Texas Rodeo Cowboy
Hall of Fame

ED COLE
An Army veteran of the Korean War, Ed's first bull riding title came in 1950. In 1956, he started to work for Frank Harris on T-Diamond Ranch assisting with the ranch and in rodeo production. His rodeo career spanned 21 years. In the SRA, he was a 9-time All Around Champion, 8-time Bull Riding Champion, 7-time Saddle Bronc Riding Champion, and 8-time Steer Wrestling Champion. He was runner up in bareback, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, bull riding, and the all around 11 times. Presently he ranches and raises cattle and horses in Sweeny, Texas.

DAVID ELMS
Born in Killeen, Texas, in 1941, David Elms currently resides in Florence, Texas. He started rodeoing at the age of 15 and won his first bull riding at 18 in Gatesville, Texas. The popular and talented cowboy won the big Rock Springs rodeo a record five times in the bull riding. He won or placed at countless rodeos over Texas and across the U.S. David was a member of the PRCA, SRA, IPRA, and CRA. He retired from a successful rodeo career in 1983. Brother Chick Elms is also a 1996 inductee into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.

JOHN & MILDRED FARRIS
This multi-talented, husband-and-wife team has been a stabilizing factor in the backbone of rodeo since the mid 1950s. Mildred Farris was born in Andrews, Texas, and is a college graduate. She was the 1955, '56, and '57 TBRA Barrel Racing Champion. Her career took her to a 2002 induction into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. In 1958, she joined the GRA (later to become the WPRA) and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo three times. Mildred was secretary of the PRCA seven times. John Farris was born in Iowa Park in 1944. He has a reputation for running the best, no matter what it is--chutes, arena, stock boss, etc.--and running it cleanly and safely. Contesting in the three rough stock events and calf roping, too, John was known as a tough and winning competitor in all events from the 1950s through 1975. Working for several stock contractors, he worked the National Finals Rodeo in one capacity or the other over the years. He was elected "Texas Circuit Man of the Year in 1997 and has received countless other awards in the support of rodeo.

KEITH GREENE (D)
NOV. 3, 1940--OCT. 11, 1995
Born in Florence, Texas, Keith started riding bulls at an early age. He started riding when he was 13 years old and rode for 15 years. Keith was better known as "The Leech." Cowboys gave him that name because they couldn't buck him off. In one of his best years, he rode 35 out of 36 head. One of the best shows Keith had was when he won the six-day show in Springfield, Missouri. He drew and rode the great bucking bull TX that had never been ridden.

CECIL ALFORD HILL
1924-1987
Born in Austin, Texas, Hill was a cowboy, livestock man, rodeo promoter, and rodeo producer. Hill opened his family's rodeo arena in Oak Hill, just southwest of Austin, in 1957. For 20 years, the famous Hills Arena was alive with activity every night with buckouts, calf ropinss, or high school or youth rodeos. Hill catered to the area's young people. Many considered him a friend, role model, and second father. The Annual Labor Day Calf Roping was known state wide, progressing to a 10-header and drawing up to 168 ropers. Cecil passed on in 1987, but he is remembered for the imbact he made on the sport of rodeo in the lives of the young people and all his friends and family. He was a cowboy's cowboy.

SAMUEL PAUL HUMPHREY, JR.
1922-1945
Born in Belton, Texas, Paul started his rodeo career in 1941. His favorite event was bull riding, although he also rode bareback horses and competed in the steer wrestling. He joined the Cowboys Turtle Association (later the RCA and now the PRCA) in 1942 and traveled mainly in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, although he did work rodeos across the U.S. Outgoing, ready to help anyone, he was the type of guy everyone liked. Extremely skilled in competition, his trademark was to wear his hat crossways for luck. Paul's brother, Bud Humphrey, was inducted into the TRCHF in 1995.

