Last Series of Interviews Underway for Casey Tibbs Film Project

PIERRE, S.D. – (DRG News) A final series of filming is being done in the area this weekend for a documentary on the life of former rodeo great Casey Tibbs. The film is to be called “Floating Horses: The Life of Casey Tibbs” and it’s the creation of independent filmmaker Justin Koehler. Koehler is a Midland area native and now lives in Colorado. He’s working on the project with Aaron Pendergast-who is the film’s editor. Koehler says yesterday, the two interviewed Jim and TJ Korkow, along with State Senator Billie Sutton. The schedule calls for more on film interviews through tomorrow with area residents including Terrance Etzkorn, John Duffy, Sunny Hannum, Larry Tibbs, Dayle Angyal and Johnny Holloway. Koehler did a series of interviews last year in Las Vegas and other locations with well-known celebrities such as Charlie Daniels, Baxter Black, and Red Steagall, along with Cleo Harrington-who was Tibbs’ wife and stuntman Dean Smith, among just a few. Koehler says this last series of interviews from Tibbs’ home state is the perfect way to end the filming process. The rodeo champion was born northwest of Fort Pierre and won a total of six PRCA saddle bronc-riding championships-along with other rodeo honors. Koehler says the local interviews will help lay out the story of Tibbs’ life before he made it big in rodeo and in movies and on TV. Koehler says the project has resulted in various Casey Tibbs memorabilia being uncovered, including historical pieces that haven’t been seen in almost 50 years. He says they have acquired Tibbs’ personal collection of 16 mm films-and within that collection is a highlight reel of Tibbs riding broncs...more