Mayor Harman W. Peery, the flamboyant Cowboy Mayor was Ogden"s own homespun celebrity -- and his beloved city"s entrepreneurial grand marshal.

Harman brought attention, traveling talent, and cash flow to his dear but dire hometown. As originator of the Ogden Pioneer Days celebration, Harman would bring our community newly found affluence and cowboy adventure beyond our wildest dreams.

By age 30, Harman was acting manager of his father"s properties, the D.H. Perry Estate. In 1924 with McClanahan and Hodgson, Harman and his family built Perry"s Egyptian Theater.

In 1934, Harman"s interest turned to public service as he won the mayoral chair, which he held until 1939.

The entire nation was recovering from the perils brought on by the Great Depression. Ogden"s own morale and economy was in great need of revitalization. Under the new mayor"s fiery direction, this sleepy city got its jump-start revival, and a great story to boot.

During the 1930s, Ogden"s economy was stabilized as the railroad junction and as home to the Ogden Union Stockyards and Livestock Show.

Meat packing plants flourished as did agriculture. Harmon created Ogden Pioneer Days as an attraction to bring cattlemen and their families as well as tourists to Ogden. His promotional stunts were many, such as the beard-growing Contest for Weber County. Harman even extended a proposal to marry the Duke and Duchess of Windsor at the Ogden Pioneer Days.

National attention

Many of his proposals captured national attention.

Ogden Pioneer Days, begun in 1934, was a success and preceded Salt Lake City"s Days of "47 by over a decade.

The first celebration netted $10,000 for Ogden and was established as an annual affair.

First rodeo queen

In 1936, Harman hand picked a local girl, Lorene Donaldson, to be "Sweetheart of the Rodeo," an honor that became known as the Whoopie Girl, who became the trademark for Ogden Pioneer Days and a national symbol for Rodeo America.

Eventually, Miss Ogden Rodeo showcased female horsemanship with true grit. This competition became runner up to Miss Rodeo Utah and Miss Rodeo America.

In 1938, Harman campaigned for the purchase of Lorin Farr"s historic gristmill to be utilized as Ogden"s Pioneer Days Headquarters.

This endeavor proved unproductive, so Harman purchased the building from the celebration and restored The Old Mill on Canyon Road himself.

During the 1940s, Harm"s Old Mill Inn featured a dance hall, restaurant, open-air dance pavilion, and often featured stars of stage and screen.

As our nation was involved in WWII, Harman again served as mayor from 1942 to 1943.

He worked to rally citizens in support of our city, state and country in the face of Utah"s economy base changed from agriculture to military defense.

Riverside Gardens

Harman also made time for personal business pursuits. He purchased and successfully operated the recreational Riverside Gardens at the mouth of Ogden Canyon in 1942. The business, still run by his descendants, is now the popular retail and restaurant destination known as Rainbow Gardens.

Despite his many accomplishments, Harman was always a builder. Throughout his lifetime as an entrepreneur, he teamed with numerous skilled, talented architects and contractors and as mayor instigated a vast array of buildings in the Ogden area. These include the art decor endeavors of the U.S. Forestry Building, Ogden High School and The Municipal Building.

No to SLC

A bold showman, Peery was once bold enough to order that any sign in the heart of Ogden directing folks to Salt Lake City should be taken down immediately. Charismatic and genuinely concerned about his hometown, Harman was a man of the people.

A colorful, controversial civic leader, he was cheered when he assembled "the greatest show on dirt" for the Ogden Pioneer Days. Of course he was also challenged when he supported a tax for the businesses of 25th Street.

But there was no denying that when Harman Peery pushed Ogden into national headlines, he was exalted by Ogdenites. Harman would serve as both a devoted City Council member and family man, until death summoned him, Jan. 25, 1961.

He can be most vividly recalled with his hat off to Ogden in 1949, mounted proudly on his paint horse, Concho, in the last parade of his final term as mayor.

