National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni News

News submitted by Bill Laycock, NIRA Alumni Association 

14th Annual NIRA ALUMNI Reunion Plans

            Plans are well underway for the 14th Annual Reunion of the NIRA Alumni. Last year we set records for attendance and the number of past champions honored and we would like to break that record again in 2005. The program is listed below and should be exciting. This year we are honoring the team champions and the top 4 individuals in each rodeo event from 1955, 1965, 1975, 1985, and 1995. We are trying to get as many as possible of the individuals from 50 years ago, including the 1955 Men's Champion Team from Texas Tech and any event winners from 1955. Last year we had all 6 members from the 1954 Colorado A&M Champion Men's team and some of the individual event champions from that year and would like to feature these teams and individuals from 50 years ago each year at our reunion.  If you can help locate any of the 1955 champions, please let us know. They were listed in the April "Collegiate Arena" paper of the NIRA.

Some More Sad News

            John Church of Goldendale, WA passed away in early April of a sudden heart attack. John had been on the NIRA Alumni Board of Directors for several years and an active member of NIRAA. Condolences may be sent to his wife Lynn at 414 Bull Pine Road, Goldendale, WA 98620. John will be sorely missed as an active member of the NIRAA and the Board and his seat will need to be filled at our meeting in June. He was the representative for the Northwest Region of NIRA so we would like to fill this unfortunate vacancy with an active member from that region. If anyone is interested or if you want to nominate someone, the NIRA Alumni Board would be very grateful.

            Betty Solt's son-in-was was tragically killed in an accident on March 12. Betty was one of the founders and original members of the NIRA Alumni.  Betty's address is:            P.O. Box 1842, Rowell, NM, 88202. Her email address is: bsolt@oasis1.net

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF NIRA CHAMPIONS BY SCHOOLS (1955, 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995)

Rodeo Attitude Note - Our vice president, R. Todd Crase, was a member of the 1985 National Championship team that will be honored this year.