Rodeo Grand Marshals
2026 Grand Marshal: Jeff Witte
Photo Coming Soon!
The Clovis Rodeo Association honors, Jeff Witte as Grand Marshal of the 112th Clovis Rodeo set to take place April 22-26, 2026.
Jeff will be presented with the Grand Marshal’s traditional cowboy hat and belt buckle during a reception in his honor the last week of April. Watch for them leading off the Clovis Rodeo Parade that begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Past Rodeo Grand Marshals
1916 Charles H. Atkinson
1917 Col. C.K. Smith
1918 Col. C.K. Smith
1919 John M. Cox
1920 H.G. Johnson
1921 Orville Reyburn
1922 H.G. Johnson
1923 No parade
1924 No parade
1925 George S. Croyle
1926 George S. Croyle
1926-32 Information Not Available
1933 James O. Bittle
1934 James O. Bittle, George W. Phebus
1935 James Gleason, Sam Arrant, George W. Phebus J.P. Stone
1936 James O. Bittle
1938 James Pendergrass, Bud Sample, Arnold Shell
1939 James Pendergrass, J.P. Stone, Glenn Austin, Kenneth Davis
1940 James O. Bittle
1941 Victor McLaglen, (Hollywood actor)
1942 James Pendergrass, Carl Larson, Duane Wamsley
1943 No parade
1944 No parade
1945 Glenn E. Sheets
1946 William J. Hutchinson, Luther E. Weldon
1947 Frank Drury
1948 W.C. “Pop” Riley
1949 W.C. “Pop” Riley
1950 Frank Drury
1951 Al Green
1952 W.B. “Bert” Weldon
1953 John Allen “Happy Jack” Hawn
1954 Pop Johnson
1955 Bud Sample
1956 Ed Simpson
1957 Joe Moore
1958 C.S. Merriman
1959 Harry Ball
1960 Wes Qualls
1961 Les Smith
1962 Delbert Smith
1963 Lawrence Sassano
1964 D.F. Hallowell
1965 Jess Rodman
1966 Loris Grossi
1967 Frank Bell
1968 Lawrence Cobb
1969 Bob Simpson
1970 Earl Smittcamp
1971 Alvie Maze
1972 Fred Biglione Sr.
1973 Slim Beaver
1974 Rae Crabtree
1975 Glen Burns
1976 Ted Forbes
1977 Shorty Cunningham
1978 Gordon Harlan
1979 Clair Pollard
1980 Emil Prudek
1981 Earl Nevins
1982 Lucretia McMurtry
1983 John Weldon
1984 John I. Polson
1985 John Harvey Moore
1986 Carlos Watson
1987 Doc Joe Massey
1988 Gene Ford
1989 All Surviving Grand Marshals
1990 Beth Crabtree
1991 Martin Mouliot
1992 Emmett Rigsbee
1993 Herman “Smitty” Smith
1994 Rex Phebus
1995 Jay Robinson
1996 Jack Estill
1997 Dan W. Forbes
1998 Bill Verdugo
1999 Cliff Steward
2000 Ike Ball
2001 Mike Vuicich
2002 Fred Uriarte
2003 Betty Mouliot
2004 Les Sassano
2005 Wayne William Rohde, Sr.
2006 Wilbur Plaugher
2007 Tom Sample
2008 Stan King
2009 Bob Robinson
2010 Bill Hedrick
2011 Floyd “Doc” Buchanan
2012 Buster Ford, Denny Denton, Corky Dunbar
2013 Vern Barkman
2014 All Surviving Grand Marshals
2015 Bob Kennedy, Jim Call, Orville Hefley
2016 Harry Armstrong
2017 Jodie Simpson
2018 Earl Hall
2019 Larry Cowger
2020-2021 Joe Billalba †
2022 Larry Parker and Brian Avery
2023 Susan Frantzich & Judy Hedrick
2024 Jim and Carole Linenbach
2025 Louis G. Sarantos Jr.
† Due to the COVID pandemic, the rodeo was canceled in 2020.
Learn More About Jeff
Jeff Witte was born in Pasadena, California, the only child of James and Violet Witte, and grew up on an alfalfa ranch in the Antelope Valley. He graduated from California State University, Northridge, and later earned a degree from the University of Southern California. Jeff also proudly served as a member of the Air National Guard.
In 1977, Jeff married Sandy White, and two years later, they moved to Clovis. Jeff began his career with the City of Clovis in 1979, working in Planning and Redevelopment—at a time when Clovis had only one stoplight. Over the next three decades, he dedicated himself to public service, ultimately retiring as Assistant City Manager after 30 years. Following his retirement, Jeff continued serving the community as Executive Officer for Fresno LAFCo for several years.
Deeply rooted in Clovis, Jeff has been active in his local church and various service clubs. He has also been a devoted member of the Clovis Rodeo Association for an impressive 47 years, including three years serving on the Rodeo Board of Directors as Treasurer. Today, Jeff and Sandy live in Clovis near their son, Justin, and daughter-in-law, Nicole, and cherish time spent with their grandchildren—Riley, Jaxson, and Kynsi. They especially enjoy family time at Shaver Lake.
Jeff considers it a tremendous honor to serve as this year’s Clovis Rodeo Grand Marshal.