M. H. HENRY
A rodeo cowby way of life was an honor and a privilege, stated a true Texas Cowboy. His formal education was experiencing the hard work of ranches, sharecrapping, and sharing the Great Depression with millions of other folks. The great rodeo producer T.C. "Buck" Steiner encouraged Henry to work on his artistic talent and also started him on his rodeo career. "H" worked the saddle bronc riding, bull riding, and steer wrestling. His love of the sport led him down many paths. The TRCHF has been very fortunate to have some of th famous H. Henry painting for the future Hall of Fame museum building. His experience in life dominates his art work and life as a cowboy, pikup man, stock hauler, and store window decorator has kept him going down the road, meeting and making friends everywhere he goes.

MONEY "HAWKEYE" HENSON
Born in Farmersville and raised in Mesquite, Henson's class, flair, humor, and colorful personality were his trademarks, as were the flying dismount and the feather in his hat. A 3-time World Champion PRCA Saddle Bronc Rider, he workd and contested in rodeos in Australia, Argentina, France, Finland, and the entire gamut of the United States. The 14-time NFR qualifier and record 4-time NFR Saddle Brond Riding Average winner has had numerous movies, TV, and radio appearances. The singing cowboy has many other media credits on his list of accomplishments. "Hawkeye" currently makes his home base in Wetherford, Texas.

BILLY "RED" ROGERS
Born in Gatesville in 1934, Red competed in high school, college, and amateur rodeos in both Texas and New Mexico. He joined the PRCA, working for Tommy Steiner and Beutler & Sones rodeo producers. A champion bareback rider, he stayed in the Top 20 list in the PRCA world standings for several years. In the OTRCA, he won the bareback riding in 1979 and placed second in the bull riding ot win the All Around iat the Old Timer Cowboy National Finals Rodeo. He was a PRCA judge for 20 years, judging the NFR several times. He makes his home in Dripping Springs, Texas.

LaTONNE SEWALT
Born in Brownwood, LaTonne was the World Champion Barrel Racer in 1950 and 1954. She role her horse, "Little Joe," on the barrels, then her daddy, Royce Sewalt, would rope and haze on him. She started barrel racing in 1949 at age 9, usinng a trick riding saddle. She was, at that time, the oungest GRA World Champion in history. Summer time was the busy time for the Sewalts on the road, but school is where she would be during the winter. The only time off from school was for a few of the big indoor rodeos. Latonne Sewalt Enright currently lives in Decatur, Texas, and is proud to have had her father inducted into the TRCHF in 2002 and her brother, Ronnye, inducted in 2001.

T. M. "SMITTY" SMITH
Born on a ranch in Spermont, Texas, in 1929, Smith moved to Fort Worth in 1948, giving him the opportunity to work more rodeos in the bareback riding, bull riding, and steer wrestling events. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Smith and E. McHood formed a partnership and the M Bar S Ranch Rodeo Company began its rise, becoming the first to ever produce a rodeo at Will Rogers Coliseum (other than the RCA Rodeo in Fort Worth). Lots of young cowboys got their start there. A member of the CRA, IRA, and a permit holder in the RCA, he continued roping and steer wrestling until retiring in 1978. A former president of the North Texas Longhorn Breeders Association for a number of years, he stays busy ranching and selling team roping steers year-round all over the United States. "Smitty" still gets his mail in Fort Worth.

WILLIE THOMAS
Born in Richmond in 1930, Thomas started rodeoing in 1948 and bought his RCA card in 1953. Later, he held cards in the SNCA, SRA, and IRA. In the beginning, he put his rope on backwards as an amateur and got chuckles from many of the seasoned pros until they saw him ride. Winning the bull riding silenced all the unbelievers and Willie Thomas started up his tough road, making a name for himself in the history of bull riders as one of the greatest cowboys of color in that event. He won many buckles, saddles, and championships and was the president of the Southwestern National Cowboy Association. He qualified for the first RCA National Finals Rodeo but did not go due to family commitments. He makes his home in Booth, Texas.

