ProRodeo Sports News - 2021 Year End Edition

PRORODEO HALL OF FAME

BY TRACY RENCK T he wait was worth it for the ProRodeo Hall of Fame Class of 2020. After the ProRodeo Hall of Fame induction ceremony was canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the eight- member 2020 class of inductees got their moment in the spotlight as they were enshrined in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame on July 17, 2021. Cody Ohl, a six-time PRCA world champion, headlined the decorated class. Ohl, who won world titles in tie-down roping (1997-98, 2001, 2003, 2006) and the all-around (2001) went into the Hall 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). Cody Ohl has long been considered one of the all-time top ropers in the history of ProRodeo. When Ohl, 47, was informed of his induction, he was thrilled. “It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” he 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 world champion buckles. He also qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 20 times (1994-2001, 2003-14) and the ClemMcSpadden National Finals Steer Roping three times (1999-2001). Calgary Stampede horse Grated Coconut was one for the ages. The horse carried cowboys to 25 first-place checks and 29 more cowboys made trips to the pay window after making the whistle on this renowned horse. Grated Coconut, 24, lives on the Calgary Stampede ranch in Hanna, Alberta. “For a full decade before his retirement in 2010, Grated Coconut dominated the sport and became arguably one of the most successful bucking horses in the history of professional rodeo,” said Keith Marrington of the Calgary Stampede. “Every ride was unique. He would choose new moves for every trip but always with stunningly powerful kicks.” This well-deserved honor was a long time in the making for stock contractor Jim Sutton Jr. Sutton Jr. is the patriarch of Sutton Rodeo, a six- generation family operation in Onida, S.D. is still running strong. “I don’t know how it could be any better,” said Sutton, 86. “This is a pretty big deal when you get in with people like Casey Tibbs. I tried to rodeo as good as I could and figured I wasn’t going to get in the Hall of Fame that direction. I think our rodeo company and the people in it who are mostly family have all done well with their part, and you add it all up and it turns out pretty good.” PRCA pro official Butch Kirby earned $15,000 at the 1978 National Finals Rodeo to claim the bull riding world title. He qualified for the NFR eight times (1973-75, 77-78, 80-82), also finishing third twice and fifth once. Kirby has been a PRCA pro official for 25 years and judged the NFR for 27 years. “It’s an honor to go into the Hall of Fame,” Kirby said, adding he didn’t believe he deserved it. “All my heroes are above me. Now I’m going to go into the Hall of Fame Enshrined Ceremony delayed one year

and stand next to them. I don’t put myself on a pedestal. I’m still judging, I’m still working for the PRCA in the sport that I love. I still have a lot to give.” The Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo has been capturing the hearts of rodeo fans since 1923. In 2019, the self-proclaimed “Rodeo City” boasted a $368,274 payout, a staggering amount considering the population of Ellensburg is about 21,000. “It’s a huge honor for not only us on the board, but for the entire community of Ellensburg,” said Jerry Doolin, Ellensburg Rodeo President. “It’s really rewarding because we’ve seen just how hard everyone works to make this From left, the inductees were members of the Ellensburg Rodeo (former Ellensburg Rodeo director Ron Mitchell, arena director Rick Cole and Ellensburg Rodeo president Jerry Doolin); stock contractor Jim Sutton Jr.; Kendra Santos, accepting for tie-down roper/all-around cowboy Cody Ohl; barrel racer Martha Josey; PRCA secretary Sunni Deb Backstrom; bull rider Butch Kirby; and notable Randy Witte. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Jackie Jensen

the best rodeo in the country.” Sunni Deb Backstrom is an 18-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Secretary (1991, 2000, 2003, 2006-2020) who has earned PRCA Secretary of the Year 11 times (including in 2020), more than any other recipient, for being the best in the business. She served as the contestant office manager at the 2005 NFR and three times as an NFR timer (1975, 1980, 1984). Her mother, Ellen, was inducted as contract personnel in 1995. They are the first mother and daughter to be inducted into the Hall. “I love what I do, I love every aspect of our business,” she said. “I gave up having kids and a real family life because this is what I wanted to do. I know what this honor means, but it still hasn’t really sunk in. It’s forever and the ultimate honor in our business.” Randy Witte is a familiar name to rodeo fans. For 36 years he dedicated himself to the sport of rodeo, not through competition, but through his writing. He worked on the RCA news bureau and wrote for ProRodeo Sports News for seven years before transitioning to Western Horseman , where he

worked for 29 years, the last 17 as the publisher. “I interviewed a lot of inductees and champions throughout my career, now I’m going to be right alongside them, it’s truly unbelievable,” Witte said. “It’s one of those things, you just have to sit back and enjoy the moment.” Many Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world champions credit Martha Josey with helping them achieve their goals Josey made the NFR 11 times on six different horses across four consecutive decades. She won the barrel racing world title in 1980 on Sonny Bit O’ Both, the same year the duo also won the AQHAWorld Championship, a feat that’s never been duplicated. “This is such an elite bunch of people who are being inducted this weekend,” Josey said. “I’m just honored to be with all of them.” She and husband, R.E., started conducting barrel racing clinics in 1967 at their ranch in Karnack, Texas. Her clinics have grown to average more than 2,000 students annually with students ranging in age from 5 to 80, and many return yearly to participate in the annual Josey Reunion Barrel Race.

ProRodeo Sports News 12/17/2021

ProRodeo Sports News 12/17/2021

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

92

93