PRORODEO Sports News - July 11, 2025

PASSINGS

Michaelene eventually gave in. It’s a good thing she did. Spud obtained his pro card from the PRCA when he was 18 years old. It took time for him to gain some traction, winning just a handful of rodeos and a few thousand dollars in his first couple of years. But when 2008 rolled around, every thing changed. It was the best season of his career by far, as Spud won the bull rid ing titles at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, the Lead County Fair & Rodeo in Lovington, N.M., and the Dodge Turquoise Circuit Finals Rodeo in Las Cruces, N.M. He earned just over $98,000, more than $27,000 of which at the NFR when he placed in two rounds - including a second-place finish in Round 5. He placed seventh at the NFR that year and 13th in the world standings. “We were so proud,” his sister, Twi la, said while fighting back tears. “It’s hard to describe the feeling walking into the Thomas & Mack and knowing he was going to ride. It was a special moment for our family. “We are going to miss him very much.” Spud is survived by his parents, J.W. and Michaelene, and sisters Twila, Mikala and Fallon.

Spud was the oldest of four chil dren, and learned to cowboy from J.W., who was also a bull rider in the PRCA. Spud learned to rope, ride saddle bronc and bull ride. He also dabbled in other rodeo events, too. But bull riding is what stuck. He attended Cheyenne Frontier Days with his father when he was a boy.

He saw the cowboys riding bulls and fell in love immediately. So much so that when his mother, Michaelene, initially told him he couldn’t ride bulls due to the risk of injury, he cried. “He was so upset,” Michaelene said. “He wanted to ride bulls so bad, but I didn’t want him to get hurt. He was always tough as a kid.”

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