Summer was a busy time, not only for competing cowboys and cowgirls, but for all interested people in the rodeo world.  The induction at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs was one of my destinations this past August.  The Hall was also celebrating their 25^th anniversary and invited all former honorees to come back to the Hall and celebrate the special date.  There were extra festivities and a record-breaking crowd.  The day of the induction was fantastic as was the induction itself.  Pat Hildebrand, Executive Director of the Museum, in charge of the festivities always does a superb job.  For visitors the first thing you saw when you arrived was an exhibit of Casey Tibbs memorabilia displayed right inside the front door.  He is still considered one of the top five cowboys in rodeo from any era.  A more charismatic, handsome and dedicated roughrider never rode in rodeo.  He had a hand in many of the new developments in rodeo during his era, including the National Finals Rodeo.  His statue riding Necktie, done by sculptor, Edd Hayes,  sits in the center of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame grounds.

            The induction was held in the Garden area which has added many new bronzes.  The setting with the Rocky Mountains looming in the western background made for a truly magnificent setting.  The class of ten Honorees, and the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, which received recognition for their program, were as diverse a group as you can imagine.  R. Dale Almond gave the response for the Dodge Rodeo, which began in 1987 and has over 250 volunteers in Pocatello , the home of the event.  The first Honoree was Dave Smith, Executive Sports Editor, for the Dallas Morning News, who pushed rodeo to the forefront of his newspapers, over a forty four year career chronicling the sport.  “There is no greater athlete than the rodeo cowboy,” said Smith in his acceptance speech.

            Next to be honored was Alvin Nelson, a saddle bronc rider during the 1950s and 1960s, and called the ‘bronc riders bronc rider’.  He reminisced about the time another competitor got hurt and asked Alvin if he would ride his mount for him.  He rode his own, then the mount for the injured saddle bronc rider and split 1^st and 2^nd with himself.  He also remembered the time he was one of the last to be paid and was paid about a thousand dollars in silver.  He said he looked like a bank robber, and felt about as vulnerable.

            June Ivory, inducted for her tireless work for decades to make rodeo the best ever.  She worked for many of the stock contractors and was secretary and timer, also carrying the flag at the opening of many rodeos.  June and deceased husband, Buster, were a powerful force in rodeo.  They helped gather information for the book on the history of stock contractors, worked on the National Finals Rodeo for many years, and June continues to hold the Cowboy Reunion during the current National Finals in Las Vegas .  In ill health and unable to speak Donna McSpadden, long-time friend, gave her acceptance and said, “June is an encyclopedia of rodeo knowledge and rodeo was the child of Buster and June.”

            Asbury Schell, deceased team roper, was honored for his three time World Champion Team Roping in 1937, ’39 and ’52.  He was the first to start heeling on the right side instead of the left.  He also completed in tie-down and steer roping.  He was also known for his original style of flanking and tying standing up.   His grandson, Ed Schell, accepted for his ‘Grampy’, who although he was a small man was thought of by this man when a youngster as “bigger than life itself”.

            Three Bars, a bareback mare who had the reputation with World Champion Bruce Ford and others of being  “the rankest horse I’d ever been on” was inducted for being chosen the Top Bareback Horse of the National Finals three different years in three different decades, 1967, 1973 and 1980.  Liz Kesler, widow of Reg Kesler, well-known stock contractor and owner of Three Bars, from Montana and Canada , accepted and told that Three Bars was one of the exceptional buckers that could buck and raise colts at the same time.  She lived until she was over thirty years old, died in 1993, and was buries in the front yard of the Kesler Canada ranch.

            Dr. J. Pat Evans, began the Justin Sports Medicine Program in 1980.  He had been the doctor for the Dallas Cowboys football team and the Dallas Mavericks and saw a need for rodeo cowboys to have the same kind of medical attention other sports enjoyed.  With the support and backing of John Justin Dr. Evans began a program that has helped more cowboys and cowgirls be able to stay in their chosen career of rodeo than anyone knows.  Dr. Evans said, “Working with the rodeo cowboys gave me a new vision and a new life.”

            World Champion Bareback Rider in 1991, Clint Corey, was inducted and his life in rodeo is one of ‘wins’.  Starting in junior rodeos at age seven Corey joined the PRCA in 1984 and qualified for his first National Finals in 1985.  He has gone 18 times – so far.  He has also won the Columbia River Circuit title twelve consecutive times from 1989 through 2000.  Corey said, “I rodeo for fun and they pay me to do it!”

            Tee Woolman, roper in all competitions, began at age 8.  He has been a World Champion and qualified for more National Finals Rodeos and National Finals Steer Roping Rinals than anyone else – a total of 37 times.  When joining the PRCA in 1980 he teamed up with Leo Camarillo and ended the year with a Gold Buckle in team roping.  Woolman said,  “Glory to God for getting me here today.”  After that he was barely able to talk, he was choked with emotion.  He said, “I’ll keep going as long as they keep making younger heelers.  I rodeo for a living and I’m living to rodeo.”

            Fred Whitfield has seven World Championships, six in Tie-Down Roping and one All-Around title.  He told that he began his roping career with the help of neighbor, Roy Moffatt and had to borrow a horse.  In spite of the difficulty once he picked up a rope he knew he was addicted to it.  “Rodeo is in my blood, it will be ‘til I die,” said the grateful roper.  “I’ve had good horses, good partnerships, and lots of people behind me.  I’m forever indebted to you and love you all.  You know who you are.”

            And lastly, seventeen time National Finals Rodeo announcer, Bob Tallman, was honored for what he called his “God given talent”.  He has been chosen as PRCA Announcer of the Year six times between in 1982 and 2001.  He said when his wife, Kristen, asked him what he was going to say at the induction he asked her what she thought he ought to say.  Her response was, “Not much”, which got a huge laugh from the audience.   He thanked everyone who had faith in him and ended  by saying, “I’ve had more than I deserve.”

            The Honorees and past inductees that were present spent a glorious Colorado day visiting, renewing old friendships, beginning new ones, signing autographs, and basking in the limelight or their honors, which were truly deserved.  I enjoyed just being able to bask in their presence and celebrate twenty-five years of ProRodeo Hall of Fame success and look forward to it’s future.

            Saturday evening I attended the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, which was held indoors at the World Arena.  This ends a three year contract in this facility.  Previously the historic rodeo was held at Penrose Stadium, an outdoor arena, which on occasional had an afternoon shower that would have to be endured.  Not so, in this great facility.  The rodeo committee of Pikes Peak or Bust is a group to behold.  They work so intently and seem to enjoy every minute of it.  No wonder they stay in the top twenty of high paying rodeos in PRCA, they keep ahead of the game and are a diligent team.  Their honored guests on Saturday night were the military leaders in the community.  The profits from the rodeo is given to help military families in need, which is an excellent community project.