard of the 1971 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros. The Grand Prize winner was Joe Lowry, at right.
The 1972 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo.
Legendary rodeo photographer Louise Serpa photographed Dee Dunning on a bull during the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo in 1972.
John Kowskal holds on tight to his horse during the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo in 1973.
A bull rider makes a quick exit off his ride during the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo in 1973.
A barrel racer's hat flies off while making the turn during the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo in 1974.
Rodeo clown Quail Dobbs takes the fast way out of the arena during the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo in 1974.
A.R. Young wallows in the mug after throwing a calf during steer wrestling in 1983.
Kelly Tierney of South Dakota makes a turn during barrel racing during the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo in 1984.
A rodeo clown distracts a bull after throwing its rider during the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo in 1984.
Wade Leslie gets tossed around like a rag doll while on a bull in his event on March 2, 1986 during La Fiesta de los Vaqueros. Photo by Xavier Gallegos / Tucson Citizen
Rodeo clown Ted Kimzey fishes from a raft in the middle of the rodeo area during the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo in 1987.
Tate Wyly ropes his buddy Casey Simon during the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo in 1989.
Quadrille de Mujeres stand before the crowd during the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo in 1990.
A steer throws a cowboy during La Fiesta de los Vaqueros in 1996.
Bullfighter Rob Smets smiles after being thrown from a bull at the Fiesta de Los Vaqueros rodeo in 1998.
Bull rider Robbie Miller is underneath the bull, Gator, as he is being after being knocked off of the fence as he was trying to escape the bull in 1998. The man in the yellow coat in the ring was trying to come to the aid of Robby but there was nothing he could really do at this point but try and distract him.
Rusty Hamilton from Capitan, New Mexico takes down a steer during steer wrestling on the fourth day of the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo in 1998.
Doug Forzani gets a lift from a bull during the Wrangler/Western Warehouse Bullfight contest at the 75th Annual Tucson Rodeo in 2000.
Craig Hicks leaps from his horse and onto a calf during the Steer Wrestling competition at the 79th Annual Tucson Rodeo in Tucson, Arizona on Sunday Feb. 22, 2004.
Rodeo photographer Louise Serpa stands among many of her rodeo photographs at her home on Tuesday, February 8, 2005.
Nathan Klassen tries his best to get away from 'Getcha Some' during the 81st annual La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds on February 18, 2006.
Lindz Sears of Ropesville, Texas, goes around the third barrel in the Women's Barrel Race at the Tucson Rodeo finals, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008.
B.J. Schumacher gets booted from 'Undertow' in the bull riding competition during the 83rd Annual Tucson Rodeo, Friday, February 22, 2008.
Saddle Bronc rider Heith DeMoss prepares for the finals on a horse named Night Latch at the Tucson Rodeo finals, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008.
Mutton Busting competitors put on their game faces prior to competing at the Fiesta de Los Vaqueros Feb. 27, 2010 at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds.
Luke Butterfield hangs onto the rail as his horse rares-up in the shoot before heading out into the arena Saturday, February 20, 2010 during the Saddle Bronc Riding event.
Saddle bronc rider Cody Wright has trouble with his first re-ride horse, Many Bubbles, as it rears up in the chute at the end of the performance at La Fiesta de los Vaqueros on Friday, February 26, 2010.
Olin Hannum of Malad, Idaho, steer wrestles in a time of 5.4 seconds at the Tucson Rodeo, Friday, Feb. 25, 2011.
Hunter Herrin comes off of his horse and during the Tie-Down Roping event of the 86th annual La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo on Sunday, February 20, 2011.
Caleb Bennett hangs on during the bareback riding competition at the 87th Annual Tucson Rodeo on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012.
Beau Clark hides through the dirt and during the slack Steer Wrestling competition in 2012.
The Lunderville family heading to get the girls' horses for them to ride in the competition. From left to right: Melisa, mom; Dylan, 6; Peyton, 8; Taylor, 11; Chad, father; in 2013.
Chance Campbell, coming off his horse and onto the steer during the Steer Wrestling event at the Tucson Rodeo, La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, Sunday February 24, 2013, in Tucson, Arizona. Photo by Benjie Sanders/Arizona Daily Star
Monty Lewis, roping the steer and getting ready to come off his horse to tie it down in the Tie-Down Roping event during the Tucson Rodeo, La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, Sunday February 24, 2013, in Tucson, Arizona. Photo by Benjie Sanders/Arizona Daily Star
Wyatt Hancock of Taylor, Ariz., comes charging out of the chute riding Beatrice during the fifth performance at La Fiesta de los Vaqueros at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds. The photo was taken on Saturday, February 22, 2014, in Tucson, Ariz. Photo by A.E. Araiza/ Arizona Daily Star
Tray Chambliss, from Alpine, TX, keeps a hold onto his horse, One-Eyed Jack, as he competes in the bareback riding event during the 89th Annual Tucson Rodeo at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds. Photo taken Friday, February 21, 2014.
Cody Kiser, from Carson City, NV, competes in the bareback riding event during the annual La Fiesta de los Vaqueros at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds. Kiser was the stunt double for Bradley Cooper in the film "American Sniper." Kiser finished with a score of 75. Photo taken: Thursday February 26, 2015. Photo by: Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Ben Bates Jr., from Tohatchi, NM, competes in the steer wrestling event during the first day of La Fiesta de los Vaqueros at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson on Feb. 21, 2015.
A steer gets the better of Billy Boldon, from Oglala, S.D., during steer wrestling competition at the third performance of the 2016 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo on Feb. 25. Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Orin Larsen, of Inglis, Manitoba, hangs on to Wonderland for a score of 84 to win the bareback competition on Feb. 28, 2016.
Frank Morton gets hung up and dragged along the arena after securing his eight seconds on Good Times in the bareback event on the next to last day of the Tucson Rodeo, Saturday, February 25, 2017, Tucson, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Chris Roundy makes an early exit while riding Little Bull during the finals of the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo on Feb 26, 2017.
Steer wrestler Trevor Duhon latches onto a steer for a 10.1 time in steer wrestling during the first day of action at the 2018 La Fiesta de Los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo on Feb. 17, 2018, at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 S. 6th Ave., in Tucson, Ariz.Β
Dean Wadsworth, from Ozona, Texas, holds on as "Crop Circle" leaps from the chutes in saddle bronc riding during the first day of action at the 2018 La Fiesta de Los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo on Feb. 17, 2018, at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 S. 6th Ave., in Tucson, Ariz.
Trent Jacobson gets his hand caught in the ropes of Category 5 while bullfighter Dusty Tuckness, right, races in to help free him after a no-score run during the fifth performance of the 2018 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo on Feb. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz.Β
Ty Breuer holds on for 84.5 points on Redigo in the bareback competition on the closing day of the 94th Annual Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo, Sunday, February 24, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
Kyle Eaton gets pinned by his ride Muley Madness after getting tossed in the bull riding completion on the opening day of the 94th Annual Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo, Saturday, February 16, 2019, Tucson, Ariz.
