This clipping is from a Florence, AL paper in 1936. Before he became a famous auctioneer, Mr. Hamilton was a famous rodeo clown. He also had a trick mule named Toby that performed with him. This actually is an ad for his final performances as a rodeo clown. At the July 4th performance, a trick went awry and Ike broke his leg in five places. After several surgeries and infections, Ike gave up his career as a rodeo clown and went into the auction business. The rest is history. Ike has been quoted as saying that accident was the best thing that ever happened to him. He would have stayed working as a rodeo clown because he loved it so much!
Ouachita Parish History Tidbits 