Dean Nelson
Dean Nelson — A Cowboy Through and Through
By Nancy Wildman
I am sad to report that the Peninsula equestrian community has lost a valuable member and all around good guy. Harold Dean Nelson, known as Dean to everyone, passed away on March 19th at the age of 96.
Born in Orient, Iowa on August 22,1926, Dean was an animal lover from the start. As a child he would clean up after the elephants whenever the circus was in town. When his family moved to Los Angeles in the late 1930’s he started working at Hollywood Park where he became an exercise jockey. He even raced horses at the Caliente race track in Tijuana, Mexico.
Eventually Dean got a job at Dupee Stables in Culver City which worked closely with Hollywood studios to provide horses, riders, and riding lessons for many of the western movies of the time. There, Dean became a groom, wrangler, instructor, judge for local horse shows, and stunt double. His most famous student was Elizabeth Taylor whom he taught to ride for the movie “National Velvet”, which was released in 1944. Apparently, Elizabeth’s mother insisted that Dean escort her daughter on all of her rides and even to her senior prom (not as a date but as her chaperone)!
Dean was also the original “Tommy Trojan”. Dean and his white Arab first made an appearance in 1947 at a USC football game at the suggestion of Tommy Walker, the USC football kicker and band leader, after some creative thinking at the stables. As Dean told the story, Tommy suggested he dress up as a Trojan at the upcoming UCLA game at the Coliseum. Before the band was to appear out of the tunnel he would come charging out at a full gallop and circle the football field while waving his sword. Dean said “I’ll do it”. He recalled the entire crowd going crazy at the sight of the charge. Although Dean only did the ride one time, the Trojan on a white horse later became a staple at USC home football games. The white horse, “Traveler”, went on to become the official mascot of USC and his successors are ridden at games to this day.
In 1948, Dean married Shirley Lorraine McMahon whom he met at Pacific Bell Telephone Company, his employer for forty years. The couple purchased a house in Hawthorne and after having three children, Steve, Deana, and Linda, they moved to Rolling Hills Estates. A vacant lot was purchased and with the help of Dean’s parents, his brother and his wife, plus other friends of theirs, they built the house on Pony Lane with their own hands using blue prints designed by Cliff May. The family moved in in 1961 and Dean lived there until the end.
Once on the peninsula, Dean got involved with the Long Beach Mounted Police. He helped them prepare for many parades, including the prestigious Rose Parade. In addition to grooming, braiding, and saddling, transporting the beautiful palominos to various events was one of his biggest responsibilities. Besides driving them to places like Pasadena and the Astrodome in Houston, where Donny and Marie were the half-time entertainment, he escorted them by Tiger Air Freight to Hawaii, and by train to Las Vegas and possibly Rio de Janeiro (details are a little sketchy
on that trip).
Acting as manager for Los Caballeros, Dean arranged many of the Catalina rides in the fall and the Los Barrachos de Rancheros Visitadores rides in Santa Ynez in the spring. Among Dean’s memorabilia and many photos there is a fabulous framed newsletter from September of 1960 chronicling the exploits of the many men enjoying the Catalina ride. The logistics and the size of the ride made it quite an accomplishment and a testament to Dean’s organizational skills!
As an honorary member of the Empty Saddle Club Dean taught children and adults to ride, led the Happy Hoofers Drill Team, gave carriage driving lessons, and catered many events there. He was a big supporter and asset to the San Pedro Peninsula Hospital Hospice Services who helped care for his wife before she succumbed to cancer in 1984. Consequently, Dean was always happy to host or cater events for the organization at the club.
In October of 2008 Dean was seriously injured in a carriage driving accident during Cowboy Days at the Club. Among his injuries was a fractured back which made walking painful and difficult. As a result he spent most of his remaining years at home with his second wife Johnnie and his wonderful caregiver, Albert.
Dean was loved by many and will be missed by all.
Dean taught Elizabeth Taylor to ride for National Velvet in 1944. He worked as a stunt double for three movies; Three Little Girls in Blue (1946), The Foxes of Harrow (1947) and Forever Amber (1947).
