Nebraska

**For 2025 NATIONAL Re-Ride Schedule — Click Here**

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** For Printable 2025 NEBRASKA Re-Ride Schedule – Click Here**

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Schedule best viewed on mobile device in Landscape position.

 (Nebraska Allotted Time:  51 Hours)

*MDT to Paxton, then change to CDT*

Wednesday, June 18

Lyman to Bridgeport – 64 miles                      2:30 PM – 8:30 PM      6 Hours       Max Cawiezal

 Scottsbluff National Monument                         4:45 PM

 Chimney Rock                                           7:15 PM

Bridgeport to Sidney Hwy 385-30Jct – 36 miles     8:30 PM –11:45 PM     3.25 Hours    Doug Cape

Sidney Hwy 385-30Jct. to Chappell FG – 31 miles  11:45 PM – 2:30 AM      2.75 Hours    Gordy Wilkens

Thursday, June 19

Chappell – Colorado – Big Springs – 33 miles        2:30 AM – 6:00 AM        3.5 Hrs.     COLORADO Riders

Big Springs to Paxton – 44 miles            MDT:  6:00 AM – 10:45 AM      4.75 Hrs.    Mary Cone

TIME CHANGE!                             CDT:  7:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Paxton to North Platte – 35 miles                   11:45 AM – 3:45 PM       3.5 Hrs.     Angie Blagdon

North Platte to Brady – 30 miles                     3:45 PM – 6:45 PM        3 Hours     Terry Grasz

Brady to Cozad – 31 miles                            6:45 PM – 10:00 PM      3.25 Hours    Frank Pride

 Midway /96 Ranch south of Gothenburg                 8:30 PM

Cozad to Plum Creek (Overton) – 34 miles           10:00 PM – 1:45 AM     3.75 Hours    Audie Taylor

Friday, June 20

Plum Creek to Fort Kearny – 31 miles                1:45 AM — 4:45 AM       3 Hours      Kaitie Hockett

Fort Kearny to Susan Hail Grave – 23 miles          4:45 AM — 6:30 AM     2.25 Hours    Jennifer Anderson

Susan Hail Grave to Oregon Trail Marker – 32 miles 6:30 AM – 9:30 AM        3 Hours      Nadean Wilkerson

Oregon Trail Marker (Hwy 281) to Oak – 43 miles   9:30 AM – 2:00 PM       4.5 Hours    John Greer

Oak to Highway 53 – 32 miles                        2:00 PM – 5:45 PM       3.75 Hours   Richard Heinrichs

 2 miles north of Hebron                                 4:15 PM

Highway 53 to Kansas Line – 40 miles               5:45 PM – 10:00 PM      4.25 Hours   Kevin Riggle

 Rock Creek Station                                      8:15 PM

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THE PONY GOES TO LINCOLN!  by Mary Cone

Watch Video of the Presentation 

Statehood Day in Lincoln, Nebraska, on March 1, 2017, celebrated Nebraska’s 150th birthday!  The Nebraska Division of the National Pony Express Association was proud and privileged to be a big part of the day’s ceremonies.

24 Pony Riders carried a copy of the original 1867 statehood document, which was signed by President Andrew Johnson, to Governor Pete Ricketts.   Governor Ricketts and First Lady Susanne Shore greeted the Pony Riders on the west side of the State Capitol Building at 1:15pm.  The Governor asked if we had ridden all the way from St. Joe.  We hadn’t.  Our trailer parking/staging area was in a state-owned parking lot, located just a few blocks from the Capitol.  We had processed by two’s from there, completely circling the Capitol Building, which is set on 4 square city blocks.  Two City of Lincoln Police cruisers escorted the group, front and back, for safe passage.

The front pair of Pony Riders carried the United States (Dick Heinrichs) and Nebraska (Audie Taylor) Flags.  The third pair back carried the yellow XP Flag (Todd Heinrichs) and the Red 150th XP Flag (Alissa Overy).  The second pair was Lyle Gronewold, who rode the 1991 National Re-Ride Mochila and carried the Statehood Day Proclamation and XP print, and Mary Cone, who rode the banner behind her saddle which graced the National Capitol lawn in Washington, DC, on April 3, 2010, while on a horse behind then-NPEA President Les Bennington’s saddle.  Betty Taylor rode the Nebraska 150th mochila that was specially made by the Nebraska Division for 2010.  The Pony Riders were a fine and noble sight and stirred tremendous excitement in the hearts of the mostly city-dwelling crowd.  The horses seemed to sense that it was a special occasion and behaved most admirably.

