Jim Lauder (Left and inset)
September 7, 1934 – September 17, 2023
With Peter Bawden (C), Dale Flett (R) with the Calgary Stampede’s Gas Company Trophy in 1963
Photos Courtesy of Tara Cosgrave and Billy Melville Collection
The World Professional Chuckwagon Association was saddened by the passing of former outrider Jim Lauder on Sunday, September 17, 2023, at the age of 89.
As the son of one of the most famous early day chuckwagon drivers – Tom Lauder, Jim grew up in a chuckwagon family. As the second youngest of eight children, Jim watched his older brothers – Bill, Bob and Jack, as well as his brother-in-law Ronnie Glass become accomplished chuckwagon competitors, and it was only a matter of time when Jim would follow in the family chuckwagon business. In 1951 at the age of 16, Jim made his debut as an outrider for his older brother Jack at the Edmonton Exhibition.
He won his first Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby Championship in 1959 as a member of the Peter Bawden chuckwagon outfit in the year that Dale Flett and Hally Walgenbach split the driving duties. He won again in 1960 as an outrider for the Orville Burkinshaw chuckwagon outfit with driver Hally Walgenbach, and would win three more years consecutively with the Peter Bawden outfit driven by Dale Flett from 1961 to 1963. He is just one of four outriders to have won five consecutive Calgary Stampede Championships. Until his passing he was just one of two living outriders (the other being Clarence Peters) that outrode for Dale Flett’s record of five consecutive day money runs in 1962 that was broken just this year by Chanse Vigen.
Jim entered the winners circle for the sixth time in 1966 with the Siguard Nielsen chuckwagon outfit driven by Bill Greenwood, and for the final time in 1967 with the Flett Bros. chuckwagon outfit driven by Bob Cosgrave. With nine Rangeland Derby Championships in nine years, Jim had one of the greatest streaks in chuckwagon racing history. Jim retired from outriding in 1971.
In 1980 at the Battle of the Giants in High River, an on track incident early in the week knocked several outriders out of the competition with injuries, two of which were outriding for Jim’s nephew – chuckwagon driver Tom Glass. Tom contacted Jim and Tom’s brother Reg Glass and lured them both out of retirement, and as Tom Glass said at the time “these old pros really came through.” Even after nearly nine years of retirement, Jim Lauder never missed a step and helped his nephew Tom Glass win the 1980 Battle of the Giants. Jim outrode for Tom Glass once again later that year at the North American Chuckwagon Championship and won the final show of his illustrious career. Not only did Jim contribute to Tom Glass winning the two biggest shows of 1980, but the win at the North American Chuckwagon Championship also clinched the first World Chuckwagon Championship for Tom Glass.
Jim Lauder would ride at the North American Chuckwagon Championship for his nephew again in 1981 where a runner up finish helped Tom Glass to a second consecutive World Chuckwagon Championship, and Jim would ride at the North American Chuckwagon Championship for the final time in 1982.
With nearly 25 years in the saddle, Jim Lauder will be remembered as one of the greatest outriders of all time. He would play a major role in the legendary careers of Dale Flett, Hally Walgenbach, Bill Greenwood, Bob Cosgrave and Tom Glass among many others, while cementing his own legacy as one of the most accomplished outriders in the 100 year history of chuckwagon racing.
Jim is survived by his lady, Marva, his daughter Shannon, sons Clayton and Will, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces and so many, many friends. Jim was predeceased by his parents, all seven siblings, one son Troy, grandson Dale, nephews Rod, George, and Doug, and many, many friends.
A Celebration of Jim’s Life will be held at the Cochrane Legion (114 Fifth Ave, Cochrane, AB) on Thursday, October 19, 2023 from 1pm to 4pm. Arrangements entrusted to Flo Simpson, Funeral Director. Cochrane Country Funeral Home – cochrane@piersons.ca 403-932-1039. Condolences can be left at https://cochranecountryfuneral.com/lauder-james-jim-david/
Jim will be missed by all in the WPCA, and we extend our sincere condolences to the Lauder family.
Billy Melville
