PRORODEO Sports News - August 8, 2025

PASSINGS

LONGTIME PRCA SADDLE BRONC RIDER CLYDE LONGFELLOW PASSES AWAY C lyde Edward Longfellow, a saddle bronc rider and 60-year member of the PRCA, passed away July 15 in Scappoose, Ore. He was 83. Longfellow, who was living in Hermiston, Ore., joined the Rodeo Cowboys Association, the precur sor to the PRCA, in 1965. His first R.C.A. rodeo he competed at was in Lewiston, Idaho, his hometown. Longfellow's wife of 60 years, Edie, has served as a PRCA secretary since 1967 and has dedicated her life to PRORODEO ever since. She was selected as the 2024 Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award winner for her 57 years of tireless service to the rodeo industry. Clyde, who was born March 7, 1942, in Lewiston, Idaho, never doubted what his future profession would be. "I always wanted to be a cowboy," Clyde said when answering the question 'Why he decided to rodeo' in a R.C.A. questionnaire. Clyde competed in his first Kids' Rodeo in 1955 in Clarkston, Wash. He was the Amateur Saddle Bronc Riding Champion in Cheyenne, Wyo., in 1965. Clyde said that Idaho rodeo legend Clint Roberts, Daryl Hobney, who qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 1960 and 1965 in bare back riding, and ProRodeo Hall of Fame saddle bronc rider Winston Bruce helped him get his start in PRORODEO. "He loved rodeoing and he loved riding broncs," said Crystal Long

PRCA file photo

fellow, his daughter, and a PRCA secretary since 1987. "There was nothing better to him than getting on good broncs and that resulted in him hitting the road and giving us kids and our family the best life we could have had." Clyde's career resume included rodeo wins in saddle bronc riding in Moses Lake, Wash. (1966-67); Union, Ore. (1966-68); Kennewick, Wash. (1967); Coulee City, Wash. (1968); Hand Hills, Alberta, Cana da (1968); Saskatoon, Sask., Canada (1969); Falkland, British Colum bia, Canada (1969). "Clyde loved getting to know other rodeo competitors and they be came part of your family," Crystal said. Clyde was still competing in PRCA rodeos in saddle bronc riding into his 50s. He made numerous trips to the Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo. In 2019, Clyde was the grand marshal of the Lewiston (Idaho) Roundup and that same year, Clyde and Edie were inducted into the Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame. In 2024, Clyde was inducted into the Chief Joseph Days Hall of Fame in Joseph, Ore. "Honest bucking horses," Clyde said in response to the question of what he liked best about rodeoing. Clyde is survived by Edie and their daughters, Crystal and barrel racer Kelly McGahan (Steve) and grandchildren, Crystal's sons, Rylen and Paycen, and Kelly's daughter, Makayla McCabe, a breakaway roper, and Kelly's son, Braedan McCabe. Memorial services will be held Sept. 7 at the Lewiston Roundup grounds at 10:59 a.m. (PT). Donations may be sent to the Columbia River Circuit Crisis Fund.

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