On May 12th the Billings Gazette ran a retrospective story on the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale that featured a number of Gazette photographer Larry Mayer's photos from the 1978 Bucking Horse Sale:

Billings Gazette: Retrospective: Miles City's 'World Famous' Bucking Horse Sale


Here is one example:

Gazette photo by Larry Mayer

[Click the photo for a larger image.]


I feel like I should know the names of many of these Cub Scouts. I think that is John Potts in the blue baseball cap overseeing the troops. I think the kid 3rd from left holding his left forearm might be Art Holmes. Art's dad, Dean Holmes, was mayor of Miles City around that time. I believe the boy on the far left who is nearly out of frame might be Elvis Neuhardt. Perhaps Mike Lucas out on the right front corner?

ETA: That might be Willis Potts in front holding the Cub Scout flag and Robert Peltzer holding the U.S. flag. I think the Webelos (the kids with the green, yellow, and red ribbons on their right shoulders) are mostly high school graduating class of 1985 and the other kids are 1986, maybe 1987.

[Edited by David Schott (5/16/2021 9:58:55 PM)]

Wonder if they knew those cowboys in the Bison are all in High School.

My sister Martha, Debbie or Della Ligholt, Vivian Mount, and I think my dad are in the first picture.

David... stop making me feel OLD, damit!

[Edited by Richard Bonine (5/17/2021 1:19:40 PM)]

The drinking age was 18 in 1978, Richard. No problem.

More from BHS (presumed 1977--I missed it as I was doing my duty for Uncle Sam in Germany):

David Schott wrote:

The drinking age was 18 in 1978, Richard. No problem.

I was 17 and some of those in the bar were younger than me. Not that I care. It's rather amusing at this point.

Most of them make a convincing case for being 18 or older.

Billings Gazette / Larry Mayer

Coors was all the rage in 1978 thanks to Smokey and the Bandit.

I have a Hamm's Beer serving tray like the one in this picture.

Billings Gazette / Larry Mayer

Just to add to the collective.

I am about the same age as Richard. I was not ever sitting in a Miles City bar in the 1970s. But I certainly do remember buying liquor to go from the bars since I was 16, which would have been 1977.

Remember, those were kinder and gentler times. I was big and tall.

David... If you had hung out with the cool 😎 kids at the North door you would know better. 🤠🤐

[Edited by Richard Bonine (5/17/2021 9:25:10 PM)]

My senior year, in 1976, we could legally sell tickets to a beer bash for seniors. Somehow, we all survived.