Person:Leo Watrin (1)

Buried in Okotoks Cemetery, Okotoks, Canada

Obituary from unknown, undated newspaper:

  FUNERAL SERVICE HELD HIGH RIVER FOR LEO WATRIN

HIGH RIVER, Sept. 30--Funeral service for the late Leo Watrin, who died in Calgary September 26, were held Monday at St. Francis Roman Catholic Church. Rev. Father Bowlen Officiated at the service, after which the remains were interred at the family burial plot at Okotoks.

  Many friends of the family were present and numbers of cowboys and riders, amongst them.  The stampede champion was always regarded as a fearless rider, a fair winner and a good loser.
  Surviving the deceased are his wife, his mother, three brothers, Clarence, Eddie and Lawrance; and five sisters, Mrs. Michael Cooper, Mrs. Geroge McIntosh, Mrs. John Bews, Miss Vera all of High River, and a sister in the States.
  The family moved from Minnesota to High River district about twenty-four years ago, taking up land a few miles from town.  The Watrin brothers have for many years been conspicuous figures wherever a stampede or rodeo has been held, and Leo had, but recently returned from a  successful tour of stampede events in B.C. and the Western States.

NEWSPAPER WRITE-UPS From unknown, undated newspapers

 Headline: FORMER BUCKING HORSE CHAMPION BADLY INJURED
Leo Watrin, High River, in Hospital after being hit by truck may never ride a bronc again chest and ribs caved in, thigh bone broken on Macleod trail.
 Leo Watrin, 24, of High River, former Canadian bucking horse champion, may never ride again.
  he lies in the Holy Cross hospital with his chest smashed  in a number of ribs broken and his left thigh bone severely fractured as the result of an accident on the Macleod trail

Headline: LEO WATRIN DIED OF HIS INJURIES RECEIVED ON ROAD

  Famous Stampede Rider FAils to Rallyu From Shock
            CHARGE IS LAID
  Driver of Truck Which Struck Diceased Must Face Court

Headline: FIRST HEARING OF ROSS CASE OPENS

  Evidence of Accidental Killing of Leo Watrin Given Wednesday

Headline: STAMPEDE FANS STAND SILENTLY TO HONOR DEAD

  Tributes to George Lane and Leo Watrin Paid by Guests

ALBERTA WAS MY BEAT by Fred Kennery Page 127 ALBERTA COWBOYS RIDE EAST

  He took a bunch of Alberta cowboys-- some of whom had never been out of the "north pasture"--and in three years of competition all over North America, he developed some of them into future world's champions-- Pete Knight, harry Knight, Slim and Leo Watrin, and...

Chapter 12 GOLD ON THE RODEO TRAIL Page 141/142

 It was a late suppper because the boys had to go to their hotel, shower and get into their "Sunday-go-to-meeting" clothes.  Just a few days before, Leo Watrin had received delivery of a brand new pair of Hire's cowboy boots, and he was so proud of them.  He wore them with his trousers tucked inside his boots.  While waiting for dinner to be served, some of the boys were admiring them and fact drew some caustic comment from a group of football players who were dining on the floor above which was separated from the main floor by a staircase and a well.
 As I was in charge of the party, I went upstairs and politely asked the group to desist, because Mr. Welsh had always been insistent upon good behavior on the part of the cowboys and I didn't want any trouble.  At that time I weighted exactly 130 pounds soaking wet and I was addressing my remarks to a big tackle who weighed in at 245 pounds.  He swung his arm to brush me aside, and that was all the cowboys needed.  I just had time to wheel around and duck under a table when the first wave of bronc snappers hit the footballers.  It didn't last long, but it was a dandy while it lasted.  Mr. Welsh was furious.  But then an Ottawa sports columnist suggested that a vote of thanks be extented to the cowboys from the Canadian west for showing the training camp footballers how to fight.  Mr. Welsh was never firmly convinced that the whole thing hadn't been staged as a publicity stunt.

1. ↑ Minnesota Historical Society. Minnesota Birth Index 1900-1920
   Cert# 1906-09015.