NPEA, Nebraska Division, Lyle Gronewold of Gothenburg, presented the Governor with the proclamation.  This document would be read by the Nebraska Secretary of State during the official ceremony at 2:00pm inside the Capitol building.  Lyle then presented the Governor and First Lady with an official 150th XP Kohler Print from the 2010 Pony Express Sesquicentennial Celebration.   He explained the significance of the print to Pony Express history.   He also gave the First Couple a map of the XP Route that was printed in 2010, to also celebrate The Pony’s 150th year anniversary.   Lyle shared that his daughter, Stepheanie, had artfully recreated some of the old XP station pictures that are found around the map’s border.  The original station pictures were not available in a reproducible form, so these needed to be drawn by hand.

 

Mary Cone, Nebraska Trail Captain from Roscoe, then presented the Governor and First Lady with a specially framed 2017 Re-Ride Letter and Envelope.  The Governor commented that his son is named Roscoe and that they had once stopped and taken a picture under the highway sign!  Though not carried over the 1966-mile Pony Express National Historic Trail, this framed letter became the first 2017 Re-Ride Letter to be “delivered” by the Pony Express.  Mary explained the significance of the letter to the Governor and First Lady, telling of how 1000-1100 letters will be carried from St. Joe to Sacramento from June 5-15 this year.  Of great interest to them was the obvious presence of the USPS Nebraska Sesquicentennial Forever Stamp, which will adorn each letter that will be carried during the Re-Ride in June.

A picture of Chimney Rock is also on the envelope, as well as a picture of the Re-Ride Pin (which will also feature Chimney Rock).  The Re-Ride Pin will be in blue and gold, to complement the Nebraska Sesquicentennial Logo colors.  The Re-Ride Letter is a narrative about The Great Platte River Road through Nebraska and also mentions Chimney Rock, to tie in with the 2017 special year’s theme.  Both the river and consummate trail icon are pictured in the Official Nebraska Sesquicentennial Seal.

The Governor asked where everyone was from and shouts hailed from the Pony Riders:  Blue Hill, Roca, Hebron, Endicott, Chester, Snyder, Gothenburg, Fairbury, Cozad, Steele City, Glenvil, Brady.  He then thanked us warmly for participating in the special day, and departed off to the Capitol Building for the official Statehood Day Celebration Ceremony inside the Legislative Chambers.

On Statehood Day in Lincoln on March 1, 2017, some young Pony Riders rode to the Capitol instead of attending their

school classes for the day.  But, they were treated to a unique personal learning experience of a different sort that they will not soon forget.   Mary Cone was one of those young Pony Riders 50 years ago, when Nebraska celebrated its Centennial in 1967 (long before NPEA was formed in 1978).  To celebrate, a Pony Express Re-Ride was held across the state in August of that year.  Many towns supplied riders from local horse clubs and 4-H groups.  As a then-young 4-Her, I still remember and hold the experience dear and close to my heart.

What a fabulous day for all of those who participated.

 

Thanks to everyone, and especially the support people on foot who helped with logistics, brought food, talked with the crowd and scooped poop up off the streets behind the horses!  It was indeed a special day for all involved.

Happy 150th Birthday, Nebraska!

 

CLICK HERE to see a listing of Nebraska Pony Express Stations.

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Mary Jane Houchin

 

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Howard Main

1960  —  2024

Howard Brian Main, 64, of North Platte, NE, passed away November 1, 2024, at his home. He was born June 27, 1960, to Francis and Wilma Erickson Main in Sioux Falls, SD.

Howard attended Ellis District #87 elementary school in Ellis, SD. He graduated in 1978 from West Central High School in Hartford, SD. He graduated from Iowa State University with an agronomy degree. Howard worked for 30  years as a soil scientist for the US Government. Soil surveys took him to Montana, New Mexico, and Nebraska.  Howard enjoyed reading, writing poetry, playing guitar, writing songs, and recording music at home. He will be remembered as a lifelong fan of the Beatles and Dylan.  Howard had a passion for the Old West. He studied it, lived it, and breathed it. He participated in a 17-day trail ride from Ft. Pierre to Deadwood, SD; Custer State Park buffalo roundups; Little Big Horn Battle reenactments at Hardin, MT. Howard was an extra in western movie productions in NM. He rode his horse Scout in Pony Express Re-Rides in NE. Howard was an old west history buff especially The Battle of Little Big Horn. Howard loved hunting big game in the Snowy Mountains of MT. His love of the old west led him to build a forge and a leather workshop.  Howard’s family would like to thank his many caregivers.
Howard had a great love for his horses and his dogs. In lieu of flowers please donate in his memory to your local animal shelter.

Howard is survived by siblings: Tom (Susan) Main, Chester, SD, Jan (Don) Ewoldt, Hartford, SD, Barb McHugh, Minneapolis, MN, Linda Main, Henderson, NV, Julie Main-Glaser, Sioux Falls, SD. Special friends, Angie Elg, Isle, MN, Mary Rita, Jeremey, and Adam Tiesman, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and neighbors.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Donna Lueth, and nephew Michael McHugh.

