My Uncle, Lark Flanigan, passed away a few weeks ago, and although I didn’t spend a great deal of time with him, the time I did spend with him was very memorable. I have put together this small collection of photos that I have taken of Lark at a few family reunions since 2013.
And here is a tribute to Lark Flanigan, written by his son, Chad Flanigan, and published in the 2019 Great American Stampede Rodeo handout in a segment titled, “Legacies Left by Lions Who Served”:
For many Lark Flanigan is just a name. To me Lark Flanigan is my dad, my hero, my friend and my rock when my walk faltered. Dad loved horses, he grew up with them, trained them and shared them. From Cactus Joe to Nina he always had a soft spot in his heart for horses. Dad also loved rodeos and horse races and when in attendance they always brought back very peaceful memories for him. Dad was a true cowboy, not because of his love for animals but because of his loving care for people because that is how he lived his life and this demonstrated the accurate definition of a cowboy.
Dad dedicated many years traveling the west with the team members of the Southern Utah State College (Now SUU) Rodeo Team. Through severe snow storms to running out of gas on I-15 to wrangling a horse from the side-steps of a semi-truck dad always made sure that the team made it to their competitions. He took extra time to make sure that the team members knew that they were appreciated and that they always returned home to their families. One trip I recall traveling with dad to Ogden for the Weber State College sponsored rodeo when a Dixie State team member was bucked off a bull and stepped on several times. This team member was alone and had no other team members or coach to assist so dad made sure to see this cowboy in the hospital and made sure he was taken care of properly. Dad went out of his way to make you feel known as a friend. Dad had contact later on in years with many former team members and always had kindness and laughter to share. He always felt bad and took it to heart when he would miss greeting someone, miss a phone call or miss sending a card to someone on their special day. He demonstrated love to everyone freely. Dad always had a firm handshake, a twinkle in his eye and always called you by name showing that he cared for each individual.
Dad always took time to share his love for horses with his family by participating in high school riding clubs with his children, showing each of us how to care for and treat an animal. Dad always did what needed to be done to make sure the task was complete. He was a man who loved details and the many years he gave to the rodeo team and the many rodeos he helped to make a success he saw each task through to the end and he made sure he was the one to shut off the lights at the end of the day. His legacy lives on in each of his children and his sweetheart as we all learned from the very best on how to treat people. We are truly blessed to have known Lark, we are thankful for his accomplishments, for his kindness, his trustworthiness, his compassion and honesty.
To many Lark Flanigan is a cowboy. May his legacy live on within each of us that he had contact with throughout the years. May we live by his examples and may we all be a cowboy at heart, as only Lark would have it.
Rest in peace dear friend!
