It is with great honor that the Pendleton Round-Up recognizes longtime volunteer and community leader Tim Hawkins as the 2025 Grand Marshal of the Westward Ho! Parade!
Tim Hawkins grew up on a ranch north of Pendleton, where his family maintained strong ties to both the Round-Up and Happy Canyon for generations. His grandfather, Joe, provided horses for the Round-Up, while his father, Don, served on the boards of both the Round-Up and Happy Canyon. His mother, Helen, played a vital role as the court chaperone for many years.
“One of my favorite stories from my dad is about his youth, when he and his brothers rode their horses to town to take part in the opening serpentine at the Round-Up, they were rewarded with the chance to watch the rodeo from horseback for free.”
Tim’s journey as a volunteer began at the age of six when he participated in Happy Canyon as a swim kid. Over the next 23 years, he took on various roles in the show, including scout, fireman, and a spot in the opening silhouette alongside Chief Clarence Burke. In 1980, his long-standing dedication led to his election to the Happy Canyon Board of Directors, where he served for a decade, including two years as president.
At 14, Tim began volunteering for the Round-Up, assisting his father at an arena gate. Over the years, he took on various roles, focusing primarily on the timed events section of the arena. He later transitioned to working at the chutes, serving as the communication link between the arena floor and the press box—a role he held for 15 years.
In November 2005, Tim was elected to the Round-Up Board of Directors, starting as sponsor director from 2006 to 2008. One of his key projects during this time was overseeing the completion of the Roy Raley Room, ensuring its interior was finished and ready for use the following year.
In 2009, Tim took on the role of arena director, a position he held for four years. This period saw significant changes to the Pendleton Round-Up arena, especially leading up to its centennial. The construction of the new west end brought substantial changes to the arena’s layout, requiring a delicate balance between modernization and tradition. Another of Tim’s major projects was the 2010 track restoration, an effort to preserve the track’s integrity by excavating 18 inches of dirt, laying a barrier, screening out rocks, and then replacing the dirt in an attempt to prevent more rocks from coming to the surface.
Tim’s final role on the board was as president, a two-year term filled with both challenges and exciting developments. Another milestone was his insistence on hiring the event’s first general manager—a move that has proven highly beneficial. While the Round-Up and Happy Canyon remain Tim’s primary passions, his dedication to Pendleton extends beyond these two organizations. He was selected as the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 2022 for his commitment to our community. He has served as chairman of the Convention Center Commission, chairman of the Pendleton Grain Growers board, and chairman of St. Anthony’s Hospital board. While on the hospital board, he played a key role in spearheading the construction of the new hospital.
Today, he is serving on the board of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. This is the preeminent Western heritage museum in the United States. Among all his contributions, Tim is most proud of his four years as chairman of the Round-Up’s Centennial Committee. Overseeing 24 subcommittees, he helped organize a range of projects—from publishing a centennial cookbook to hosting special throwback events during the 2010 show. Notable achievements included the Let’er Buck Ball on New Year’s Eve 2009, which raised over $70,000 for the Centennial Plaza project, and the Spring Branding event, which raised another $20,000 by branding and selling pieces of the old west end grandstand’s bench seats as a fundraiser.
Tim and his wife, Jennifer, were leaders in the development of the Centennial Plaza and new grandstands. The two were instrumental in the commissioning and funding of the Let’er Buck Bronze statue located on the grounds.
Tim has four children—Adam, Tanner, Blair, and Kelsey—all of whom have participated in the Happy Canyon show. His son Tanner has followed in both his and his grandfather’s footsteps, serving as president of the Happy Canyon board and now as the Round-Up’s arena director. Tim’s grandsons, Deacon and Gunnar, carry on the family tradition as fourth-generation volunteers for the Round-Up and also are actors in the Happy Canyon show. One of Tim’s proudest moments will be having all 14 of his grandchildren present to watch him lead the Westward Ho! Parade as Grand Marshal!