Back in 1936, El Paso was a sleepy little border town that was just waking up from the rum-running days of the Prohibition, which had just ended a scant three years before. Times were changing in El Paso and Sheriff Chris P. Fox saw a need for community involvement by the civic-minded individuals who populated our city.
On Friday, November 13th 1936, the Sheriff sent out an invitation to a select group of El Pasoans to meet and form a Sheriff’s Posse; the second of its kind in the nation. The first official Sheriff’s Posse act, delivered by Sheriff Fox, ordered the Posse to “personally appear on the first day of January 1937 to pay homage to and to escort and protect her Highness, The Sun Carnival Queen, as she proceeds through the streets of her capitol.”
Over the years, The Posse purchased land in the Lower Valley where they built a clubhouse complete with s Rodeo Arena and Racetrack and became one of the standouts when it came to promoting “The Pass of the North” and western traditions by hosting various types of events.
Cowboy Park, The Posse’s clubhouse, was well known to visiting celebrities and match races between the cowboys of The Posse and all comers was a monthly event. Goat ropings, chuck wagon feeds, and other scheduled western activities were regularly on the calendar.
The Possemen also were known to be active in every type of civic endeavor that the growing City of El Paso could provide. They were regular attendees at the regional and county livestock shows where they spent their money to help the youngsters who raised animals under the Future Farmers of America and other youth programs and were known to be generous with their time and their funds to further civic events.
You could almost bet that if an event was planned, the Posse would be there. When Continental Airlines celebrated the opening of the new Airport Terminal, The Posse was there on horseback greeting their new DC-3's on the runway; even riding their mounts through the terminal building to the astonishment of the passengers.
When an event needed publicity, the Posse was often called out to “make things happen.” When the Sun Carnival needed a boost for the 1940 Sun Bowl Game the Possemen “held up” the Southern Pacific train carrying the football team at the Mesa Street crossing. John F. Kennedy’s journey to El Paso was sprang to life when he was greeted with a western flair by mounted Possemen complete with their sidearms, much to the dismay of the Secret Service.
The Posse Clubhouse was moved to what is now the City of Sunland Park in 1961 so that the Possemen could have an unobstructed place to ride, but to this day, The El Paso Sheriff’s Posse has remained in the forefront in civic and community programs and will continue to be the “Keepers of The Old West Traditions of the Southwest.”
