The One Arm Bandit

The One Arm Bandit

Susan Allen
Susan Allen

 

Some folks, in fact I would wager many, let adversity get them down but  it’s a rare individual that not only perseveres but turns a tragedy into a triumph.  I’m Susan Allen back with such a man. Since Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West shows there have few entertainers that could fill his tall boots.  Until that is the “One Arm Bandit”.    In 1973 John  Payne thought the electricity was off, it wasn’t, he sustained 7200 volts for 10 seconds, he actually died and was resuscitated, the electricity destroying his right arm and leg muscles even exposing his intestines where the volt exited. Two months latter he was back to ranching and packaged his passion for training animals after an incident where he was hired to pen some rank bucking bulls. Using his talents and his tough Florida cur dogs he had quickly had the bulls penned and their owner urged him to develop a rodeo act.  Today the One Arm Bandit is on rodeo’s  most wanted list for entertainment for his heart stopping performances riding  mustangs, buffalo, and  bulls all without a right arm. He’s  won rodeo’s PRCA specialty act of the year 10 times. I was left speechless by his act ...(amazing for me) when I watched John at the Ellensburg  Rodeo jump horses and buffalo off a moving truck midst blaring music and wild applause. While his horsemanship skills are impressive It’s his ability to train buffalo  that bring tears to the  eyes and connects us  for a moment to what the West must have been like when the shaggy beasts roamed. If you get a chance to see the One Arm Bandit perform at PRCA rodeos you’ll never forget it. The one arm bandit, the man who turned adversity into accomplishment is a true icon of the west.
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