PRORODEO Sports News - June 6, 2025

PASSING

PRORODEO HALL OF FAMER BILL 'CODY' SMITH PASSES AWAY By PRCA Staff

Bill Smith 1972 NFR on High Test. PRCA photo by Ferrell Butler

P RORODEO Hall of Famer Bill Smith died on Sunday, June 1. He was 83 years old. Born June 28, 1941, in Red Lodge, Mont., Smith won three PRCA Sad dle Bronc Riding World Champion ships in 1969, 1971 and 1973. "One thing I always knew about Bill Smith was that he wanted to do

the right thing," said fellow 1979 PRORODEO Hall of Fame induct ee Shawn Davis. "He lived his life trying to do things the best way you possibly could, and he didn't ever vary from that. He believed in doing things right and standing up for what's right." Smith was affectionately known as "Cody" in the rodeo world, after his

adopted hometown of Cody, Wyo. "His hometown meant a lot to him," Davis said. "He always spoke highly of it and always promoted it." Davis and Smith first met at a high school rodeo nearly seven decades ago in Red Lodge and quickly be came lifelong friends.

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