Margie Greenough Henson (November 17, 1908–August 16, 2004) was a 1978 National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame inductee.

Life

Margie Greenough Henson was born Margie Greenough on a farm near Billings, Montana, on November 17, 1908. She grew up on a working ranch with her seven siblings and all were expected to do daily chores including riding and roping. She married Charlie "Heavy" Henson in 1928. They had one son, Chuck Henson.

Career

In 1929, Henson joined Jack King's Wild West Rodeo. Her experience growing up on a ranch served her well. She started

bronc riding Bronc riding, either bareback bronc or saddle bronc competition, is a rodeo event that involves a rodeo participant riding a bucking horse (sometimes called a ''bronc'' or ''bronco'') that attempts to throw or buck off the rider. Originally ba ...

and became a champion. Henson entered bronc riding events in major rodeos across the country, often the only women entrant. After a year with Jack King's, the Hensons joined the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Show. Henson continued to ride broncs. But she also added to her routine

horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

and steer riding. Later, she even added bull riding. Montana claims some of the best women bronc riders. Four are the most famous:

Fannie Sperry Steele Fannie Sperry Steele (March 27, 1887 – February 11, 1983), born Fannie Sperry, was an American bronc rider and rodeo performer from Montana. She was one of the first women inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy and Western ...

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, and the two Greenough sisters,

Alice Greenough Alice Greenough Orr (March 17, 1902 – August 20, 1995), was an internationally known rodeo performer and rodeo organizer who was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and the Montana Cowboy Hall o ...

and Margie Henson Greenough. Each was a world-class champion. Marge and her sister Alice rode bareback broncs and steers. Both later rode bucking broncos and bulls and won many championships around the country. The sisters were gentile and refined away from the rodeo. They dressed as ladies. But, they also suffered the same as the men when riding and rode the same horses. Henson and two of her siblings (as the "Riding Greenoughs") were inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame of the

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, with more than 28,000 American West, Western and Native Americans in the United States, American Indian art works and Artifact (archaeology), ar ...

in 1983. Margie and her sister Alice retired from rodeo to Tucson, Arizona. They worked in Western films briefly. She died on August 16, 2004, in Arizona.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Henson, Margie Henson Greenough 1908 births 2004 deaths Sportspeople from Billings, Montana People from Red Lodge, Montana People from Tucson, Arizona Trick riding Bronc riders American female equestrians Cowgirl Hall of Fame inductees Bull riders