Tom Glass
Chuckwagon Athlete - Inducted 2013
Tom Glass was an integral part of the Glass family chuckwagon dynasty that has grown over many generations. Tom won more than forty major awards and victories in his 35-plus years of racing. He drove his teams to four Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby Championships in 1983, 1987, 1992, and 1994 and was the Stampede Aggregate Winner in 1987 and 1998. Tom was the World Champion Chuckwagon Driver in 1980, 1981, and 1988 and the North American Chuckwagon Championship Champion in 1980. The face of chuckwagon racing in the 1980s and 1990s, Tom was featured on the 1998 Calgary Stampede poster.
Tom won his first Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby Championship as an outrider in 1965, and then again in 1971. He won the Rod Glass Memorial Award as top outrider at the Calgary Stampede in 1977. As a driver, his first win was at the Ponoka Stampede in 1972. After that, Tom had a win at every major chuckwagon event held in Alberta and at most small-town rodeo and chuckwagon events. He retired from chuckwagon racing in 1998.
Tom Glass was a great competitor who was always ready to lend a hand to his fellow racers. Throughout the years, he was instrumental in developing new drivers and outriders. He also helped them learn the fine art of horsemanship and gave supportive advice on how to compete on the different racetracks in Alberta. The image of Tom on the 1998 Calgary Stampede Poster, shows his passion for the sport, with both hands gripped to the reins, he is yelling at his team as he encouraged his team down the track.
