WHOA, COWBOY, LET’S PONDER AWHILE

Posted Tuesday, July 7, 2009

I received an inquiry the other day that made me stop and think. It said:

“Who decides which cowboys and cowgirls should be placed in the Hall of Fame? I often read the credentials and wonder why competitors are picked sometimes before they have finished competin? They may have won world titles and done great things but being placed in a Hall of Fame before they are retired sounds like ‘jumping the gun’? Who knows what else is in store for these exceptional professionals? Don’t you think the ‘powers that be’ might be rushing things a bit?”

I really had to think about this question. I also went to both the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and the Rodeo Historical Society Hall of Fame and discussed this question to know what requirements both Halls of Fame consider for their inductees.

The Rodeo Historical Society, based at Oklahoma City in the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, states in their Application for Nomination:

“Use the following criteria as a guide when completing your application materials: Affiliation (RCA/PRCA, WPRA/GRA, etc): significant participation in rodeo on the national level; training of others; respected by peers; character; giving back to rodeo; war service; projects the image of living ‘The Western Way’.”

It also states that the Applicant must be 50 years of age.

The ProRodeo Hall of Fame, located in Colorado Springs uses the following criteria:

“For a contestant the rules are: They must have been a World Champion, must be retired, and someone must nominate them giving a brief biography of their life including things they achieved in and out of the arena. For a Notable (others such as stock contractors, contract workers, etc) the applicant’s credentials should include all things rodeo-related, plus other achievements in regard to their ‘western way of life’. Rodeo committees are also eligible to be inducted and their nomination should be thorough and include all their achievements pertaining to rodeo.”

Please note: the ProRodeo Hall of Fame is in the process of re-doing their nomination form and presently it does not appear on their website, but will within a few weeks.

Both organizations, which I consider the ‘top of the heap’ in rodeo have well defined what they consider a good candidate to be considered for induction. Both organizations must receive a completed application on the candidate plus a biography, photographs, etc. The information and application is on the website entitled: www.nationalcowboymuseum.org ( under Rodeo Historical Society) and will soon by on www.prorodeohalloffame.

Other inquiries received over the years, asking questions about being considered are as follows:

“I believe my uncle was blackballed by the Hall of Fame.”

Response: No one is blackballed. Many people think because someone they know or a family member was a World Champion or one of the top competitors of their era they are automatically considered for these Halls. That is just not true. No one is ‘automatically’ considered. It takes a concerned person who feels a deserving cowboy or cowgirl is eligible, to complete the forms and follow the rules of the organization, as published by each organization.

“I knew someone who was in the Hall of Fame for a time, then he was no longer there.”

Response: Honorees in the Halls of Fame are never eliminated from these Halls once they are inducted. There is no guarantee that the memorabilia of every Hall of Famer is continually displayed in these museums. From time to time museums do change their displays. However the name of the honorees will be represented in each Hall forever.

“I thought my cousin, who was a World Champion, was in the Hall of Fame because on a trip there I saw his bareback rigging and his hat and spurs.”

Response: The current World Champions are displayed, for the year they are the Champion in that event, in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame at Colorado Springs, and with their photo is some of their equipment is often displayed. However, this does not mean they are automatically inducted in to the Hall of Fame. Someone, whether it is a family member or a friend, must get the application and follow the criteria before any cowboy or cowgirl, or representative of rodeo will be considered.

“My grandfather was the best bronc rider in this state during the 1930s, but he was never able to travel a lot because he had a family to support. The rodeos where he competed were mostly little ‘punkin rollers’ but he always won. Wouldn’t he be eligible?

Response: He’s not eligible for the ProRodeo Hall of Fame or the Rodeo Historical Society Hall of Fame as these inductees must have been active in professional rodeo and competed on a national level. Many of the western states have area Halls of Fame that your competing grandfather and other good cowboys from the area might be eligible to be considered. Contact them and find out. For example: Cheyenne Wyoming, Pendleton Oregon, Coffeyville Kansas, all have Halls of Fame, as do the states of Texas and Kansas, plus many others. The Casey Tibbs Museum in Pierre, South Dakota, has a Hall of Fame, as does the Texas Rodeo Cowboys Hall of Fame. Each Hall has their individual criteria. I suggest you look in your state and in the area in which your grandfather competed to see if there is an appropriate Hall of Fame.

As for the original question, as to inducting a participating professional cowboy or cowgirl in to a Hall of Fame before they retire from competing raises many concerns. What else might he do before he is finished competing? Wouldn’t it mean so much more to a person after they have quit ‘going down the road’ and retired? The answers and decisions can vary so I consulted with someone working in this regard at one of the Halls of Fame and this was the response I received:

“If they meet the criteria as published why not consider them for induction? Our museum is for people of all ages. You’d be surprised how excited the youngsters are that come here to see someone that is still competing has been honored in our Hall. We want everyone to come to our museum and find something of interest. This is one way to encourage youth to visit.”
If you have someone you think should be honored, follow the criteria of the Hall of Fame you are submitting your cowboy or cowgirl for and see if they qualify. The requirements of completing the form and submitting the photographs and information take some time and effort, but it certainly is worth it. There is nothing more rewarding than having someone you personally know and has devoted his or her life to rodeo be inducted in to an appropriate Hall of Fame.