GENEVIEVE HAUFF WEYER
Born in Mercedes, Texas, in 1937, Weyer has been dedicated to the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame as executive secretary since December 2000, handling newsletters, promotion, circulation and participation. The responsibilties of the association's secretary touch many lives. Dedication is the name of the game. It is a fulltime jog and the reward is to see positive interest grow as the reputation spreads. An avid rodeo promoter, she has been involved in rodeo since 1960. As executive secretar-treasurer of the Southwestern Rodeo Association from 1967 through 1973, she instigated many diverse operations of promotions and saw the growth of that active rodeo organization triple in size and thrive. This honor is particularly satisfying as she joins husband Marvin in the TRCHF. He was inducted in 2001. The Weyers make their home in League City, Texas.

BILLY T. WILLIS
Born in West, Texas, in 1938, Willis had his first big win in the "wild cow" riding in 1957 at Blooming Grove. From that start, he went into bull riding, pickup up checks at severl amateur rodeos. In 1960, he won 11 consecutive rodeos in that event. In 1966, he joined the RCA and picked up checks at many of the big rodeos. Billy rode racehorses for a number of years. In 1972, he came back to rodeo to team up with brother Dan as "The Willis Brothers rodeo clowns and bullfighters, working more than 100 performances. The agile rodeo clown and bullfighter got out of the barrel long enough to pick up checks at several bull ridings as well. Billy joins brother Dan Willis, a 1997 inductee into the TRCHF. Billy gets his mail in Ross, Texas.

MACK YATES
1918-1991
Born in San Saba, Yates was a rancher, Gold Card holder in the PRCA, and a prominent name in the calf roping standings in the 1950s. In 1955, Yates set a money-won record in that event at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo that stood forn several years. He was also a talented steer roper and spent a lifetime helping people achieve the things they loved most in life. He credited rodeo's most important benefit to be the friends he made and the good times he shared with them. Many of those friendships lasted his entire life, and he is still remembered fondly by all who loved and admired him.

GOV. BILL DANIEL
Cowboy, rodeo performer, producer, rodeo promoter, Wild West Showman, and eighth-generation rancher from Liberty, Gov. Daniel was 86 when inducted into the Hall in 2003. Known as Mr. Texas by many, he remains one of Texas' foremost lawyers. A diverse Texas statesman, he is a former governor, ambassador, Special Texas Ranger, and a churchman. He is an asset to the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame Executive Advisory Board.

JOHNNY ACKEL
Born in Beaumont on May 31, 1930. Ackel was a steer wrestler and bullrider. He won the 1952 NIRA College National Finals in the bull riding event. He spent two years in the U.S. Army, then graduated with a teaching degree in vocational agriculture from Sam Houston College in Huntsville. When he began teaching, he was able to rodeo on weekends and summer breaks. He was a champion competitor in both steer wrestling and bull riding nationwide. He started producing rodeos with his own Flying J bucking stock in 1967 and is still actively producing championship productions.

R.C. BALES
From McKinney, Bales began rodeoing at the age of 15, joined the Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1948, and traveled throughout Texas and the United States. He won and placed consistently and was one of the first cowboys to venture into Mexico with rodeo competition. He was the first cowboy to win a 150-head bull riding. He retired from competition in 1972.

LEON BAUERLE
Born in Travis County on July 17, 1938, Bauerle joined the Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1960 and was an active competitor through the year 2000. His accomplishments include many titles at rodeos in the U.S. and Canada. He qualified seven times for the National Finals Rodeo in steer wrestling and was the Old Timers Rodeo Cowboys Association steer wrestling champion in 1987, 1988, and 1989. Currently, he does a lot of hazing chores with a top dogging team of his own and ranches in Kyle.

