COARSEGOLD, CA – The community has spoken, and a familiar name rooted deep in local western heritage will lead this year’s parade. Organizers of the Coarsegold Rodeo have announced that longtime horseman and community figure Wayne Tex has been selected as Grand Marshal for the 73rd annual event.
Tex earned the honor through a public vote that drew 363 ballots, with 140 cast in his favor — a strong showing that reflects the lasting impression he has made across generations in the foothill community.
Born in 1939 in Coarsegold to Henry and Harriet Tex, Wayne’s ties to the region span a lifetime. From completing solo cattle drives at just 12 years old to guiding pack trips into the Sierra Nevada, Tex has spent decades living the western lifestyle that the rodeo celebrates. A respected Chukchansi Yokuts elder, farrier, mentor, and lifelong horseman, he also played a role in helping build the Coarsegold Rodeo Grounds during the event’s early years…