PRORODEO Sports - April 24, 2026 Digital Edition

The unconscious Davis was then thrown off the bull’s back and landed head-first into the arena dirt, causing a fracture/dislocation at the base of his neck. The wreck resulted in Davis becoming permanently paralyzed from the chest down. After the accident, Davis faced nu merous challenges, but it was also the beginning of a new chapter of resil ience and triumph. “Oh man, that’s awesome. That’s a big deal to me. This is one of the highlights of my life,” Davis said when he received the Hall call. “I think my bull riding taught me how to be motivated and how to overcome obstacles and, you know, things in life in general. At the end of the day, I just love being a cowboy. And it’s just kind of the mindset that you’ve got to have through life some times, the same mindset that wins world titles and things at the NFR.” KEITH ISLEY : Isley’s baggy pants, red hat and USA-themed shirts became well-known through the 1990s and 2000s in PRORODEO. The North Carolina barrelman and clown ob tained his PRCA card in 1994 and immediately made an impact at every rodeo he attended. With specialty acts consisting of horses, dogs, bull whips and trick rop ing, Isley’s specialty act caught the eye

of PRORODEO officials and allowed him to be named to the National Finals Rodeo from 1998 2002, and again from 2008-09. His accolades didn’t stop there. Isley was named the PRCA Clown of the Year from 2006-11. He was nominated for the same award in 2012. He was named the Coors Man in the Can in 2006 and again from 2009-11. He was the PRCA

IKE SANKEY

Specialty Act of the Year (1999-2002; 2006) and Comedy Act of the Year (2001, 2004, 2009-11) five times each in his career. Isley also made a name for himself in PRORO DEO circuits. He was the specialty act and bar relman at the National Circuit Finals Rodeo from 1999-2000, 2008 and 2010. He also worked the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo (2008); Co lumbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo (2008); Great Lakes Circuit Finals Rodeo (2003); First Frontier Circuit Finals Rodeo (1999-2001; 2004-06; 2009); and the Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo (1996). In 2009, on the night

when they start as young as I did, you always dream of working the big ones, and I’ve done that,” Isley said of his induction. “And it’s just a dream come true.” Throughout his career, Isley also spent time as a pickup man and team roping contestant. But his true love was entertainment, and few did it better than Isley. Isley’s last in-arena performance came on Dec. 21, 2024, in Billings, Mont., at the Chase Hawks Rough Stock Rodeo. He was 67 years old. Now, his legacy will be immor talized inside the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. “To be able to last as long as I have in this business, it’s a dream come true,” Isley said. “I’ve been very blessed, not lucky, but very blessed to have made it this far. That’s what I needed.” IKE SANKEY : Responsible for breed ing some of the best bucking stock in the PRCA, Sankey created a legacy in PRORODEO when he was approved to become a stock contractor in 1978. Sankey Pro Rodeo quickly flour ished and was responsible for breed ing multiple bucking stock of the year award winners, including Skitso Skoal, the Saddle Bronc of the Year in 1994 and 1997.

before the start of the

51st National Finals Rodeo, Isley won his fourth straight Clown of the Year award, his second Coors Man in the Can award and third Comedy Act of the Year honor. It was a three-award sweep for the then 52-year old. “Everybody,

KEITH ISLEY

PRCA file photo

APRIL 24, 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 7