JOE BEAVER
A Huntsville cowboy, Beaver joined the Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1985 at the age of 19 and won his first world championship in calf roping as well as the Rookie of the Year award. Over the $2 million mark in career earnings, he was also the PRCA All Around Champion for three years, PRCA Champion Calf Roper for five years, a National Finals Rodeo qualifier 17 times from 1985 through 2001, and an inductee into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2002. Beaver works the team roping event as well and has qualified for the NFR several times in that event. In 2000, he was elected Coors Fans Favorite Cowboy. He is currently competing and doing well in the PRCA standings.

BOBBY "HOOTER" BROWN
Born in Amarillo on Jan. 1, 1952, Brown was ranch raised. As a saddle bronc rider, he was known for his classy spurring stroke and flying dismount. He joined the Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1969 and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo a total of 11 times, placing there often. He won Calgary's $50,000 bonus round the first year it was offered. He served on the RCA board of directors and owns a a construction company in Las Vegas.

JOHN CLARK
Clark was born in Fort Worth on June 18, 1936. He began riding bareback horses in 1951 and started riding bulls in 1954. He was an acclaimed bullfighter in the 1950s. In 1964 and 1965, he was the International Rodeo Association's World Champion All Around Cowboy and was the 1964 World Champion Bull Rider. He was active in many regional and world associations and was inducted into the International Pro Rodeo Association Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1997.

JERRY L. COBLE
A consistent winner in youth rodeos in high school, Coble was born in Houston on June 1, 1941. He joined the Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1965 and is a PRCA gold card holder. Coble qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 1968, won the first go-round, and finished 13th in the world in the bareback riding. He won the bareback riding at the Mercedes, Texas, rodeo three years in a row. His rodeo career lasted from 1963 until 1977. He was a rodeo secretary for three years, helping Jo Decker in the summer months.

GERALD CONNER
Born in Huffman, Conner was 76 when inducted into the Hall in 2003. He attended Texas A&M and received a Bronze Star for bravery in the Army in World War II. He started rodeoing in 1946, working the calf roping and steer wrestling events. His dogging team, Ginger and Rag Mop, served as mounts for many big money winners. He was a consistent winner in his career and served as president of the Southwestern Rodeo Association in 1967-1968.

TONY CRAINER
Born in Alvin to a rodeo family, Crainer rodeoed from 1949 through 1975. The first president of the Youth Rodeo Association, he attended A&I College. He worked four events consistently, won all around for two years, and was in the Top Four in four events from 1963 to 1973. He won championship titles in the saddle bronc, steer wrestling, and bull riding events and placed in the bareback riding in the Southwestern Rodeo Association. He went to the SRA/TRA Finals in 1973 and was the 1973 Steer Wrestling Champion. He won the all around title at the Brownwood RCA rodeo by placing in each of four events. He won and placed many times in the International Rodeo Association. His dad, Allen Crainer, was also a contesting four-event cowboy and was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1998.

GLEN DORN
Born on Dec. 31, 1925, in San Antonio, Dorn started out on rough stock, worked as a ranch hand, and then joined the Navy in World War II for three years. Returning to rodeo, he honed his skill in the steer wrestling. He filled in one night for an injured announcer and, by the time the rodeo was over, had been hired for more rodeos. His career was cast; he worked the 'dogging event at many rodeos after he announced the performance. He worked rodeos over most of central and south Texas and still announces at many local events.

TODD FOX
Fox was born in Burnet on Aug. 10, 1962. He worked the steer wrestling event and was the 1984 IPRA World Champion Steer Wrestler and the IFR average winner. He is also a four-time Texas Circuit Finals Champion, three-time Texas Circuit Champion, 1994 Dodge National Finals Champion, and the 1991, 1992, and 1994 PRCA Crown Royal Regular Season Champion. He made 10 consecutive appearances at the National Finals Rodeo from 1986 to 1995 in the steer wrestling.

GLENN KEITH
Born in Wimberley on Feb. 2, 1942, Keith started rodeoing in high school in 1954, winning many awards. His first money was in Burnet in the bull riding to start a long and successful career. He joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1964, ending the year as runner-up Rookie of the Year, competing in the bull riding and bareback riding. In the Southwestern Rodeo Association, he finished 1972 in second place for the all around title, claimed the Champion Bull Rider title, and finished in the Top 10 in the bareback riding. he continued to compete in rodeos until 1982. He managed the Gulf Plains Rodeo Company and the Texas Rodeo Company, producing many rodeos.

