PRORODEO Sports News - January 10, 2025

SHORT ROUND

ProRodeo Hall of Fame pickup man Kenny Clabaugh was 78 Legend Passes

P ickup man Kenny Clabaugh, who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo., in July of 2023, passed away Dec. 31, in Arvada, Wyo. He was 78. Clabaugh, a native of Arvada, was always known for helping others, whether that was inside the arena or out of it. By nature, Clabaugh wasn’t about the spotlight at all, hence his nickname “The Invisible Man.” He didn’t seek attention nor boast about his accomplishments throughout the years. That was just who he was. However, after being selected as a pickup man for the National Finals Rodeo seven times, he didn’t go unnoticed by the ProRodeo Hall of Fame selection committee. Clabaugh got the call of a lifetime from the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and was inducted. “Oh my gosh, this means everything,” Clabaugh said to the ProRodeo Sports News moments after he was selected for induction. “I’m still in a state of shock. I never thought I would ever be close (to being in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame).” Clabaugh was selected to work the NFR in 1983, 1986-88, 1990-91, and 1994. He had the opportunity to pick up a handful of guys who are already in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. The honor makes him only the second pickup man to ever be inducted. Clabaugh started as a pickup man at Casper (Wyo.) College. He was interested in rodeo, but he said he was never good enough to compete. The school’s rodeo team needed pickup men and Liddon Cowden, a team roping header who competed at the National Finals Rodeo in 1990, 1993 and 1996, passed away Jan. 1. He was 54. Wes Goodrich, who roped with Cowden over the years shared his thoughts about Cowden. “Liddon and I have been lifelong friends, just like our dads,” Goodrich said. “Big Lid was one of the greatest. He watched H.P. Evetts’ (1974 PRCA Team Roping World Champion) reach and learned to simulate it. Liddon had a natural head swing, and when (ProRodeo Hall of Famer) Speed Williams came along some people said they had similar styles. “Liddon would rather ride a horse than drive. He lived life his way, but he was the kind of guy who’d give you the shirt off his back and would spend his last dime on a buddy. Liddon lived life his way. We had a blast.” Born to the son of late fellow NFR header Sonny Cowden and

Clabaugh

Sue Rosoff photo

Clabaugh volunteered. That blossomed into a career which saw him become one of the best pick up men in the history of PRORODEO. Clabaugh also spent 20 years working with the National High School Finals Rodeo. The Wyoming cowboy worked many rodeos throughout his ProRodeo career, which came to an end in 2001. He was a pickup man at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo in Rapid City, S.D., with partner Steve Sutton for nearly 30 years.

Three-time NFR team roper Liddon Cowden passes away

his wife, Donna, on Oct. 27, 1970, in Merced, Calif., Liddon had two brothers, Scott and Ace, and a sister, Mindy. Liddon also is survived by four sons, Mason, Chase, Colt and Lane. When Colt became a dad the other day, Liddon also became a grandpa for the first time. Liddon made a quick impression in the PRCA, winning the 1990 Resistol Team Roping Rookie of the Year Award. He was invited to compete at the NFR that year to rope with Walt Rodman. The duo placed in two rounds, winning Round 2 with a 5.4-second run. In 1993, Cowden qualified for the NFR with his cousin Cody Cowen, and they placed in three rounds – highlighted by splitting second in Round 7 with a 5.6-second run and placing second in the average with a 106.6-second time on 10 head. Liddon qualified for the NFR in 1996 and partnered with heeler Brent Lockett. They placed in five rounds, winning Round 3 with a 4.8-second run. Cowden finished a career-best seventh in the world standings with $57,602.

ProRodeo Sports News 1/10/2025

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