Special Constable Tom Three Persons

C A N A D A

A short story

about

Special Constable Tom Three Persons

by

Vet. Don Klancher, 'E' Division

Special Constable Tom Three Persons was born in March 1888 at Standoff, North West Territories {after 1905 this part of the NWT became the Province of Alberta}.

Undoubtedly, Alberta’s most famous cowboy, Tom Three Persons was baptized as Moses Three Persons, but he was known to all as 'Tom'. He was said to be the son of "... Double Talker, a Blood woman, and Fred Pace, a white trader and bootlegger ..." [At one time,] Pace was an original member of the NWMP, he served from 1873-74; Regimental Number (old series) 136.

Although he [Tom] had been competing in bronc-riding competitions for a few years, he entered the first Calgary (Alberta) Stampede in 1912, as a virtually-unknown competitor and left as the world’s bucking horse champion, having defeated a number of experienced competitors.

As the only Canadian who won a championship in a major event at that first Calgary Stampede, he became an instant celebrity. During his prime, he attended many rodeos and won many more events; in later years he took up calf roping.

In the book Tom Three Persons : Legend of an Indian Cowboy by Hugh A. Dempsey; the author wrote that "... In spite of the rumours, stories and gossip about Three Persons antics, he had never been arrested, not even for being intoxicated. Accordingly, when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police needed two new scouts, they offered the positions to Three Persons and his friend Tom Many Feathers. It seems strange that a man who some people believed was in league with the Devil, who was said to be a wife beater, a thief, and an arsonist, should wear the five-pointed star of an RCMP Scout. Yet Three Persons was probably recommended to the position by the new Indian agent ... who was either unaware or unconcerned about Three Person’s reputation. To him, Three Persons was a reliable, hard-working man who spoke good English and was a hero among many of his people. To the Mounted Police, he was an Indian with a clean record who was willing to carry out his assigned duties ..."

On December 2, 1921, he [Tom Three Persons] was engaged as a RCMP Special Constable; "as Scout to Stand Off Detachment." At the time, Stand Off Detachment was part of "M" Division, Headquartered at Macleod, Alberta. He served [in the Force] until March 31, 1922.

Tom Three Persons was inducted into:

Canadian Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame; Calgary, Alberta - July 11, 1983

Indian Rodeo Hall of Fame - 2002

Hall of Fame at National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum; Forth Worth, Texas - 2007

Sports Hall of Fame; Lethbridge, Alberta - May 1, 2010

Tom Three Persons died on March 13, 1949. He was buried at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Cardston, AB.

Photo of Tom Three Persons with permission:

Photo Courtesy of Glenbow Museum Archives / NA-778-7 With many thanks to Vet. Don Klancher For additional details read Tom Three Persons : Legend of an Indian Cowboy by Hugh A. Dempsey. 'Maintain Our Memories' J. J. Healy, Reg.#23685