A family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

“God, give us more summer nights together, either now or sometime of your favor, take us back to them days of old Ellis, and this time, I’ll listen closer, to what them stars tried to tell us.”  HB Main

“I’ll see ya on down the line”

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Herschel Talley

1939 — 2024

Herschel Burleson Talley, Jr September 26, 1939 – May 5, 2024 Herschel B. Talley, Jr., formerly of rural Crete and recently of rural Eagle, died at sunrise on May 5, 2024, after a three-year battle with incurable cancer. He was born on September 26, 1939, in Nashville, Tennessee, the son of Master Sgt. Herschel B. Talley, Sr. and Eunice Allen Talley. He was a lover of Scotch, second-hand books, any and all dogs and horses, and Western movies. He abhorred country music, Frank Sinatra songs, watered-down Scotch/sharing his Scotch, and people who didn’t like dogs. He was known for telling his kids to pick up their claptrap, working out splinters from their feet, and also collecting “good stuff.” He loved dressing up in a kilt and traditional Scottish outfits with his wife Betty. As a military brat, he grew up all over the country and Europe, changing schools sometimes twice or three times a year, and ultimately graduated high school in Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany. As a young man, he was active in DeMolay and Boy Scouts, specifical a Venture Scout earning the Order of the Arrow and wandering around Europe. He briefly attended Colorado College (State University) in Ft. Collins, CO and was in the Air Force ROTC. Throughout his life, he captured and trained a variety of hawks and falcons, passing his love of falconry on to his best friend and “little brother” Robert Huber. He also enjoyed and taught mountaineering, snow skiing in his youth, as well as teaching marksmanship. In 1966, he joined Norden Laboratories (now Zoetis) as a sales representative and held various positions throughout his 27-year tenure working in animal pharmaceuticals. In 1980, he mixed business with pleasure and met the love of his life through work, Betty (Purdie) and married her on August 22, 1981, in St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. He annually participated in the National Pony Express ReRide, re-enacting the Pony Express relay of the mail from St. Joseph, MO to Sacramento, CA. In 1996, he carried the Olympic torch on horseback as part of being a 30-year Nebraska team member. Hersh was very active in Masonic life. He was a member of Lancaster Lodge 54, a KCCH of Scottish Rite, Royal Order of Scotland, and a founding member of the Lincoln Knights of St. Andrew. In 1999, he became Chapter Dad for Dr. Frederick Eiche Chapter DeMolay, in Lincoln, Nebraska, encouraging and mentoring young men. In 2001, he started his own business repairing boots, shoes, and saddles under the name The Brand, in Crete, Nebraska, with locations first on 13th Street and then on Main Street. Later, he added flag sales and enjoyed engineering flagpole installations. Hersh was lovingly known as a “jack of all trades” dabbling in many different jobs besides sales – aerial photography, office manager, veterinary technician, professional beekeeper, and successful dog trainer and breeder. He was a stay-at-home dad, and even appeared in a 7Up commercial. In his free time, he loved woodworking, especially wood turning and tinkering in his shop. Hersh loved riding horses, leatherworking, camping, traveling, and spending time with his family. His favorite time of year would be summer when everyone would go to the family cabin at Pelican Lake, Manitoba. Even last year, he was still water skiing and sailing, and working in the garden. He is predeceased by his brother Charles (Jeep) B. Talley and parents. He is survived by his wife Betty (nee Purdie), his son Herschel B. Blair Talley (Amanda), his daughter Gwyneth Talley, and his grandchildren, Annaleis, Herschel, and Jameson, and his adopted brother Robert Huber and wife Julie, sister-in-law Suzie Langlois, dog, Mando and horse, Jerry. There will be a private “going away party” held at the family house in Eagle, Nebraska. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation in Elmwood, and DreamCatchers Rides for healing. Gifts can also be made in his memory to support Sarcoma research at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center should be made payable to “University of Nebraska Foundation” or can be made online at www.nufoundation.org by noting his name.     

 

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(click pic for obit)

Wilbur P. Petersen

1943 — 2023

Message from Cathy Stevens : Bill Petersen was a friend and helper to Gene Hunt of Ft Kearny State Historical Park, a Pony Express exchange site. For many years Bill had assisted with the preparation and serving of an early breakfast for the Pony express riders along the National Historical Trail.  Bill and Gene collaborated on placing miles and miles of signage along the trail in Nebraska.

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Zora Adela Yoder 1933 — 2024 Zora A Yoder was a long time member of the Pony Express, approximately 33 years- and we will miss seeing her on the trail! View Obituary

 

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