Bud McKague March 30, 1935 - June 16, 2002

On June 15, Bud McKague was featured on the Pincher Creek Saturday night show, gave an inspired performance, and then walked off stage and into history. About half an hour later, friends took him to the Pincher Creek Hospital and sadly, Bud passed away Sunday June 16 after emergency surgery.
Known far and wide for his remarkable memory, the crowd marvelled at what would be Bud's last performance as he recited two eight minute poems from one of his favourites, Australian poet, Banjo Paterson. The crowd gave him a standing ovation; the only one he had ever received during a lifetime of poetry performances. When he realized what was happening, a look of priceless astonishment crept over Buddy's face and is something I will remember forever. He did an encore, and then left the stage with tears of joy in his eyes. Sometimes real cowboys do cry and many a cowboy tear is being shed with his passing.
I knew Bud to be a gracious, giving person. Generously, he often gave poems to others, whom he felt would do them justice. Bud was inducted into the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2001 in the Artistic Category. He was the first Canadian to perform at Elko and was considered by his peers to be one of the finest reciters of cowboy poetry anywhere, not to mention the fact that he was a champion rodeo bronc rider. We will all miss him.

Iven Bryant

Past President

Alberta Cowboy Poetry Association

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On The Passing of a Poet
In Memory of Bud McKague, March 30, 1935 - June 16, 2002
Cowboy Poet and member of The BC Cowboys Hall of Fame

The passing of a mighty king,
leaves no greater hole.
For poets craft each song we sing,
and shape the nations soul.
A brave ballad of a bygone time,
or the beauty of her face,
He sculpts his masterpiece in rhyme,
sets each polished gem in place.
His was an ancient call,
and this gift he did not choose,
For Bards are driven
one and all,
by a most relentless muse!
To carry forth the tale of man,
such is the minstrels lot,
that great stories and emotions
should never be forgot.
Troy and Athens lie in ruin,
Phoebes and Rome are gone,
we may have forgotten the minstrels tune
But the poets words live on!
The passing of a mighty king,
Leaves no greater hole,
For poets craft each song we sing,
and shape the nations Soul!

Bud McKague was a great poet I will remember all my life.

Mike Puhallo
Cowboy Poet

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Bud's Last Ride

Now getting up each morning is a simple sort of task.
We never doubt the day ahead, and few questions we ever ask
I suppose it's good we never know what's in store round the next bend.
But I think there's something let's us know when we are near the end.
I think there's something stored in us, could be a higher power.
They say things to close friends, you see, when they reach that final hour.
I lost a real good friend today as I stood closely by.
He asked for this final wish before he said good-bye.
Yes, he'd been a good old cowboy, no-one had doubted that.
His last request he asked of me: "Don't let me die without my hat."
I placed his hat upon his head, then laid it by his bed.
I closed the door and left the room, that's the final words we said.
Yes, he'll have that hat close by his side, yes, always have it near.
He'll be all set to ride up there, just like he did down here.
He stood up on the stage that night; the crowd would stand and cheer.
Unbeknown to all of us, his time was drawing near.
It was in his finest hour, a perfect ending to a day.
Then in just a short time his life had slipped away.
Yes as I left the hospital and I knew old Bud was gone,
I thought how fast the years go by, a lifetime's not that long.
They say that cowboys shed no tears, it's not the cowboy way.
I'll have to admit I bent the code when we lost old Bud that day.
He once told me to write a poem before this long sad day
He said, "Tell the folks just how it was the day I passed away."
So now I've filled my last request, it's coming to an end.
So just you rest and do your best until we meet again.

Frank Gleeson
Cowboy Poet

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