- 1885, Bee Ho Gray born in Indian Territory.
 
- 1890, Bee Ho given his Comanche name by Chief Quanah Parker.
 
- 1900, Bee Ho begins working as cowboy and learns rope skills.
 
- 1904, Bee Ho joins his first Wild West Show.
 
- 1907, Bee Ho joins the 101 Ranch Wild West show.
 
- ca. 1910, Bee Ho works with California Frank's All-Star Wild West.
 
- 1912, Bee Ho Marries Horse Trainer, Ada Sommerville.
 
- c.1912, Bee Ho accompanies Iron Tail to New York to model for "Buffalo Nickel" engravings.
 
- 1913-1915, Champion Trick Roper of the World.
 
- 1915, Bee Ho and Ada begin a long career as Vaudeville performers.
 
- 1915, Bee Ho and Ada headline on the stages across the country.
 

- 1916, Bee Ho headlines in Vaudeville show "Stampede".

 

- 1916, Bee Ho gives Colt revolver to George Hubert.

 

- ca. 1920, Bee Ho and Will Rogers work as Vaudeville team.

 
- 1922, appears on Broadway in "Red Pepper"
 
- 1924, Bee Ho performs in "Greed" by Erich von Stroheim
 
- 1931, Bee Ho headlines in "Golden West Idea" with Cherokee Chief Eagle Feather.
 
- 1933, Bee Ho performs in a Warner Brother's film, "Hey! Hey! Westerner".
 
- 1934, a wild coyote befriends Bee Ho and joins his act.
 
- 1936, Bee Ho and Company perform at The Strand for RKO Vodvil.
 
- 1937, Bee Ho performs at the Fallon County Fair in Baker, Montana.
 
- 1938, Bee Ho Gray and Company perform at the Roxy Theatre.
 
- 1938, Bee Ho performs at Wells County, ND Fair.
 
- 1940, Ada Sommerville dies. A new chapter in Bee Ho's life.
 
- ca. 1950, Bee Ho performs with the Whitaker family.
 
- 1951, Bee Ho adds Hester to his act.
 
Much more to come soon!
1913 through 1915 - World Champion Trick and Fancy Roper
 

Bee Ho held the title of World Champion Trick and Fancy Roper from 1913-1915. Tex McLeod had held the title the previous year. Bee Ho won the title at "The Stampede" in Winnipeg, Canada by performing a new trick he had originated. The trick is called the "three-rope catch" and involved catching a horse and rider with three ropes as they passed at a full speed (see photo below). The trick called for the exact placement of the ropes with one around the horse's neck, one around the rider's torso and one around all four legs of the horse. In addition to his three-rope catch, he managed to rope seven horses with one lasso as they passed. That was the record at that time.

Some accounts say Bee Ho held the title for a total of five years. According to a few newspaper articles, he also held the title for two years in the 1920s.

 

Bee Ho lost the title of World Champion Trick and Fancy Roper in 1916 when he was beat by Chester Byers at The New York Stampede at Sheepshead Bay near New York City in August of that year. The Stampede was a major historical rodeo event promoted by Guy Weadick. Bee Ho is mentioned as one of the main competitors on page 141 of "Bill Pickett, Bull Dogger" (by Colonel Bailey C. Hanes, ISBN 0-8061-1391-X, University of Oklahoma Press). The Stampede attracted up to 25,000 people per day. Theodore Roosevelt visited the contests. Will Rogers was on hand almost every day and discussed Bee Ho's roping ability in an article for the program of The Stampede. On the last day of The Stampede, Will invited the contestants to join him to appear in a special performance of the Ziegfiled Follies at the New Amsterdam Theatre. It's very likely that Bee Ho performed there that evening since he was already well acquainted with Rogers.

The article below (Western Horseman, November, 1969) tells about Bee Ho holding the title and later losing it to Mr. Byers.

 
Western Horseman, November, 1969
Click on image to enlarge
 
Bee Ho Gray roping a horse and rider using three ropes.
Click on image to enlarge
 
Bee Ho is mentioned as one of the top trick ropers in the country in a Time Magazine article called "Circuit Riders".
Time Magazine, October 22, 1933
Click image to link to article