Les Kamm

STANFIELD — Les Kamm was born on June 30, 1926, in Palouse, Wash.,, to parents, Harry and Jennie Kinman Kamm. He died on Feb. 4, at his home in Stanfield, at the age of 81.

He was raised and attended school in Palouse, before moving to Walla Walla,Wash., and going to work on a ranch. Les married June Rosenberg on Sept. 9, 1947, in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. They lived in Pilot Rock until moving to Pendleton in 1963. Les was a horse trainer and professional all-around cowboy. He competed in both rough stock and timed events, but specialized in the timed events — calf roping, steer wrestling, steer roping, and team roping. Les trained and provided steer wrestling horses, mounting and hazing for many top steer wrestlers. He competed in many of the top professional rodeos over the years, winning innumerable events and titles throughout his long career. He first competed in the Pendleton Round-Up in 1944 and every year after until 1997. Les was a member of the Turtle's Association, which became the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association (PRCA). Les coached the first Blue Mountain Community College Boys Rodeo Team and later coached the BMCC Girls Rodeo Team. He was an active part of the Westward Ho Parade and served as a volunteer at the Pendleton Round-up for more than 50 years. He coached Little League baseball when his children were young.