Tom Three Persons became a successful rancher at a time whenCanadians did not expect Indians to succeed. His even greater claim tofame was in the rodeo arena—at the first Calgary Stampede in 1912he won a world championship in bronc riding, and was the only Canadianto achieve a championship in any major event at the stampede. He becamea hero, took up calf roping, and inspired generations of Blood Indiansto success in the rodeo arena. But there was a dark side—TomThree Persons carried out vendettas against neighbours, drank too much,abused his wives, and was said to have had no natural children whoreached adulthood.