November 27, 1941
Gary Norman Powles was born in Hyannis, NE on November 27, 1941 to Glen and Ioma Powles. He had one older sister, Glenda Kay Zickefoose. When the kids were young, the family moved northwest of Bingham. Gary attended a country school near their home from 1st grade through 3rd grade.
Later the family moved south of Bingham to the family ranch where Gary still lives today. He started working the ranch at an early age with his father Glen. Gary loved riding horses, often meeting his friend’s miles from home to play cowboys and Indians. As kids, they would dress up like their favorite cowboy hero’s.
Gary attended school in Bingham from 4th grade through his freshman year, where he made the “varsity” basketball team with 5 members on the team, often finishing with only 3 on the court. After the closure of Bingham High School, Gary went to Hyannis High. He was chosen as Boys State Representative and then later graduated in 1959.
After graduating, he started his rodeo career in 1960. He participated in rodeos until 1972 riding mainly bareback horses and bulls winning many buckles and awards, He was perceived as one of the better bareback riders of his time. People often would say, ‘he could spur the hair right off a horse’. He competed in several other events as well. He later joined a roping club and spent many weekends team roping with friends and neighbors.
Gary and Glen were some of the first in their area to experiment with the AI program. They were featured in the Omaha World Herald in 1963. The article include dinterviews of area cattleman an dthe reasons for pursuing the AI program.
While ranching and going to rodeos, Gary also enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1963. He attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO and advanced training at Fort Sill, OK. He was a Fire Direction Chief and gained the sharpshooter qualification badge. He remained in the Army National Guard until 1969. During this time, Gary married Judy Crumroy on June 12, 1965. Together they had 3 daughters Wendy (Kevin) Bestol, Cindy (Shawn) Hebbert and Julie (Jake) Daugherty. He has 6 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Ranching life is a staple in Gary’s family. He taught his 3 daughters to ride horses, brand, fence, work in the hayfield and work and feed cattle and to have patience and be respectful to the animals and to be a steward of the land.
Gary lost the love of his life, Judy, after 28 years of marriage. He devotes much of his time to his family, church and community while still operating and actively working on the ranch. He was a past elder of the Bingham Lutheran Church and is now the acting Chairman. He is also acting Chairman of the Bingham Cemetery. Gary was asked to join the Nebraska Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame Board of Directors for Garden County.
Over the years, he has been influential to family members and anyone who wants to pursue rodeo or the cowboy way of life. Gary has worked his entire life as a cattlemen and has made great improvements on his ranch and loves calling the sandhills “home”.