PHOTO: 2004 OLD COWHAND -- Helen London's friendly smile and exuberant personality -- not to mention her years of living on a farm -- makes the young 92-year-old a natural for this year's selection as the Freedom Rodeo's Old Cowhand. Photo by Helen Barrett.
When the Freedom Rodeo officially opens, this year's Old Cowhand won't come riding in on horseback. Instead, in a manner befitting royalty, Helen London will enter the arena in a horsedrawn carriage.
Her silvery white hair crowns her charming, friendly smile as begins her reign as the 2004 Honored Old Cowhand.
Being in the spotlight at the rodeo is not unfamiliar territory for London. She was selected as the very second Freedom Rodeo Queen in her youth.
"Back then they just chose a girl in the community," London said. "It didn't have all those prizes and things is has now. Heck, I didn't need anything."
Sitting in her cozy apartment at The Homestead, a silver boot and cowboy hat pinned to her bright colored floral top, London puts away the solitaire cards and recalls the life that led to her latest tribute.
London was born nine miles west of Freedom on August 5, 1912. When she was two years old, her famliy moved east of Freedom.
Milking cows, raising chickens, growing a garden were a way of life.
Boredom wasn't a problem as a child.
"If we got bored, Dad said go get the hoe and hoe awhile."
Her least favorite chore was milking cows.
"It was a job I hated," London said of milking cows. "I told my daughter never to learn."
Having to milk cows turned London against drinking the product even though she knows it's supposed to be healthy.
"If you'd ever milked a cow you wouldn't want to drink it either," she says emphatically. "I'll cook with it, but I don't drink milk."
She started school at the White Cloud school then attended Fairvalley before going to Freedom.
"I graduated from Freedom High School in 1930," London says. "There were five of us."
For 39 years Helen was married to her late husband Levi. She worked side-by-side with him on the farm, feeding cattle and other chores.
London's main hobby in life has been crocheting. She can knit, but doesn't like doing that as well as crocheting. She recently found her tatting shuttle and intends to teach one of her friends at The Homestead the nearly lost art.
"I've crocheted many a skein of yarn," she says.
Pointing to a pineapple design crocheted tablecloth, London says, "I crocheted this while I went with Levi to feed cattle."
After 92 years, London's hands stiffen when pursuing this hobby, so she spends much of her time playing solitaire.
London only recalls missing one Freedom Rodeo. The year was 1939 and her brother was gravely ill.
"I was glad to lean on his arms," she says. "Men went ahead and done thangs that women didn't know anything about. We had a good life."
London has two children. Vilene Hansen works at Alva State Bank. Jim and his wife Deb live on the home place near Freedom.
Pictures of London's grandchildren line the desk in her apartment. Grandson Levi London graduated from Oklahoma State University this year and married on July 3, giving London a second granddaughter, Amy.
Granddaughter Randus attends college in Stephenville, Texas. Some of London's favorite memories involve watching Randus compete in the barrel races at the rodeo.
Being named Old Cowhand came as an unexpected honor.
"I was sitting here playing 'sol' I guess," she says. "I was really surprised when they called and asked me if I'd accept it."
This honor merely carries on a family tradition. Her mother was named the first female Old Cowhand in 1956. Two other women held the title in between.
Don't expect any speeches from London at the rodeo.
"I'd rather just be sitting back and hide," she says modestly.
"I've tried to enjoy life," she says. "I just live day to day."
