Each year at our Annual Dinner & Auction the Cowboy Museum honors an individual or family who has been involved in our local western history. These people have demonstrated through their daily lives the passion for ranching or rodeo and have made a contribution to our western traditions and heritage.

Annual Dinner and Auction

2019

Honorees

The Bacigalupi Family

           For their steadfast commitment to the Community of Oakdale, and its heritage as The Cowboy Capital of the World.  For decades this family has operated businesses in and around the Oakdale area that have contributed to its namesake, as well as facilitated it in many regards.  Annual supporters of the area's many Rodeo and Ag related events, the Bacigalupi's continue to do all they can to preserve and protect the western way of life. 

          Many of them rodeo contestants and organizers themselves, they know and understand the hard work and dedication necessary to live a Cowboy lifestyle.  From farming & ranching, to operating the historic H-B Saloon here in downtown Oakdale, and now with the next generation looking towards the rodeo stock industry, it's safe to say that the Bacigalupi Family will be around to support the Rodeo industry for may years to come.

          Thank you all for your incredible contributions to the industries that the Ranch & Rodeo communities hold so dear.

2019 Posthumous Recognition:

Louie "Dutch" Zabala

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          A true western renaissance man, Louie's contributions to people's lives still echo through this area.  Fondly remembered as a jack of all trades, Louie Zabala used his time to live the Cowboy's dream.  Starting out cowboying and breaking horses in The Great Basin of Nevada, he eventually found himself in Oakdale, where he led a life filled with farrier work, cowboy poetry, card tricks, and an unsurpassed appreciation for life.  Louie also did his share of Rodeoing, having won several regional titles and ropings, and of course participation in events like the Oakdale 10-Steer.  The Cowboy Museum is proud to have honored this incredible Cowboy!

Mike Bacigalupi, Heading; Louie Zabala, Heeling

Oakdale 10-Steer

Thank you 2019 Dinner Auction Sponsors & Donors!

Posthumous Recognition

2003 Doc Britton
2004 Fred Valenzuela
2005 Vic & Trudy Castro
2006 Russ Santos
2008 John Grohl
2009 Colin Harvey
2010 Dave & Vi Ramont
2011 Dick Pascoe
2012 Tom Butler and Tom Clark
2013  Introduction of Chester Cook Memorial Wall at Cowboy Museum

2014 John Bowman

2015 Pat O'Brien and Jeff Jeffries

2016 Russ Sousa

2017 Glenn Bacigalupi

2018 Sonny Tureman

Past Honorees

2000 Sonny Tureman

2001 Les Hirdes

2002 Phil Stadtler

2003 The Orvis Family

2004 Harley May

2005 Doc Dorius

2006 Jim Charles, Bill Martinelli & Bob Eidson

2007 Founding Board of Directors for the Cowboy Museum

2008 Chester Cook & The Cook Ranch

2009 The Rosasco Family

2010 Leo, Jerold & Reg Camarillo

2011 Bob Brunker & Rancho Del Rio Estanislaus

2012 Early Cattle Haulers of Our Area

2013 Cotton Rosser & Flying U Rodeo

2014 Dr. Ed LeTourneau

2015 History of the Oakdale Livestock Auction

2016 Honoring the History of the Oakdale Saddle Club

2017 Honoring 125 years of A. L. Gilbert

2018 Honoring Ace Berry