D.J. Gaudin is remembered as one of the greats as a bullfighter and rodeo clown. His natural energy, daring skills, and quick wit attributed to his success in the arena. In his lengthy career, Gaudin worked rodeos across the country including Madison Square Garden in New York from 1954-1959; a 25-consecutive-year contract with the Houston rodeo; and the National Finals Rodeo in 1959, 1960, and again in 1970. He retired in 1979 after 27 years as a professional rodeo clown.

However, most people never knew his real name and still don't call him by it as they tell stories and reminisce about the "good times." Gaudin always seemed to be a challenge for rodeo announcers, so they started calling him the Cajun Kid. It kind of stuck, but Gaudin gave it his own twist and started spelling it Kajun Kid. It became his call name and never changed.

Kajun, who passed away peacefully on June 11, 2015, resided in the small town of Teague, TX, the majority of his adult life. It was common for someone to say "Where is that?" He was quick to respond with "Oh, it is exactly 1,500 miles due east of Los Angeles, California."

Kajun ended up in Teague after meeting his wife of 42 years and mother to his three sons while working the amateur rodeo in Cleveland, TX. He spotted Joyce Harris sitting on a hood of a car watching the rodeo parade. They were married six months later, and the rest is history. 

Kajun didn't start out or even think about being a bullfighter and rodeo clown. He was born October 28, 1929, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Alvin Joseph and ODille Donaldson Gaudin. Kajun had 12 siblings, so he was always looking for an entertaining place to escape, which he found in the nearby stockyards. He earned a little money exercising and breaking colts before their owners sold them.  At 15 years old, Kajun and his friend, Ted Fries, joined the Texas J. Davis Wild West Show riding broncs in the show, helping with other acts, and putting up the tents. The show took them to Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and eventually back to Texas. They were tired of eating cornflakes and water, so they decided to call it quits while the show was in Wharton, TX. They decided to go to Ted's hometown of Dayton, TX, and begin working in the East Texas Oilfields but also continue to ride rough stock in local rodeos.  

Kajun didn't get his break as a rodeo clown or bullfighter until the clown didn't show up at a rodeo in Dayton, TX. He was was full of energy and quite a cut up, so he was asked to fill in. Gaudin was a natural, and he realized he enjoyed the tasks of a rodeo clown and bullfighter, getting paid was just an added bonus. Gaudin's love of being a rodeo clown and bullfighter eventually led him to quit work in the oilfield and stop entering rodeos to solely focus on his rodeo clown duties. 

You can hear stories about the Kajun Kid and learn about the legacy he left and the impact he had on the rodeo industry anytime you mention his name. His son Todd Gaudin has continued to share pictures and contribute to stories to keep his legacy alive. It is people like the Kajun Kid who set the mark for current bullfighters and rodeo clowns.

D.J. "Kajun Kid" Gaudin's accomplishments: 
Gaudin was an original inductee into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1979. He was also inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1998, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2004, the Bull Riding Hall of Fame in 2016, all in Fort Worth, TX, and the Rodeo Hall of Fame in the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1998. He has been immortalized in a limited edition bronze sculpture titled "Dancin' with Danger" as part of the Legends of Rodeo series by sculptor Edd Hayes. He has also received honors and recognition from the Dublin Heritage Museum, Teague Chamber of Commerce, Cow Palace in San Francisco, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo and Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. He was honored with the "Hats off" award from the Rodeo Historical Society, Red Steagall's Western Heritage Award, the Lone Star Legend Award from Houston and served as a Board member of the Rodeo Alumni Association for several years.

PRCA National Finals Rodeo: 1959, 1960, and 1970

Inductee:
Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association Hall of Fame, Colorado Springs, CO, August 1979
National Rodeo Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK, October 1996
Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, Belton, TX, February 1998
Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Fort Worth, TX, January 2004
Bull Riding Hall of Fame, Fort Worth, TX, January 2016

Awarded:
Champion Clown, Southwestern Rodeo Association, 1951
Pro Rodeo Historical Society "Hats Off "Award, Las Vegas, NV, December 1988
Red Steagall's Western Heritage Award, TX, November 1999
The Lone Star Legend Award, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo,
Houston, TX, March 2002

Received special recognition from:
Chamber of Commerce, City of Teague, TX, 1967
Ft. Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Fort Worth, TX January 2004
San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo, February 2005
Dublin Rodeo Heritage Museum, Dublin, TX, November 2007

Served as a Board Member of the Rodeo Cowboy Alumni Association

D.J. "Kajun Kid" Gaudin
October 28, 1929-June 11, 2015

-Information and Photos Provided Courtesy of Todd Gaudin