Mayor Harman W. Peery, the flamboyant Cowboy Mayor was Ogden"s own homespun celebrity -- and his beloved city"s entrepreneurial grand marshal.

Harman brought attention, traveling talent, and cash flow to his dear but dire hometown. As originator of the Ogden Pioneer Days celebration, Harman would bring our community newly found affluence and cowboy adventure beyond our wildest dreams.

By age 30, Harman was acting manager of his father"s properties, the D.H. Perry Estate. In 1924 with McClanahan and Hodgson, Harman and his family built Perry"s Egyptian Theater.

In 1934, Harman"s interest turned to public service as he won the mayoral chair, which he held until 1939.

The entire nation was recovering from the perils brought on by the Great Depression. Ogden"s own morale and economy was in great need of revitalization. Under the new mayor"s fiery direction, this sleepy city got its jump-start revival, and a great story to boot.

During the 1930s, Ogden"s economy was stabilized as the railroad junction and as home to the Ogden Union Stockyards and Livestock Show.

Meat packing plants flourished as did agriculture. Harmon created Ogden Pioneer Days as an attraction to bring cattlemen and their families as well as tourists to Ogden. His promotional stunts were many, such as the beard-growing Contest for Weber County. Harman even extended a proposal to marry the Duke and Duchess of Windsor at the Ogden Pioneer Days.

National attention

Many of his proposals captured national attention.

Ogden Pioneer Days, begun in 1934, was a success and preceded Salt Lake City"s Days of "47 by over a decade.

The first celebration netted $10,000 for Ogden and was established as an annual affair.

First rodeo queen

In 1936, Harman hand picked a local girl, Lorene Donaldson, to be "Sweetheart of the Rodeo," an honor that became known as the Whoopie Girl, who became the trademark for Ogden Pioneer Days and a national symbol for Rodeo America.

Eventually, Miss Ogden Rodeo showcased female horsemanship with true grit. This competition became runner up to Miss Rodeo Utah and Miss Rodeo America.

In 1938, Harman campaigned for the purchase of Lorin Farr"s historic gristmill to be utilized as Ogden"s Pioneer Days Headquarters.

This endeavor proved unproductive, so Harman purchased the building from the celebration and restored The Old Mill on Canyon Road himself.

During the 1940s, Harm"s Old Mill Inn featured a dance hall, restaurant, open-air dance pavilion, and often featured stars of stage and screen.

As our nation was involved in WWII, Harman again served as mayor from 1942 to 1943.

He worked to rally citizens in support of our city, state and country in the face of Utah"s economy base changed from agriculture to military defense.

Riverside Gardens

Harman also made time for personal business pursuits. He purchased and successfully operated the recreational Riverside Gardens at the mouth of Ogden Canyon in 1942. The business, still run by his descendants, is now the popular retail and restaurant destination known as Rainbow Gardens.

Despite his many accomplishments, Harman was always a builder. Throughout his lifetime as an entrepreneur, he teamed with numerous skilled, talented architects and contractors and as mayor instigated a vast array of buildings in the Ogden area. These include the art decor endeavors of the U.S. Forestry Building, Ogden High School and The Municipal Building.

No to SLC

A bold showman, Peery was once bold enough to order that any sign in the heart of Ogden directing folks to Salt Lake City should be taken down immediately. Charismatic and genuinely concerned about his hometown, Harman was a man of the people.

A colorful, controversial civic leader, he was cheered when he assembled "the greatest show on dirt" for the Ogden Pioneer Days. Of course he was also challenged when he supported a tax for the businesses of 25th Street.

But there was no denying that when Harman Peery pushed Ogden into national headlines, he was exalted by Ogdenites. Harman would serve as both a devoted City Council member and family man, until death summoned him, Jan. 25, 1961.

He can be most vividly recalled with his hat off to Ogden in 1949, mounted proudly on his paint horse, Concho, in the last parade of his final term as mayor.