Henry Edward "Bud" Gibson
Year Inducted: 2015
New Town & Country Stables | O'ahu
Rocker G. Livestock | O'ahu
Molokai Ranch | Molokai
Bud was born in 1947 to Dee Benjamin and Frances M. Gibson. He was raised on Oʻahu in the cattle/dairy industry while his parents, grandparents, and at times his father’s six brothers helped to build and run various dairies and feedlots on Oʻahu and Kauai. His parent’s last dairy was Valley Dairy Farm located in Maunawili Valley.
During this time, Bud was an active and successful participant in the 4-H program with his dairy heifers and beef steers. He was fortunate to win many showmanship and herdsmanship awards. He has continued in 4-H by donating his time as the auctioneer for different island and state 4-H auctions. Bud has also auctioneered for various other charities and the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council auction for many years.
Bud attended St. Ann’s School in Kaneohe, Hawaii Preparatory Academy on Hawaiʻi Island and the University of Hawaiʻi. During Bud’s years at Saddle City, he was schooled by talented horse trainers and World Champion Rodeo cowboys from the mainland that his dad had brought over to promote the rodeos and horse shows of that time. In 1964, Bud, his mother, and Amy Rich opened New Town & Country Stables in Waimanalo, Oʻahu which celebrated 50 years in business in 2014.
Bud has competed successfully in all aspects of rodeo competition such as Saddle Broncs, Bareback Broncs, Bull Riding, Team Roping, Double Mugging and Calf Roping both in Hawaiʻi and on the mainland. He was one of the youngest members of what is now the Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association. He also competed in horse shows in both English and Western classes, and had great success on the mainland with many different horses in various Snaffle Bit Futurities and Registered Quarter Horse Shows. Bud has also been a professional polo player, playing locally, nationally, and internationally. He is continuing his love of performance horses by specializing in starting young horses and schooling cutters, cow horses, and reiners. Bud has spent his entire life learning how a cow and horse think and has become known as one of Hawaii’s best horsemen.
In 1971, Bud married his partner in life and business, Katy. While running New Town & Country Stables, they started Rocker G. Livestock where they raise a cross-bred commercial herd and a purebred Brahman herd. Along with help from their son Cory, daughter-in-law Heather, nephew Bobby Joe Carlton, and many great friends, they grew the original 6 Santa Gertrudis cows and 1 bull to over 500 head of mother cows at its highest level. The cattle have served two purposes as not only beef, but also serving as the stars for many successful rodeos and horse shows put on over the years on Oʻahu, at Molokai Ranch, and on Guam. Bud’s many years of breeding for that substantial, correct, athletic animal has resulted in his cattle becoming known throughout the mainland as “Jungle Cattle” or “The Hawaiians.” Some of his heifers have shipped to Texas as replacement heifers for rodeo bull breeders and many of his bulls have done well competing in both the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and Professional Bull Riders competitions. His bulls have been purchased and retired to different herds in Oklahoma, Utah, California, Texas, and Tennessee.
From 1994 through 1998, Bud split his time between Oʻahu and Molokai and served as consultant and livestock manager for Molokai Ranch. During his tenure at the ranch, he was instrumental in the design of an arena, commodities barn, three horse barns, low-stress working corrals, and redesigning a lane system for safer livestock movement. While working with Jimmy Duvauchelle and his great crew, he improved the calving percentage. Bud also designed ranch style activities for guests as the tourist trade developed at the ranch.
Bud is dedicated to his Father in Heaven, his family, his friends, his cattle, horses and dogs. He continues to be a hands on caretaker and steward of the land. He always said, “He was born a 100 years too late.”