ProRodeo Sports News - August 18, 2023

Hall of Famer passes Long-time ProRodeo supporter was 95 MEMORIAM JOHN FARRIS

BY TRACY RENCK L ong-time rodeo supporter John Allen Farris, a ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee in 2006, passed away Aug. 4 in Duncan, Okla. He was 95. Farris, and his late wife Mildred Farris, who passed away May 13, 2013, at 79, were inducted together into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame on July 15, 2006, in Colorado Springs, Colo. John and Mildred were inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in the Notables category, as the first husband and wife to enter the hallowed Hall together. At that time, the couples service to rodeo spanned 51 years. Mildred was PRCA Secretary of the Year eight times, the last being in 2004. John, who joined the RCA in 1959, and from 1967-2011, he worked every National Finals Rodeo in some capacity. Most notably as the timed-event chute boss and he staked of the barrel racing each year. He was named Texas Circuit Man of the Year in 1997, and he and his wife both were inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2004. John competed in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding and tie-down roping until 1975. On July 15, 2006, his words didn’t matter. Years of loyalty to ProRodeo spoke for him. “My friends are kidding me about giving a speech,” John said in the ProRodeo Sports News. “I’m not much of a speaker, so I don’t know if my friends and family are coming to see me or hear my speech. It’s quite an honor for both of us.” John, the son of B.A. and Eva (Sorrell) Farris, was born March 21, 1928, in Iowa Park, Texas. On May 31, 1955, John married fellow rodeo contestant Mildred Cotten Farris and the two eventually made their home on the Farris Family’s Ranch outside of Addington, Okla. John’s rodeo career started at the age of 16, when he hitchhiked to a rodeo in Jacksboro, Texas, to ride a bull. After graduating from high school in 1944, he worked many odd jobs while rodeoing on the side. He joined the RCA in 1959 and competed in roughstock until the age of 44. John and Mildred worked as a team for several stock contractors over the years. There was never a problem with payoffs and the arena was always clean and safe. The stock was loaded in the correct chutes and in proper sequence. They were also a team at home, devoted to their family. John loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and still helping around the farm. John is preceded in death by his wife, parents and brothers, J.C. Farris and Bryan Farris and sisters Beulah Lehman and Evalene Reed. Survivors include two sons, Bill (Sally) Farris and Johnny (Jan) Farris. Four grandchildren Chelsea (Russell) Dorward, Dell (Caitlin) Farris and Matthew Farris and Ben (Erin) Farris. Four great grandchildren: Rance Dorward, Camie Dorward, Davis Dorward and Caroline Farris. One sister, Mary Styles, three sister-in-laws Barbara (Bob) Finney and Helen Morris and Kay Cotton as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Donations may be made to ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo., Rodeo Historical Society Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, or National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Ft. Worth, Texas, or to American Cancer Society.

PRCA ProRodeo file photo John Farris worked every National Finals Rodeo in some capac ity from 1967-2011. He and his late wife, Mildred, were inducted together into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2006.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/18/2023

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