Famed cowboy Ikuwa Purdy dies, 1945.

Ikuwa Purdy Passes

At 12:15 a. m. on July 4, the incompassionate hands of death reached out and plucked the life breath from the body of Ikuwa Purdy, as per the news received by Eben Low [Epena Low] of Honolulu. Ikuwa Purdy was 72 years old. His funeral will be held on Maui.

Ikuwa Purdy was the head cowboy at the ranch at Ulupalakua, Maui. He became the famous champion of the world in the year 1908 in roping and tying steer at Cheyenne, Wyoming [Waiomina], for speed. He roped and tied two steer at a record speed not achieved by anyone else. That record still stands and has not been broken.

Ikuwa was born in Mana, Waimea, Hawaii, and lived and worked at Parker Ranch [hui hanai holoholona o Paka] in his youth, and then with the Umikoa Ranch, Hamakua, and then he moved to Maui.

One of his proficient pupils at roping and tying cattle is William Kaniho of Waimea.

He left his wife, 9 children, and 3 grandchildren, behind grieving for him.

(Hoku o Hawaii, 7/18/1945, p. 2)

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Ka Hoku o Hawaii, Volume XL, Number 12, Page 2. Iulai 18, 1945.

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