ProRodeo Sports News - April 12, 2024

MANAGER’S MESSAGE TRACY RENCK

Tracy Renck is the Manager of Communications and Media. He previously served three years as the editor of the ProRodeo Sports News , and before that he spent seven years as a media coordinator at the PRCA. He has three decades of experience in sports journalism with the last decade consumed by ProRodeo.

Emotion evident with HOF phone calls O n April 8, it seemed like a just another normal day at PRCA headquarters. Maybe that’s a stretch. After all, that was the day of the much-anticipated Solar Eclipse. Shortly after the eclipse happened the sun shined bright on some cowboys. That’s because calls were made from the PRCA to notify the members of the 2024 ProRodeo Hall of Fame class. The reactions were great – it was raw emotion at its finest. Take a new inductee like Art Arnold, a 1968 RCA World Champion Team Roper. Dan Hubbell photo Mr. T of Burns Rodeo Company takes a break in the pen in 1990. The 1986 PRCA Bull of the Year and Bull of the NFR in 1986 and 1989, is being inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame on July 13.

Imagine though if you’re Arnold – six-plus decades after competing in the inaugural 1959 NFR you receive a random phone call with a 719-area code giving you life-changing news. In a matter of moments, he went from believing he was one of the best team ropers of all time to being immortalized in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. It would make anybody’s heart race at rocket speed. Beyond the reactions from the newest members of the Hall, the coolest thing is doing deep dives on the careers of the new members – like rank bull Mr. T of Burns Rodeo Company. This Mr. T didn’t work with the characters from the action adventure TV show from the 1980s – the A-Team – he was the A-Team all by himself. He bucked off the likes of ProRodeo Hall of Famers – the late great Lane Frost and Jim Sharp and he put Burns Rodeo Company – based in Laramie, Wyo. and run by Pete Burns and his father Hal Burns on the map. While trying to track down photos of the new Hall members, I came across this gem accompanying this story. The photo was taken by Dan Hubbell in 1990. What was written on the back of the photo says it all – “Mr. T.” A Legend! Now, he is a ProRodeo Hall of Famer. Congratulations to all the 2024 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductees. April 8 is a day they will never forget and now they and their families can look forward to making even more lifetime memories July 12-13 at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

After the news was delivered that he was chosen for induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo., on July 13, this is what was heard on the other end of the phone line: “Oh, my God!” Which Arnold replied. “My wife just heard that (news).” The caller said he hoped Arnold would be able to attend the ProRodeo Hall of Fame festivities on July 12-13 in person. “We will sure make every effort to do that,” Arnold said. His wife quickly responded, “We are going to be there.” The reaction from his wife magnified what the honor meant. Arnold competed at the inaugural 1959 National Finals Rodeo – and he likely thought he would never receive this call. Arnold competed at the NFR in 1959-63 and 1965-68 and 1970 – all as a header except for 1962 as a heeler.

ProRodeo Sports News 4/12/2024

ProRodeo.com

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