BEHIND THE CHUTES AND ELSEWHERE

By: Gail Hughbanks Woerner

            The National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration was held September 4^th through the 7^th in Lubbock, Texas.  Each year they give American Cowboy Culture Awards and this year’s recipients were;  The Head of the Class Award, to Lori Bortner, Miss Rodeo America, from McCook, Nebraska.  The Ranching Award went to the R. A. Brown Ranch, of Throckmorton, Texas, Rob and Peggy Brown accepting.  The Working Cowboy Award went to Ted Gray, Sr. of Alpine, TX.  The Chuckwagon Award went to Cliff Teinert of Albany, TX, whose chuckwagon cooking has been enjoyed by three Presidents, a Prince and a Queen.  The Western Music Award was presented to R. W. Hampton of Cimarron, NM.  The Cowboy Poetry Award went to Rudy Gonzales of Eagle, Idaho.  The Rodeo Award went to Ty Murray of Stephenville, TX.  The Cowboy Culture Event Award went to Cochise Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering, Sierra Vista, AZ, with Bud Strom accepting.  The Western Art Award went to Keith Avery of Roswell, NM and accepted by his wife of 57 years.  The Western Movie and TV Award went to Dale Berry, Dallas, TX.  The Western Museum Award was presented to the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame, Fort Worth, TX, Pat Riley, Executive Director.  The Western Writing and Publishing Award went to “Rope Burns”, Gene Autry, OK  The Founders Award went to Jake Holster and Southwest Cowboy Poets Association, Amarillo, TX.  The Pioneer Woman Award went to Betty Sims Solt of Roswell, NM, who was very active in the GRA with numerous All-Around Cowgirl and Barrel Racing awards.  The All-Around Cowboy Culture Award went to Dr. Charles ‘Bud’ Townsend, of Canyon, Texas, who spent many years announcing rodeos, had a thirty year academic career as a professor of History, and wrote “san Antonio Rose, The History of Bob Wills”.  The 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award went to Red Steagall who has entertained for thirty-five years as a recording artist, presented the Cowboy Corner on radio for ten years, and traveled extensively through Australia, the Middle and Far East and South America promoting western heritage and cowboy culture.  In addition to this program numerous cowboy poets, western musicians, authors, professors and movie personalities gave programs throughout the Symposium.  Additionally a Chuckwagon Cook-off was held with thirty-five teams participating.  Other related events including farriers, Registered Texas Longhorns, horse training, etc., were also held at this multi-faceted event.  If you have never attended put it on your calendar as a “must see” event for next year.  It’s an action packed and fun filled  four day event.

          Congratulations to the 2003 Honorees that will be inducted in to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum on the weekend of October 18^th and 19^th.  Living Honorees include; Living Honorees:  Dixie Reger Mosley, Joe Alexander, Jerold Camarillo, Bob Ragsdale.  Deceased Honorees:  Asbury Schell, Charles Maggini, Ronnye Sewalt, Ross Dollarhide, Jr., John Justin, Jr.