County native, noted horseman
George E. Rose Sr., a long-time rancher, cattleman and well-known horse trainer and one of the original supporters of the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show, died Sunday, April 27, 2003 at his home in Hollister after a long period of failing health. He was 88.
Mr. Rose was born Sept. 15, 1914 in the Union District south of Hollister and lived his entire life in San Benito County except 1966 to 1969, when he had a ranch in Shoshone, Idaho. He attended Union Grammar School and San Benito High School and was a participant in the Saddle Horse Show every year from its inception in 1929 until he retired from competition in 1987.
An accomplished horseman known for his ability as a trainer, particularly of bridle horses, Mr. Rose began showing the horses he trained in 1936 and soon won awards in hackamore and stock bridle classes in California, Oregon and Nevada. He earned national recognition when he won the Triple Crown at the Grand National Rodeo at the Cow Palace in San Francisco – a title he achieved more than once.
Mr. Rose enjoyed working with children – his own and others – on their horsemanship and especially enjoyed watching them compete. One of his students, Martha Anderson Cliff, said of him, “The first thing you’ll notice about George is the vivid sparkle that never leaves his eyes. You don’t even notice their color, just that never-ending look of unyielding pride mixed with quick-witted humor.”
He was an original member of the San Benito County Saddle Horse Association and Cattlemen’s Association and the California Reined Cow Horse Association, and was also known as a loyal fan of the San Francisco 49ers.
He continued to train horses after retiring and his legacy lived on in the county as well as in Europe, where he shipped many of his trained saddle horses. In 1964, a stallion he trained and owned, “Nevada Victory,” became the first American quarter horse ever to enter Switzerland when he sold the horse to a couple who lived in Zurich.
He is survived by his wife, Janis L. Rose of Hollister; his children and their spouses, George Jr. and Sandy Rose and Diana and Ron Rodrigues, all of Hollister, and Jerry Rose of Knights Landing; his stepsons and their wives, David and Colleen Grimes of Hollister and Gary and Serefina Landgrebe of Soquel; and seven grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday from noon until 7 p.m. at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home, and on Thursday from 9 a.m. until services at 10:30 a.m. Interment at Calvary Cemetery will follow the services.
Memorials are preferred to San Benito Home Health Care, Jovenes de Antano or Community Pantry, in care of the funeral home.
A tribute to George Rose Sr. by his friend Tom Medeiros appears in today’s news section.
