ProRodeo Sports News | 2020 Year-End Edition | Dec.18, 2020

Rodeo Greats Immortalized Ceremony for inductees postponed, but honorees earn recognition PRORODEO HALL OF FAME

BY PRCA STAFF C ody Ohl, a six-time PRCA world champion, headlined an award- winning, eight-member 2020 class of inductees into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo. The ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy announced July 2 that the Class of 2020 Induction Ceremony scheduled for Aug. 1 in Colorado Springs, Colo., would be canceled due to the extreme restrictions placed on events in Colorado because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ProRodeo Hall of Fame is working diligently to plan a robust and successful event for the class to be held in 2021. Ohl, who won world championships in tie-down roping (1997-98, 2001, 2003, 2006) and all-around (2001) will go into the Hall of Fame with renowned bareback horse Grated Coconut of Calgary Stampede; world champion bull rider Butch Kirby (1978); stock contractor Jim Sutton Jr.; contract personnel Sunni Deb Backstrom; notable Randy Witte; the Ellensburg Rodeo and world champion barrel racer Martha Josey (1980).

Grated Coconut

CODY OHL – T ie-down roper, all-around At 46, six-time world champion Cody Ohl added the title of ProRodeo Hall of Famer to his long list of accomplishments. “It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” Ohl said. “You dream of being a world champion your whole life, and it only gets to be real for so many. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame for a great career is pretty amazing.” After winning the 1994 PRCAOverall Rookie of the Year, the Texas cowboy collected six

needed to use his services to keep our program alive and (for) more years to come. He’s a very unique horse and the face of the Calgary Stampede breeding program. We’re just delighted to have him recognized by such a great organization as the PRCA. That’s the ultimate recognition when you retire and you go into the Hall of Fame, and you are recognized by your peers is pretty special.” Grated Coconut, 23, lives on the Calgary Stampede ranch in Hanna, Alberta.

Ohl

world champion buckles. He also qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 20 times (1994-2001 and 2003-14) and the ClemMcSpadden National Finals Steer Roping three times (1999-2001). With $3.5 million in career earnings, Ohl is second only to Trevor Brazile in total money won in ProRodeo competition. Ohl’s 20 NFR qualifications ties him for second-most in tie-down roping with FredWhitfield. Only Mike Johnson has more with 23. Perhaps Ohl’s most memorable run came in a go-round at the 2003 NFR when he clocked a time of 6.5 seconds, tying for the third-fastest time ever witnessed in ProRodeo. During his final trip to the NFR, he won at least a share of first place in three rounds to extend his tie-down roping event record total to 52 go-round wins. Ohl also shares the record for most NFR go-round wins in a single year, and he did it on two occasions. Ohl won five go-rounds in 2001 and 2013. The only other tie-down roper to win five rounds in a single NFR was Dave Brock in 1978. GRATED COCONUT – B areback Horse Grated Coconut has no equal as a PRCA bareback horse. He was named Bareback Horse of the Year a PRCA-record six times – in 2003-04 and 2006- 09 – and was the top horse of the NFR in 2008. “We’re excited to say the least,” Calgary Stampede’s Keith Marrington said. “For the Calgary Stampede, this is a great honor to have one of their animals recognized on the world stage. We retired him in 2010 because we

BUTCH KIRBY – B ull rider

Gary William “Butch” Kirby started trick

riding at 4 years old.

He never really stopped, though his trick turned into staying on bulls for eight seconds at a time. Kirby won the 1978 PRCA world title in

bull riding, earning $15,000 at the NFR that year, when roughstock world champions were decided by money won at the NFR. “I was a little bit surprised,” said Kirby, 65. “It’s an honor to be in this hall, especially because my heroes are in there. Kirby qualified for the NFR eight times (1973-75, 1977-78, 1980- 82). In addition to his world title, he also finished third twice and fifth once. When his bull riding career ended, Kirby never left rodeo. Instead, he became a pro official for 25 years for the PRCA. When the Wrangler NFR came around in December, it marked Kirby’s 30th NFR as a judge. Originally born in Salem, N.J., Kirby made Stephenville, Texas, his hometown. In 1975, he and his brothers Sandy and Kaye were the first trio of brothers to qualify for the Finals in the same year, with Butch qualifying in bull riding, Kaye in bareback riding and Sandy in both of those events. Kirby

ProRodeo Sports News 12/18/2020

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