Jay Harwood, Hall of Fame Announcer

Jay Harwood of Chinook, Montanna., a five-time National Finals Rodeo announcer and PRCA gold card member, died July 29 of a heart attack while preparing to announce the Gallup (N.M.) Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Rodeo. He was 69.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Aug. 4 at the Pondera Funeral Home in Conrad, Montana.

Harwood, born July 27, 1939, in Browning, Mont., first announced at an amateur rodeo in Brewster, Wash., an eventually went on to announce the NFR in Oklahoma City five times (1974-75, 1978, 1980 and 1982) in addition to the Canadian Finals Rodeo (1975-76).

Mr. Harwood is survived by his wife, Diana; sons Terry, Tom, Fred, Jay, Charles, Clint; daughter, Donna; and several grandchildren.

Harwood served 38 years with the Indian Health Service as a senior executive service appointee, where he earned the military rank Brigadier General. In 2005, he was inducted into the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame as a Montana rodeo announcer legend.

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Justin D. Bevington

Justin Bevington, 23, Lewisburg, Ohio, died Sunday, July 30th in an accident with Matt Noble in Rockford, Illinois.  Matt is listed in serious condition.  Justin is the brother of stock contractor, Derik Bevington, and had been helping at the Amboy, Illinois event on July 29th.  The two men were returning to Matt's home after seeing that all the bulls had been loaded out.

Justin was a member of the Professional Bull Riders Association and the Rodeo Bull Fighters. He attended Tri County North High School. Justin is survived by his parents: Rick & Laura (Allegrati) Bevington of Lewisburg; brother: Derek Bevington of Lewisburg; maternal grandparents: Richard & Freda Allegrati of New Mexico; paternal grandmother; Mary Bevington of Brookville and many friends.

Memorial services will be held at 4:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 2, at the home of Rick & Laura Bevington, 11528 Reynolds Road, Lewisburg, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Resistol Relief Fund in memory of Justin. Arrangements in care of Kindred Funeral Home, Englewood. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www. KindredFuneralHome.com.  

May we all remember Justin as a man who in his final hours not realizing or caring how seriously he was injured tried desperately to help the other person in the accident.  Our prayers go out to his family. 

Patricia Butler

Patricia Butler, wife of long-time PRCA rodeo photographer, Ferrell Butler, passed away at Red Oak, Texas ,  July 12, 2006 , after a long courageous fight with cancer.  Mrs. Butler was born to George Eck and Ollie Sanford Eck February 27, 1940 , in Chickasha , OK .  She was a member of H.A.N.D.S., the Rodeo Historical Society, and The Rodeo Cowboy Alumni.  Private memorial services were held at the Red Oak Funeral Home.  Donations can be made to H.A.N.D.S., P O Box 317 , Chelsea , OK , 74016 .Mrs. Butler was survived by her husband Joe Ferrell Butler, of 33 years; her son, John Loftis, Jr; daughter, Mica Cartier; mother, Ollie Sanford; sister, Nettie Garrett, step-sons, Rodney, Bret and Clay Butler, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

John Routh

John Charles Routh passed away on July 15, 2006 , at his home in Kilgore , Texas , results of heart trouble.  Routh was a PRCA bullfighter and rodeo clown from 1956 to 1972 and worked many rodeos across the country.  Services were held at Forest Home Baptist Church with Reverend Charlotte Austin and Mr. Dan Willis officiating.  He was buried at Hickory Grove Cemetery .

Routh was born  March 20, 1936 , in Trenton , TX .  He attended E.T.S.U. in Commerce, TX.   He married Mary Jane Gore and had two daughters.   During his rodeo career he worked with many other bullfighters and rodeo clowns, including Kajun Kidd and Junior Meek.   He clowned Madison Square Garden; Honolulu, Hawaii; Houston, San Antonio, Calgary Stampede, Cheyenne Frontier Days, Denver, San Francisco and many others venues across the country.   His career ended when he broke his back.  He then was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad for thirty years as a conductor, until he retired.  He never stopped being part of the rodeo family, attending rodeos, including National Finals Rodeo each year, cowboy reunions, and the Rodeo Clown Reunions.

Routh always ‘walked on the edge’ and some of the stories told of his antics, by those who were there to witness it, both in and out of the arena, during his clowning days, were beyond one’s imagination.  However, in spite of his ‘shocking actions the cowboys could always count on him to pay their entry fees if they were a bit short, or save them from a raging bull in the arena.

