DUBLIN RODEO IN 1936, EVERETT COLBORN, AN ARENA DIRECTOR FOR THE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN RODEO, PURCHASED INTEREST IN A RODEO COMPANY AND SETTLED IN ERATH COUNTY ON THE LIGHTNING C RANCH. THE FIRST “WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO” IN DUBLIN WAS HELD AT CITY PARK IN 1940. THE RODEO WAS A COMMUNITY EFFORT WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ACCEPTING TICKETS, PARKING CARS AND PREPARING FLOATS FOR THE PARADE. THE COLBORN BOWL WAS BUILT IN 1946 AND WAS THE LARGEST OUTDOOR ARENA IN THE SOUTHWEST. ALONG WITH INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION, THE RODEO BROUGHT IN THOUSANDS OF VISITORS AND FEATURED CELEBRITIES INCLUDING GENE AUTRY AND ROY ROGERS. THE DUBLIN RODEO HELPED LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR THE MODERN SPORT OF RODEO.