ProRodeo Sports News - August 21, 2020

SHORT ROUND

W orld champion steer roper Walt Arnold, a 2009 inductee to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, passed away Aug. 14 in Silverton, Texas. He was 81. A rancher all his life and a talented horse trainer, Arnold didn’t compete full time in rodeo until he was 25, yet he qualified for the National Finals Steer Roping 19 times (1965-67, 1969-72, 1974-82, 1984-86), tied for fifth most. Arnold won the world championship in 1969 and finished as reserve champion three times (1971, 1978-79), missing out on the 1971 title by $538 to Olin Young. “Ever since I was a small child, I had a desire to be a rodeo cowboy,” Arnold told ProRodeo Sports News in 1980. A model of longevity, Arnold won NFSR average titles in 1965 and 1978. His roping prowess extended to other events, as he twice qualified for the NFR in team roping (1966 with Bob Ragsdale and 1968 with Tim Prather) and won the 1972 Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days all-around title for his exploits in tie-down roping and steer roping. Arnold’s toughness and talent persevered over adversity, as much of his success came after he broke his ankle and wrist in separate accidents during the 1970 season. In addition to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Arnold was inducted into the Pendleton Round-Up Hall of Fame in Oregon in 2005. Arnold’s childhood was spent around horses, and he could usually be found with a rope in his hand. Hall of Famer Walt Arnold passes away Memoriam

Arnold

His experience from an early age helped him become a top- notch horseman, an ability that aided his career in the arena. “We grew up on horses, and I broke horses for the public,” said Arnold in an interview with PSN . “Horses have always been a part of my life.” Arnold was born Sept. 1, 1938, to Arthur Cyrus Arnold Jr. and Gladys Burson Arnold on his family’s ranch outside Silverton. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers John A. Arnold and Fred Arnold; sister, Marian Hamilton; and his son Dee Arnold. Arnold is survived by his daughter, Jeanette (Ronnie) Lee; his son Bob (Viann) Arnold; his daughter, Mindy (Mark) Marrs; daughter-in-law, Pat Arnold; and the mother of his children, Gail Arnold. He also leaves behind seven grandchildren, 14 great- grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Donations may be made to the Silverton Cemetery Association or to First Baptist Church of Silverton. Online condolences may be made at www.moore-rose.com.

Saddle bronc rider Sterling Crawley, a six-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, is sidelined indefinitely after breaking his right leg during a ride on Brookman Rodeo’s Lunatic Bait at the Fallon County Fair & Rodeo in Baker, Mont., Aug. 16. “That was a big horse and it kind of jumped Crawley, who qualified for the Wrangler NFR in 2012-13, 2016-19, was seventh in the Aug. 18 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $51,608. The PRCA regular season ends Sept. 30 and the 2020 Wrangler NFR is scheduled for Dec. 3-12 in Las Vegas. Crawley was hoping his earnings would be enough to qualify for the Finals. “In a perfect world, depending on where the standings go and how things work, it’s a longshot that I could make it to Vegas, but maybe it will happen,” he said. “We will just take things step by step.” Crawley finished a career-best sixth in the world standings in 2017. Bronc rider Sterling Crawley out with broken leg Crawley forward toward the post,” said Crawley, 29. “I was trying to mark him out, and my toe went in between those pipes and it snapped my leg around and broke bones through there,” said Crawley, who underwent surgery in mid-August. “... (Dr. Tandy Freeman) said we can hope that I will be out 12 weeks.”

ProRodeo Sports News 8/21/2020

ProRodeo.com

24