Routh was a lifetime member of PRCA, an honoree in the Texas Rodeo Cowboys Hall of Fame, in Belton, and the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame.  He was a member of the Rocky Mountain Masonic Lodge #63 and the Sharon Shriner Temple .  He was a member of the United Methodist Church . 

Survivors include;  daughter, Barbara & Scott Montgomery, and grandchildren, Morgan and Olivia, of Kilgore, daughter Brenda Routh of Longview, TX,  grandson Chris Caldemeyer of East Mountain, TX, and granddaughter Casey Caldemeyer of Gladewater, Texas, plus many extended family and friends.  

Jimmy Clark

We have received word from rodeo announcer, Les Ohlhauser, that during the Colorado High School Finals on Sunday long time rodeo supporter, Jimmy Clark, was killed in a freak accident.  Jimmy who was originally from Canada and had in his earlier years been a will known bull rider had helped with the Colorado High School Rodeo Association for some time.  In 2000 Jimmy was the National Old Time Rodeo Association Bull Riding Champion.  In 2004 his daughter, Jessica Benson, was the Colorado High School Rodeo Queen. Jimmy and his wife, Cathy Benson, currently live in Crested Butte, Colorado.  He was assisting in the area, pulling gates, when a bull coming out of the chute caught him in the back as he kicked.  Jimmy was rushed to the hospital were he died shortly from internal injuries.

Jimmy was a very giving person in life and as an organ donor and the doctors have told the family that over 50 people will receive needed transplants.  There will be no visitation or funeral but the family will celebrate Jimmy's life at their home on Saturday for family and friends. 

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Nicholas Byron Hudson

Nicholas Byron Hudson, 42, of Laird, Colo., died June 16, 2006, at the home of his mother, Ruth LaVonne Hudson in North Platte, Nebraska,  He had devoted much of his life to the sport of rodeo and will be greatly missed.

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Ricky Check killed in construction accident

Rick J. Check age 48 of the Eastman/Wauzeka area died of injuries sustained in a construction accident near St. Germain, Wisconsin, on June 8th.. Rick was a Bullriders of America judge and father of the well known Check brothers  He was working on a crew resurfacing Highway 70 in the town of St. German in Vilas County, Wisconsin.  Frank M. Fritz, 57, of Rhinelander, accidentally backed over Ricky when he was repositioning his dump truck.  The accident happened at approximately 3:50 PM.

Rick was born July 9, 1957 in Prairie du Chien, WI, son of Robert and Janice (White) Check.  He served in the Army National Guard.  He married Karen Williams, daughter of Jack and Donna Williams, in 1976.  She preceded him in death in 1987.  Rick enjoyed rodeo's, hunting, fishing, carpentry and most of all spending time with his grandchildren.  He is survived by 5 sons; Cory (Emily) of Gays Mills, WI, Craig (Beth) of Tomah, WI, Curt of Eastman, WI, Travis (Angie) of Wauzeka, WI and Brad of Eastman, WI, his girlfriend Cathy Kapinus of Eastman, WI, his father Robert Check and his friend Delva Huntbach of Prairie du Chien, WI, and  4 sisters.  He was preceded in death by his mother and his wife

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tues., June 13, 2006 at 11:00 AM at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Prairie du Chien, WI, Rev. James Warosh S.J. officiating, with burial in the St. Wenceslaus Cemetery in Eastman, WI.  Military Rites will be accorded graveside.    In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred for the family's charity of choice.

Rodeo-loving teen mourned 

Michael Glynn died on May 24th from injuries he received in a one car crash on Monday, May 22nd.  The Belvidere, South Dakota teen had excelled in both high school and South Dakota rodeo and was headed to Chadron University in the fall where he was to be a member of the rodeo team there.  A very giving young man his parents donated his organs to the transplant program.  Michael joins a long list of rodeo enthusiast that have lived on through the national transplant program.  We deeply mourn the loss of this young bull rider and pray for his family and friends.  We also thank his parents for giving others new life in their time of grief.