RONNIE PROCTOR
A Belton cowboy, Proctor was born on Aug. 18, 1951. He went from high school to amateur rodeos and got his Rodeo Cowboys Association card in 1972, working the bareback and bull riding. He won the Belton PRCA All Around Championship and the Governor's Trophy in Austin. He placed at or won many of the major rodeos across the U.S. and Canada and was in and out of the PRCA standings in 1974 and 1975. He joins his father, the late Cotton Proctor, who was a 1975 inductee into the Central Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, which is now the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.

CLINTON WYCHE
Born in Markham, Wyche now resides in Houston. He worked as a ranch hand, breaking horses among his other ranch work. At the age of 16, he won the bull riding competition at the T Diamond Ranch in West Columbia, and that sparked a 20-year rodeo career. He worked all three rough stock events throughout the U.S. and won five bull riding titles and one saddle bronc title. In 1968, he was the Bull Riding Champion in the Southwestern National Cowboy's Association and the Southwestern Rodeo Association. He retired in 1973 to raise his family.

JO DECKER
Born in San Angelo, Decker has been a ranch woman, premier horsewoman, horse breeder, trainer, rodeo competitor, rodeo secretary, American flag bearer, and clothing designer. She competed in her first rodeo at the age of 4, and in 1944 and 1946 was one of the two representatives to the Madison Square Garden as a Ranch Sponsor Girl. In 1946, she had her first official job as rodeo secretary, starting a career that spanned 25 years. She was instrumental in promoting and organizing the Girls Rodeo Association, now the Women's Professional Rodeo Association. A brilliant designer and tailor, she has designed clothes for movie stars and royalty. Some of her honors include being named to the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, as well as receiving the Tad Lucas Memorial Award.

MANUELITA WOODWARD-RICHARDS
Born in Lohn, Woodward-Richards was raised on a ranch and began riding horses at 3 years of age. In 1948, she started competing in rodeos. She was the backbone of girls barrel racing, promoting and corresponding with committees all over the country. She joined the Girls Rodeo Association in 1955 and has ridden in, won, or placed at rodeos all over the U.S. and in Havana, Cuba. She wrote a monthly article for the Quarter Horse Journal, "GRA Highlights," promoting rodeo. She also published a monthly newsletter for the GRA. With the wardrobe she designed, she modeled her rodeo clothes to advertise rodeo in different cities throughout the U.S. She presently maintains a registered herd of Red Brangus cattle and is still actively involved in her ranch.

JIM BOB ALTIZER (Deceased--1932-1997)
Born in Del Rio, Altizer was known as "the greatest match roper of all times." Ranch raised, he followed his father's motto, "ranch first; rope second," but id did not deter his winning ways. He was the 1947 Texas State High School Champion and the 1948 National High School Champion in the calf roping. From 1950-1976, he contested in the professional ranks. He was the 1959 World Champion Calf Roper, 1967 World Champion Steer Roper, NFR calf roping average winner twice, and a National Steer Roping Finals average winner. He competed in the National Finals calf roping 10 times and in the NFR steer roping six times. He was named to the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1979, Del Rio's Most Valuable Citizen in 1985, Texas High School Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1986, and National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1995. He has been greatly missed by his family and by the sport.

ALFRED COX (Deceased--1923-1992)
Born in Austin, Cox was put on his first saddle bronc at the age of 16 by Buck Steiner. he also rode bareback horses and occasionally rode bulls or entered the steer wrestling for an all around title. Raised on a ranch, he followd the rodeo trail from 1939 until 1959 but also maintained the ranch for rodeo producer Tommy Steiner and worked for Steiner at rodeos. His colorful career included stunt-doubling in the bucking horse scene of the famous movie "Giant." In 1951, he won nine bronc ridings in a row, competing nationwide and also going to Cuba and Australia. He trained race horses from 1961 to 1966 in Ellensburg, Washington. He eventually came bakc to his ranch and home in Spicewood. To quote announcer Tom Hadley, he was "a guy who's small in size and large in ability."

