The mold wasn’t just broke, it was shattered – on March 7, 1942 with the birth of Clyde Edward Longfellow Jr. of Hermiston. The world would never be the same! And it shattered again on July 15, 2025 with his passing. Clyde passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 83 in Scappoose aboard his beloved sailboat – no fences.
He was born on March 7, 1942 in Lewiston, Idaho to Clyde Sr. and Sybil Pingree Longfellow. He joined three sisters – Patricia, Sharon, and Rosemary – and the family was made complete with the birth of a fourth sister, Nancy, in 1949.
Clyde Sr. was a career Air Force man, stationed in Okinawa during the 1950s. The family traveled to Japan aboard a military transport ship, a multi-day voyage across the Pacific that sparked Clyde Jr.’s lifelong love of sailing. He also worked for his golf-pro Uncle Ping at the Lewiston Country Club as a golf caddy. Golf and sailing remained lifelong hobbies for Clyde.
Clyde attended Lewiston schools and soon found his calling: horses! As soon as he could, Clyde started working at the old Lewiston Roundup Grounds in North Lewiston, doing whatever job he could just to ride. It was there he met and learned from Idaho rodeo legends Clint Roberts and Jack Carson. They both became mentors and ignited his rodeo dreams. Clyde started getting on broncs and riding colts.
While pursuing his dreams, he crossed paths with Edie Gottschalk. Edie boarded her horse at the roundup grounds. They married in 1965 and moved out to the Grande Ronde country to work on the ranch of Shirly Bothum. When Shirly told Clyde he had to choose between working or rodeoing, Clyde didn’t hesitate – he quit and headed to Cheyenne, where he won the 1965 Cheyenne Frontier Days amateur saddle bronc competition.
Clyde and Edie spent the early years of their marriage on the rodeo trail, heading to the Texas indoor winter rodeos, then coming back to the Northwest and Canada for the summer run. Their first daughter, Crystal, was born in 1967, and the family lived much of the year in a travel trailer. In 1972, they settled in Kendrick, Idaho and welcomed their second daughter, Kelly, in 1973. With a growing family and house payments, Clyde began driving truck for Star Motor Freight in Lewiston. His nephew, Jodi Johnson, who shared Clyde’s love for ranching and rodeo, lived with the family during high school and competed in high school rodeo. During his trucking travels, Clyde met and welcomed foster son Paul Bass into the family.
Clyde continued to rodeo, with wins at major rodeos like Lewiston Roundup (twice); Columbia Basin Rodeo (Moses Lake, Wash.) four times; and Chief Joseph Days five times. In the late 1970s, he bought a semi-truck and started hauling cattle to provide for his family. Everyone loved his big black trucks with the donkey on the doors: Haul Ass Trucking! He earned multiple trips to the Columbia River Circuit Finals before stepping back from competition around 1985 to focus on trucking and supporting his kids in junior and high school rodeos.
Clyde and Edie moved to Hermiston in 1993. Soon after in 1994, Clyde was entering rodeos again – and winning! He was now riding against the sons of the men he once competed with. He earned more trips to the Columbia River Circuit Finals. In 1995, his first grandson was born. And he was still riding and winning – the younger cowboys called him the Viagra Vaquero! In 1998, Clyde won the saddle bronc riding at Colville, Wash. and took grandson, Rylen, on the victory lap!
Clyde also became a hobby ostrich rancher and began entering senior pro rodeos on the side. In 1998, he qualified for the Senior Pro Finals and finished second in the world. He returned home determined to win the world title in 1999 – but tragedy struck. While hauling cattle, he was hit head-on by another semi, totaling his dream truck and severely injuring him. At 57, Clyde was forced to retire from both bronc riding and trucking.
After a long recovery, Clyde took up golf to stay active and eventually returned to riding saddle horses. He even bought a sailboat and sailed it from San Diego to Portland. He spent weeks each year sailing the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean, often reaching the San Juan Islands and Vancouver Island. Thanks to his nephew, Brien DeAtley, Clyde fulfilled a lifelong dream of playing golf at Pebble Beach.
Clyde served as the rodeo director for the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show in Union for about 10 years. Under him, the rodeo grew and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2008! In 2019, Clyde received the honor of serving as the grand marshal for the Lewiston Roundup, recognizing his impact on the rodeo community. Later that same year, Clyde and Edie were both inducted into the Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame, solidifying their lasting legacy on the sport. Being chosen for induction into the Chief Joseph Days Hall of Fame class of 2024 was an unexpected thrill for Clyde, Edie, and the family. Chief Joseph Days held a treasured spot in his heart – where he competed, consistently won, and made lasting memories with family and friends. Clyde was especially proud of Edie, his wife of 60 years, when she was presented the 2024 PRCA Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award for her 57 dedicated years as a PRCA rodeo secretary.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Edie; daughters, Crystal Longfellow and Kelly Longfellow (Steve); foster son, Paul Bass (Debbie); grandchildren, Rylen and Paycen Crawford, and Makayla and Braeden McCabe; and his sister, Sharon Johnson. He also leaves behind a large and loving extended family of nieces and nephews. A special shoutout goes to his saddle horse, Cowgirl and Makayla’s dog, Finley.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde Longfellow Sr. and Sybil Lawrence, and by his sisters, Rosemary Mulalley, Patricia DeAtley, and Nancy Cutrumbes.
Celebration of Clyde: Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, 10:59 a.m. – Lewiston Roundup Grounds, south grandstand. A reception will follow in the She’s Wild Saloon, 2100 Tammany Creek Road, Lewiston, Idaho.
Memorial contributions in Clyde’s name may be made to one or more of the following:
Chief Joseph Days Hall of Fame P.O. Box 13 Joseph, Ore., 97846
Columbia River Circuit Crisis Fund 80781 N. Ott Road Hermiston, Ore., 97838
Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame 1033 W. Newfield Drive Eagle, Idaho, 83616
Please share memories of Clyde with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
