Edward C. Hirdes

Ed was born January 21, 1951 in Modesto, California to Les and Frances Hirdes. He grew up and spent his whole life out in the country in Turlock. He was a dairyman, farmer, and a great cowboy. He married the love of his life, Marilyn, in 1976 on a Friday. There were two rodeos to be had that weekend. The Los Banos May Day Roping, where he won the team roping. Then off to Riverdale to win the All-Around. From there they celebrated and honeymooned at Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland. Ed qualified for the National Finals Rodeo three times from 1974-1976 in team roping with Jeff Barmby. He finished a career-best fourth in the world standings in 1976 and was a career-best third in the NFR average in 1974. He won five rounds outright over his career at the NFR and shared one round win. Ed was also the California Circuit year-end-tie-down roping champion in 1977 and 1987 and won the California Circuit Finals Rodeo as a team roping header in ’79 and ’89. His father Les Hirdes made 17 trips to the NFR as a team roper. He won the NFR average in 1962 with Julius Boschi, and won the world with Al Hooper in 1963. Ed has mentored many throughout the years. His door was always open. If you needed a place to stay, there was always room on the couch. He was very involved with Junior and High School Rodeo. If you wanted to learn, he was always willing to teach. He could always be found in the arena making sure the kids had a fair chance and a good go. He also supplied cattle to many of these rodeos. Anyone that knew him was lucky to call him a friend. He will be truly, deeply missed, but never forgotten. Ed is survived by his wife of 40 years, Marilyn, his five children; Ashley, Grant (Jami), Kent (Haley), Blake and Case, and eight wonderful grandchildren; Shayla, Colten, Dylan, Grady, Bodi, Reese, Layne, and Les. Services will be held at Turlock Memorial Park. Visitation, Tues 26th 4-6pm with rosary to follow. Funeral, Wed 27th at 10am. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to United Samaritans of Turlock @ 220 S. Broadway, Turlock, CA 95380 or the Oakdale Cowboy Museum Scholarship Fund @ 355 East F Street, Oakdale, CA 95361.

Tributes

Edward C. Hirdes

January 21, 1951 - April 20, 2016