FANNIE MAE COLLIER COX LEVI (Deceased--1924-1994)
Born in Teck, Levi ranched most of her life. She began rodeoing in 1942, competing in the barrel racing primarily, although she also won the Bull Riding Championship in 1951 at the All Girl Rodeo in tulsa, Oklahoma, just to prove "a lady could do anything." She was a rodeo secretary for rodeo producer Tommy Steiner for 14 years and also worked as flag girl and helpwed with the first National Finals Rodeo in Dallas in 1959. Retiring from rodeo, she was secretary of the American Red Brangus Association. A classy, talented, competitive lady, she excelled inside and outside the arena at everything she did. She was also an avid golfer. She passed away in Austin, just short of her 70th birthday.

DERRELL GILFILLIAN (Deceased)
Born in Beaumont, Gilfillian passed away at the age of 45 in a tragic auto accident. He was a cowboy born to a cowboy family. His brothers, Hollis and Onis, shared his interest, and he joined the pro ranks in 1950. He commonly entered all three riding events, but his personal favorited was the saddle bronc riding. he was known as a very tough cowboy in the bull riding, being the first cowboy to ever make 8 seconds on bull #71 of Homer Todd's string. Throughout his career, he won or placed at almost every major rodeo he entered. He joins his brother, Hollis, in the Hall of Fame. Hollis, was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2001.

WHITEY BOB WALKER (Deceased)
Born in Dallas in 1934, Walker was an ambassador to the sport of rodeo. He is deeply missed but his spirit lives on in the hearts and memories of all that were privileged to know him. He learned to rope at the age of 12 and learned to bulldog in the early 1950s. He competed professionally all over the U.S. In Cheyenne, he holds the record for having hazed for nine of the winners. He enjoyed teaching other young men how to dog steers and held several schools over the years. Spokesman and PRCA gold card holder, he was named the Rodeo Man of the Year in 1993. He served several terms on the Texas Circuit Board of Directors. A retired Dallas fireman, he was well known and recognized as the Marlboro Man in national advertising from 1973 to 1978. He was a leader in his community.

FERRELL BUTLER
Born March 26, 1936, Butler was raised in the Dallas area, graduating from Arlington State College in 1954. He competed as a steer wrestler in high school, college, and in the Rodeo Cowboys Association. He began his rodeo photography in 1961. Known as "Flashbulb," he traveled nationwide, patterning his photography career after the great rodeo photographer DeVere Helfrich. He was selected as the official photographer of the National Finals Rodeo in 1967 and stayed on in that capacity until 1973. In 1974, he broke his neck in a steer wrestling accident and retired from the arena. With 25-year-old negatives, he has computerized and brought old pictures back to life and enjoys traveling the reunion circuit and showing his goods.

SARGE COOK
One of the most important members of a rodeo production is the timed event chute boss. From 1975 until 1996, Cook worked the timed event chutes at many major rodeos across Texas and the United States. From 1977 to 1984, he worked with livestock superintendent Buster Ivory at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City and as the Timed Event Chute Boss in 1980. From 1975, he worked for Bernis Johnson's B-J Rodeo Company in Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska. From 1985 to 1996, he worked in production and security for the NFR in Las Vegas. He was one of the founding members of the Wichita County Mounted Patrol in 1961 and was an active member until 1972.

