ProRodeo Sports News - April 20, 2018

HALL OF FAME 79-year-old Minick. “I got a few tears. To be among those guys, even the past and the present and future cowboys, it’s kind of like that famous old quote that’s been said by all the cowboys, and even in song: ‘All I ever wanted to be was a cowboy.’”

Hills Roundup Chairman Clay Crago said. “It’s pretty special to us to see the recognition and get into the Hall of Fame.” The big number of people to attend continues today, with an estimated 10,000-15,000 attending a parade during rodeo week in the town of about 6,000. The historic rodeo, which is 100 percent volunteer-run, also boasts that President Calvin Coolidge attended in 1927.

Minick began his professional rodeo career in 1959, enlisting in the Rodeo Cowboys Association after winning titles in both high school and college. Minick qualified for the National Finals Rodeo as a bull rider in 1966. In 1968, Minick purchased the Harry Knight Rodeo Company fromKnight and legendary entertainer Gene Autry. The Billy Minick Rodeo Company eventually produced top NFR bucking stock, including the bucking horse Streamer in 1972 and the bull Tiger in 1973. Tiger would also win Bull of the Year in 1974. Through the years, Minick helped to produce rodeos such as the Fort Worth (Texas) Stock Show and Rodeo, Rodeo Houston, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, the Santa Rosa Roundup (Vernon, Texas), Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days and more.

PETERSON, a four-time world champion, and her great horse French Flash Hawk, better known as BOZO , will fittingly go into the Hall together. Following on the heels of Charmayne James and her great horse, Scamper, it was Peterson and Bozo that ended James’ streak of 10 straight world titles, capturing their first of four world titles in 1994. Although Peterson and Bozo were not successful in defending their title in 1995, the duo would return to the top of the sport in 1996 and then win three straight.

Peterson

This summer marks a historic year for the BLACK HILLS ROUNDUP in Belle Fourche, S.D. Not only can the rodeo now boast being an inductee into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, but this year also will be its 99th annual competition. The Black Hills Roundup started when

“How wonderful … that is just awesome,” Peterson said upon learning the news of the induction honor. “I feel very honored and humbled. To go in with Bozo is definitely the carrot on top. I am just speechless.” When asked how it felt to follow James and Scamper, both in the arena and now into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Peterson said, “Being in the shadow of Scamper is a great place to be.”

15,000 people gathered in a field in Belle Fourche to raise money for WorldWar I in 1918. At the time, the population of Belle Fourche was 1,410. The next year marked the first time the rodeo took place. “The board and committee put a lot of time and effort into it,” Black

MCBRIDE joins Peterson and Bozo in the Hall as another four-time WPRA champion. She will be inducted posthumously, having passed away at the age of 90 on May 10, 2017. McBride first saw

barrel racing at an open rodeo event in 1937 and

decided at 10 years old that it was the path she wanted to travel. McBride was a charter member of the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA), formed in her hometown of San Angelo, Texas, just over a decade later. “She would be overwhelmed and thrilled,” said Alva Jean Meek, McBride’s daughter. “We are approaching the one-year anniversary since we lost her, but this news would have made her ecstatic. The GRA was a big part of her life, and she put her heart and soul into the earlier association.” In addition to the 10 inductees, former PRCA Chief Operating Officer KAY BLEAKLY will receive the Ken Stemler Pioneer Award, which honors individuals in recognition of their McBride

groundbreaking, innovative ideas and forward thinking. With the 2018 class included, the ProRodeo Hall of Fame will have enshrined 267 people, 34 animals and 29 rodeo committees.

Kristie Peterson and her barrel racing horse, Bozo, won four world titles together (1994, 1996-98). Springer photo courtesy WPRA

The WPRA contributed to this story.

Bleakly

ProRodeo Sports News 4/20/18

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