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Freedom's 67th Old Cowhand

Helen Snapp London

(Taken from - 67th Annual Freedom Rodeo-Old Cowhand Reunion program, pg. 15)

"I'm just a 'plain Jane' and there's not much more worth telling." That was the response made sixty-five years ago when Helen Snapp was asked for an interview to consider being the 1939 Freedom Rodeo Queen.

At that time, there were no advance ticket sales; the rodeo officials simply selected a young lady to reigh. Helen declined this offer in 1939 because her brother Jim was very ill, and she wanted to spend time with him and help take care of him.

After Jim's death in 1940, she was asked again. This time, she accepted and became Freedom's second Rodeo Queen. When later asked what gifts she received, she laughed and answered, "Listen kid, there were no gifts, not even a flower-not even a kiss." She did say however, that in 1990, on her 50th anniversary, she did get a kiss from the rodeo clown.

Today, the honored cowhand, Helen London, gives much the same humble response that she gave in 1939. "I was surprised when I got the call informing me that I was selected 'Honored Cowhand.' Just don't make a long story out of this," she said. No other person has been honored twice -- Rodeo Queen and "Honored Cowhand."

Helen was born in a log cabin on a bare prairie near Packard Creek, nine miles west of Freedom. her parents were Bunk and Lucy Snapp. They had two sons (Frank and Jim) when Helen was born. When Helen was two years of age, the family moved to a new location, five miles east of Freedom on Red Horse Creek and just north of the Cimarron River. This became the permanent homne of the Snapp family and the development of the Bar-S ranching business.

Helen attended grade school at Whitecloud and Fairvalley east of Freedom and high school at Freedom, graduating with the class of 1930.

After the deaths of Frank (1926), Bunk (1933) and Jim (1939), Helen and her mother, full of sorrow, were left to ride on up the trail. Both women knew how to farm and work with cattle, and both possessed good judgement and deterrmination. Helen can relate stories of riding the range, checking fences, and "caking" cattle from a wagon drawn by a team of horses. Lucy Snapp holds the distinction of being named Freedom's first "Honored Cowhand" in 1956.

In 1941, Helen married Levi London. "Levi and I had a good life together," she said. Rodeoing was a way of life for Levi, and he participated in many rodeos. Helen, of course, was a attendance and she enjoyed the competition. The couple was belessed with two children, Jim and Vilene. Both of them assumed important roles on the ranch, making life much easier for Helen, especially after Levi's death in 1978,

Helen is proud of her family. Daughter Vilene Hansen lives in Alva and is a Vice-President at the Alva State Bank. Jim and his wife, Deb, live on and operate the ranch near Freedom. They have two children, Levi John and Randus. Both participate in rodeo events. Randus has won the Junior Barrel Racing three years in a row at the Freedom Rodeo; Levi John enjoys competing in the calf roping. This past spring, he graduated from Oklahoma State University in STillwarer, and is now employed in Dallas, Texas. He is newly-wed to Amy Brooks London. Randus will be a senior next year at Tarleton Stte University at Stephenville, Texas.

Helen has never missed a Freedom Rodeo! She has been in attendance at least one night during the three-day celebration.

Helen London is the essence of a life filled with determination and foresight. She is an intensely private person. There is no pretense -- what you see is what you get. She is quiet and down-to-earth. If given a compliment, she will probably brush it off. Her gentle smile endears her to her friends, and often, her cheerful demeanor encourages her to humourous banter.

Helen still has her home in Freedom, but at the present time, she is a resident at The Homestead in Alva. She enjoys the games and other activities there. She often comes out to her home in Freedom, and while there, drives out to the ranch. Her friends in Freedom miss her and enjoy her visits on these occasions.

So, Helen does have a story to tell -- a story of love, loss, and labor. She will be joining a group of other deserving cowhands, and nowhere in that group will one find a "plain Jane."

Yipee -- yi -- O -- Kie -- yay!