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John Bell
Born in Dysart, Iowa, John Bell moved to Wyoming with his family in the early 1900s. As a young man, John competed in bronc riding and steer roping. After purchasing the Polo Ranch, John and his wife Marie furnished roping stock for the rodeo. He served as Arena Direction in 1919, 1922, and from 1935-1947. During the Depression and WWII, John guaranteed all and paid some of the purses to the winning cowboys at Cheyenne. They were unaware of his generosity. He was instrumental in bringing chuckwagon racing to Cheyenne Frontier Days™ and was a charter member of the HEELS, an elite CFD™ volunteer organization of men who organized in 1935 to keep the rodeo alive.