CHARLIE RANKIN

Born in Dalls on June 22, 1925, Rankin now lives in McAllen. He was in the U.S. Navy for three years in World War II and graduated from Texas A&M in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in animal husbandry. One of the 33 founders of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association and first president of the NIRA, he was also first executive secretary of the NIRA. He was a top bareback and saddle bronc rider and won the All Around Cowboy title at the 1947 Texas Aggie Rodeo. He operated the NIRA office until being called back to Navy active dury during the Korean War. He was a member of the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show Rodeo Committee and many other rodeo organizations. He retired as agricultural broadcaster and radio station owner of KURV in Edinburg and co-owner and farm editor of Texas AgriNews in 1995. He was honored by the Texas Senate and House by the Lt. Gov. Rick Perry on the occasion of a joint resolution on the 50th anniversary of the NIRA.

WACEY CATHEY
Born in Big Spring, Texas on June 29, 1953, Cathey qualified for the PRCA's National Finals Rodeo an outstanding 14 times in the bull riding. He won or placed in countless major rodeos across Texas, the United States, and Canada. He won the Texas Circuit Championship in 1982.

GRADY ALLEN
Born in El Campo, Texas, Allen was the first left-handed roper to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo, in 1960. He had a B.S. degree from Texas A&I and was the National College Team Roping Champion in 1957. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, and in 1958, he recorded the fastest calf ever tied at the Calgary Stampede in Canada.

RAY WHARTON
Born in Bandera, Texas on February 17, 1920, Wharton was the RCA World Champion Calf Roper in 1956 and was fourth in the standings in '57. He was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, in Oklahoma City, OK, in 1994. He is a rancher and horse trainer on his ranch in Bandera.

EDDIE AKRIDGE
Born in Pampa, Texas, on January 8, 1929, Akridge was a four-time RCA World Champion Bareback Rider, taking titles in 1953, '54, '55, and 61. He was in the Top Five in the RCA all-around race in '53, '55, and '56. He was also the International Rodeo Association Champion Bareback Rider in 1953. In 1979, he was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Denver, CO. In 1999, he was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

J.R. AKRIDGE
Born in Morgogel, Texas, on June 13, 1927, Akridge was a Navy veteran who saw overseas combat in WWII. He began his rodeo career in 1946, working the bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, and steer wrestling in Texas. He joined the RCA in 1949, rodeoing from Texas to Canada and placing consistently. In 1954, a horse flipped over on him in the chute, severing his spinal cord in three places and ending his rodeo career.

DELBERT HATAWAY
Born in Snyder, Texas, on February 27, 1938, Hataway qualified for the NFR in the bull riding four years, starting in 1959. He was fourth in the world in 1961 and third in the world in 1964 when he closed out his professional career in rodeo. He had major wins in the bull riding in Cheyenne, Winnipeg, Gladewater, Phoenix, and Salinas. He currently ranches and raises cattle near Fluvanna, Texas.

QUAIL DOBBS
Born in Coahama, Texas, Dobbs began his career in 1962 as a rodeo clown, bullfighter, barrelman, and specialty acts man. He worked every prestigious rodeo in the country, including the National Finals Rodeo five times. He was named Rodeo Clown of the Year in the PRCA in 1978 and 1988 and has won other impressive awards for his acts. He worked the annual rodeos at El Paso for 30 years, Abilene and Cheyenne for 28 years, Houston and Big Spring for 25 years, and Pecos for 17 years.

DICKIE RICHARD
Born in Port Arthur, Texas, in 1938, Richard won 40 buckles including all around and single event championships in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. He went to the NFR twice. In 1963, he was fourth and in '66, he was third in the bull riding in the Southwestern Rodeo Association in Texas. He was World Champion All around and Bull Riding Champion and Bareback Riding Champion in the Old Timers Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1980. He was also the Louisiana Rodeo Association champion for six years.

EUGENE JOHNSON
Born November 1, 1930, in Raywood, Texas, Johnson was a calf roper and steer wrestler. He won events at some 26 rodeos throughout Texas and the United States and placed at countless others. He was a member of the PRCA committee working with Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and was a lifetime member of the PRCA since 1947.

