Ranchman's Legends Achievement Awards announced

By Vicki Allen, CPRA
Posted Friday, May 30, 2008

Three honored for contribution to rodeo and the western lifestyle

CALGARY, ALTA- The Legends category was brought into being in 2004 by the Canadian Rodeo Historical Association (CRHA) Board of Directors to honor those cowboys and cowgirls who do not qualify for induction into the Hall of Fame, but who have made a huge contribution to rodeo and the western way of life. Legends are those whose names are synonymous with rodeo. This year Ranchman’s and the CRHA are proud to honor Albert Laye, Pete Bruisedhead and Dale Rose for the Legends Achievement Category.

Albert Laye
Albert was born in Walsh, Alta. on September 27, 1920. He competed in amateur rodeo from 1943-1945 and joined the CPA (then) in 1946. While he used to compete in all events, in his later years he generally stuck with tie-down roping, steer wrestling and cow milking. Albert accumulated over 40 trophies throughout his rodeo career. He will be recognized June 21 at the Wainwright Stampede.

Pete Bruisedhead
Pete has been involved with rodeo his whole life. In the early days he rodeoed with greats like Phil Doan and Keith Hyland, entering the bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, steer wrestling and tie-down roping. And then when team roping came to rodeo he entered that event with his 12-year-old son, and won Cloverdale. At 72 years young, Pete continues to enter the roping events in the Senior Pro and Indian Rodeos and just this past winter he won the roping event in Florida and is a close second in the World Senior Pro standings. Now that’s a LEGEND! Pete will be recognized during the Calgary Stampede this summer.

Dale Rose
Dale is a Medicine Hat, Alta. native, born October 13, 1941. Rodeo events that he competed in included bull riding and tie-down roping. He is the only Canadian to work the unusual pair of tie-down roping and bull riding. Dale made his first rodeo appearance in 1955 at that rodeo (Medicine Hat). His first CPRA pro rodeo was in Taber, Alta., in 1961. Dale won a major CRCA rodeo in tie-down roping at Lethbridge, Alta., in 1967, but he still claims that his best year rodeoing was 1974. Dale also operated bull riding and tie-down roping schools in Medicine Hat for many years.

The Canadian Rodeo Historical Association was founded in 1979 by dedicated rodeo enthusiasts, “to honor and distinguish outstanding contestants, stock and builders in the Canadian Rodeo Arena.” It became a registered association on June 19th, 1980 and in 1981 the Association was granted tax-free status as a charitable organization by the Government of Canada. Since then the association has evolved even more and continues to honor those who helped build what rodeo is today.

Feel free to check out the CRHA’s new website at www.canadianprorodeohalloffame.com.