PRORODEO Sports News - October 3, 2025

STEER ROPER WADE LEWIS PASSES AWAY AT 76 PRCA Staff Wade Lewis, the 1982 National Finals Steer Roping average champion, passed away Sunday, Sept. 21, in Amarillo, Texas. He was 76 years old. Lewis won the average at the NFSR in 1982 with 222 points on 10 head. He finished sixth overall in the PRCA World Standings that year with $14,644 in total

NFR STEER WRESTLER RUSS DOLVEN PASSES AWAY AT 83 PRCA Staff Steer wrestler Russ Dolven, a

two-time qualifier for the National Fi nals Rodeo, passed away Sept. 25 at his home in Wicken burg, Ariz. He was 83 years old. Dolven qualified for the NFR twice in his career in 1973 and 1976. Fol lowing his appear ances in Oklahoma City, the previous site of the NFR be fore Las Vegas, he

earnings. He was a two-time qualifier for the NFSR, win ning the average in his first trip and returning in 1984. Lewis picked up key wins in PRCA rodeos through out his career, including Cheyenne Frontier Days three times (1982, 1984 and

1989). Before joining the PRCA, he was a multiple time American Junior Ro deo Association all-around and calf roping world cham pion. In college, he won the Southwest Region in the calf roping and the Intercolle giate National calf roping title in 1970. Born in Amarillo, Texas, Lewis grew up on various ranches in eastern New Mexico and worked with cattle alongside his father, Walt, broke horses. In 1968, the family moved to Hereford, Texas, where he and his father built and managed Cattle Town Feedyard and Hereford Feedyard, which were two of the first major commercial feedyards in Deaf Smith County, Texas. He continued to manage the feedyards through his college roping career when he attended South Plains College, Tarleton State University and West Texas State University. Lewis managed Hereford Feedyard for 48 years, as well as his own ranch where he raised cattle and broke horses. All the while, he continued to steer rope. He won the senior steer roping in 1999 and the world title multiple times as a member of the Senior Steer Roping Association. Lewis is survived by his wife, Debbie; son Monty Lewis and daughter-in-law Jessica of Canyon, Texas; daughter Regina Kiehne and husband Kurt of Canyon, Texas; grandson Kole; sister Linda Donair and broth er-in-law Paul of Canyon, Texas; and aunt Mary Lewis of Hereford, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walt and Marcella. The family asks that any memorial be made to Crossroads Country Church, P.O. Box 50608, Amarillo, Texas, 79159. Wade Lewis. (Courtesy Photo)

Russ Dolven. (File Photo)

went on to win become the year-end champion of the Montana and Turquoise circuits in 1978 and 1982, respectively. A native of Lexington, Ore., Dolven moved to Dil lon, Mont., after his childhood to run heavy equip ment for the forest service. That was also where he connected with Benny Reynolds, who introduced Dolven to steer wrestling and jump started his career in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Dolven moved to Wickenburg in 1970 and met his wife, Mary O’Hair. The two married in 1971. Following his career in PRORODEO, Dolven and Mary served the Wickenburg community for over 20 years with various hay needs, including loading, un loading or moving. The couple’s first hay squeeze was purchased in 2004. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donation considerations to AZ Rural Veterinarian Scholarship BOCA, Box 1473 in Wickenburg, Ariz., 85358; the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, 101 Pro Rodeo Drive, Colorado Springs, Colo., 80919; or Infinity Hospice Care, 8434 E Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, Ariz., 85260.

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OCTOBER 2025