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Billy Walker, Grand Ole Opry Star and his wife, Bettie

Visitations for legendary Grand Ole Opry star Billy Walker and his wife Bettie were held Wednesday and Thursday at Hendersonville Memory Gardens Funeral Hone on East Main Street in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Funeral services will be held Friday (May 26) at the Cornerstone Church in Madison, Tenn.  The couple was killed Sunday (May 21) when the van he was driving left the road and overturned on I-65, south of Montgomery, Ala. Two band members, Charles Lilly and Daniel Patton, were also killed in the accident. Joshua Brooks, the Walkers' 21-year-old grandson, remained in critical condition Tuesday at a Montgomery hospital. Visitation for  Lilly will also take place Wednesday and Thursday at the Hendersonville Memory Gardens Funeral Home. Services for Lilly are scheduled for Friday at Hendersonville's First Baptist Church. Funeral arrangements for Patton are still pending.

Tuesday night at the Opry, performers paid tribute to Walker who was scheduled to perform.  Instead, his friend Jeannie Seely, sang his classic "Funny How Time Slips Away."   Ricky Skaggs also performed a tribute to his friend.

Rodeo mourns the passing of Mikel Moreno

Word has been received that Mikel Moreno, 18, has passed away.  Mikel was originally diagnosed in early 2003 with acute  lymphocytic leukemia.  His cancer went into remission only to return in 2004.  Throughout his battle with cancer Mikel who is the son of Julio and Cindy Moreno and the grandson of Hall of Fame Stock Contractor Cotton Rosser continued working with his family and had already become an accomplished stock contractor.  He also left his mark in high school athletics graduating from high school in a special ceremony,  Mikel has been an inspiration to all of us as over the last few years and our hearts are with his family. 

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Shortly after Mikel's funeral the PRCA published this story of his memorial service, his life and rodeo.  Reading it I cried one more time for Mikel and his family and his strength.

PRCA MEMORIAL STORY

Linda Lonatier, Dakota's Mom, Dies

You won't know her.  She wasn't a rodeo legend or a famous country singer.  She was a mom, a waitress. and a wife.  Just someone who tried to raise her daughter the best she could and in the end died from the disease she had fought for years.  Why is she important.  Because to me she represents all the mothers of all the fans that make this sport grow.  We can not make it without the fans.  Our message boards and blogs mean nothing if the fans don't use them.  Advertisers don't need us without our fans.  Dakota is a regular on not only our message board but several message boards and blogs.  Rodeo is her life but she has never competed.  In honor of all of our fans and the ups and downs in their lives this week let us pray for Dakota's family and all the fans that will attend our events this year.  Thank you.

Bonnie Owens, 76; Singer and Ex-Wife of 2 Country Stars - Female Vocalist of the Year in 1967

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Stuart Mazenic Dies April 26th

Teen dies from injuries suffered when horse rolled on top of him.  A 17-year-old fulfilling a dream to learn rodeo died after a horse rolled on top of him during his first bucking bronco ride, his family said.

Stuart Mazanec died Wednesday from organ damage, four days after the accident at a weekend rodeo clinic in Byers, about 30 miles east of Denver.

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Polly Burson dies at age 86

Polly got her start as a trick rider in rodeo and went on to become an icon as a Hollywood stunt women.  She never forgot her roots in rodeo.  She died on April 4th in a Ventura, California , hospital after a short illness.

Helen "Bobbie Nudie" Cohn

For years they set the style worn by the stars of Country Music and later Rock and Roll stars discovered them.  Last week Buck Owens was buried in one of the suits her husband and her had made for him.  She has died at age 92 but the mark she left on the Western will never be forgotten.

Don Tatum, Father of Clint Tatum Passes Away

Don Tatum, father of Clint Tatum, passed away Sunday after a long battle with several illnesses.  Many of you know Clint, a past MRCA Saddle Bronc Average Champion who is better known as a world-class pickup man.  He has worked the MRCA and URA Finals dozens of times, the Pace Finale and has been a scant few votes from the NFR the last several years.  Through Clint many have also met his father, Don.  Don lived life like the true cowboy he was.  Visitation services for Don will be held Wednesday evening in Green City, Missouri.

Music Industry Pioneer Louise Scruggs dies

Louise Scruggs, a pioneering businesswoman in Nashville and wife of Country Music Hall of Fame member Earl Scruggs, died Thursday afternoon (Feb. 2) at Nashville's Baptist Hospital following a lengthy illness. She was 78.

Jane Hadley

We have received word from the NIRA Alumni that Jane Hadley, wife of Tom Hadley, died Saturday night, Jan. 21. Tom won the steer wrestling at the first college finals rodeo in 1949 at the Cow Palace.  Rodeo Attitude extends are sympathy to the family and our respect to those cowboys and cowgirls who paved the path for rodeo today.