HomeMy WebLinkAboutAudie Murphy RodeoME'.'EM COWBOY --Donald Fuller, who will actuall3 a small sample ofsome action you'll see at the
rforin in the Euless , Ranch Night April 29 at Audie function. All sorts of acts are included, --News Staff
urphy Arena between Murst and Euless, here gives you
AUDIE MURPHY ARENA-EULESS, TEXAS
George & Beulah Brown, Foreman of the
Ray Woods Ranch and his wife
Ray Woods bought the land east of Euless in 1945. He built a large
sprawling ranch style home , guest cottage and rodeo arena. Ray met Audie
Murphy through a Dallas friend, Skipper Cherry. Ray was very interested in
horses and Audie became one of his closest friends.
Ray rode with the Dallas Mounted Quadrilles, the best precision mounted
horsemen in Texas at that time. The first R.C.A. (Rodeo Cowboy Association)
rodeo was held in 1947. He hired George Brown to be his foreman in 1948.
For six years, Audie Murphy was the main attraction at the annual rodeos.
During this time Audie married Hollywood starlet Wanda Hendrix. The
marriage was created in Hollywood to enhance both movie careers. Audie
and Wanda spent their honeymoon in the guest cottage at the ranch in Euless.
After a short marriage Audie and Wanda divorced. Later Audie married an
airline flight attendent and the two also spent their honeymoon in the same
guest cottage on the ranch in Euless.
Audie visited the ranch each time he visited Texas. Ray , his wife and
family became Audie's second family. In 1953 Ray sold his show place and
purchased the Drummon Place west of Euless near the juncture of Highway
10 and Pipeline Road. The Arena was moved there and Audie appeared at
several more of the rodeos until the property was sold and Ray Woods
bought the Drummon Place west of Euless on the south side of Highway 10
just beyond the juncture with Pipeline Road. Woods continued his rodoes
sponsoring the Junior Rodeo Association rodeos with local Euless High
School students among those competing for prizes. A few years later Woods
also sold this property and purchased land in Stephenville. Beulah and
George Brown remained in Stephenville after the death of Ray Woods.