NaRAY McHOOD RATLIFF
Born in Belton, Texas on October 20, 1919, Ratliff was the founder of the celebrated Texas Barrel Racing Association. She was a barrel racer, rodeo secretary, rodeo co-producer and publiser of the bulletin of the Central Rodeo Assocaition. She attended Mary Hardin Baylor College. A business woman of acclaim among her rodeo accomplishments, she now resides in Fort Worth.

WANDA BUSH
Born in Mason, Texas, Bush won at least 32 world championships in barrel racing, calf and ribbon roping and cutting from 1951 through 1972. She was the a Cutting Horse All Around Champion, Girls Barrel Racing World Champion for five years, member of the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, Coca Cola Woman of the Year, and an inductee of the Cowboy Hall of Fame and Heritage Center in Oklahoma. She won numerous other awards as well. She is currently training horses and is active in barrel racing clinics and cutting horses.

LAWRENCE CAREY (Deceased)
Born in Mineral Wells, the late "Short Legs" Carey broke and trained horses as a boy and turned down a football scholarship to join the Cowboys Turtle Association, which later became the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association). He worked the saddle bronc, bull riding, and steer wrestling events and won or placed at many of the major rodeos. His spirit and heart influenced many lives both in and out of the arena.

ROYCE SEWALT
Born in Brownwood, Texas, in 1914, Sewalt was a calf roper, steer wrestler, team roper, and horse trainer. He was the World Champion Calf Roper in the RCA in 1946 and third in the standings in steer wrestling and calf roping in 1945. He invented the jerk-line to help train and keep calf roping horses working the rope. He had many winning runs in both events in Texas and at national rodeos as well training many of the world's top calf roping horses.

TOOTS MANSFIELD
Born in Bandera, Texas, in 1914, Mansfield started his professional calf roping career in 1933 after high school graduation. He won the Cowboys Turtle Association World Champion Calf Roper title for four years. After the Turtles became the Rodeo Cowboys Association, he won that title again in 1945, 1948, and 1950. He was a superman when it came to roping calves. President of the RCA from 1945 through 1951, he was also third in the steer roping in 1945 and 1948 as well as runner-up in the all-around race in 1948. He started the first calf roping school that charged tuition. Mansfield's passing was mourned by all who knew him and the city park in Bandera is named in his honor.

BRENT THURMAN
Born in Austin, Texas, in 1969, Thurman began riding bulls at the age of 8, winning many rodeo championships throughout Texas and the nation. He volunteered in special rodeos and competitions for physically and mentally disabled youths and judged bull riding events throughout Texas in his spare time. He loved a challenge and knew how to find humor and joy in life. Thurman finished fifth in the PRCA bull riding standings in 1991 and was 13the in 1994 in the Crown Royal World Standings at the time of his fatal accident in the bull riding at the NFR.

CLAY COUNTY PIONEER ASSOCIATION
Special recognition went to The Clay County Pioneer Association, which was organized in Henrietta, Texas, in 1932 with the first president being George S. Myers. The first rodeo was held in 1933. The new Tex Rickard Arena in Henrietta is the permanent location for the Clay County Pioneer Reunion and Rodeo.

2001 INDUCTEES

Buster & June Ivory
Marvin Weyer
Roland Reed
C.L. (Buck) Fergeson
Hollis & Wana Gilfillian
Jack Bridges Jr.
Maurice Champion
Whit Keeney
Dude Goodrum
Curley Linehan
Myrtis Dightman
Bailey's Prairie Kid
Neal Collier
Curtis Burlin
Kennith Beasley
Bussy Kaul
Doyle Cobler
Frank Rhodes
Frank Harris
J.H. (Goat) Mayo
John Lindsey
George Tayler
Jon Temple
Mason Romans Sr.
Dudley Barker Jr.
Warren Gunn
Ed Cameron
Gerald Abbott
Clyde Herbert
Buck Eckols
Ronnye Sewalt
Bo Chessn
Joe Davis
O.B. Lynam