ProRodeo Sports News - August 23, 2019

JACK CARL PLUGGE

Twin Falls, Idaho, to Arthur “Art” Alfred and Myrtle Jane Farnsworth Hobdey. Daryl was the fifth of five children. He spent his childhood in Wendell, Idaho. When Hobdey was 15, his parents moved to northern Idaho. Hobdey opted to stay in Gooding, Idaho, with his oldest sister, Donna. It was in Gooding where Hobdey met Geraldine “Geri” Stephens. Hobdey and Geri were married on Oct. 10, 1954, in Gooding, Idaho, and were later sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on April 23, 1976. Also, in Gooding, at the age of 19, Hobdey entered the bareback riding event at his first rodeo. Hobdey continued to rodeo for more than 60 years. He was influential in forming the Idaho Cowboy Association and served as the organization’s first president. His term of ICA president was short, as he joined the PRCA not long afterward. During his rodeo career, Hobdey competed in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping and team roping. He also spent years as a rodeo judge. Hobdey was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers, Marsland E. “Sonny/ Gene” Hobdey and Verlon R. Hobdey; sisters, Donna Maxine Greene and Betty Jo Greene. He is survived by his children, Logan (Lisa) Hobdey and Lynda (David) Rupert; eight grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. DrewThomas Knowles, of Mount Vernon, Ore., a former PRCAmember and the younger brother of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo-qualifying steer wrestler Trevor Knowles, passed away July 27 in a single-car crash on Highway 26 east of Mitchell, Ore. Drew Knowles was 36. Drew was born Sept. 28, 1982. In the PRCA, he was listed as a steer wrestler, tie- down roper, team roper and steer roper. Amemorial service for Drew was held Aug. 10 at the Oxbow Ranch, Prairie City, Ore. Memorial contributions may be made to “The Sons of Drew Knowles Memorial Fund” through the Bank of Eastern Oregon or through Driskill Memorial Chapel. MAVERICK LANE SMITH A boy, born Aug. 9 to PRCA bareback rider Matthew Smith and his fiancée, Margo Thomas, of Saraland, Ala. Maverick weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces and was 21 inches long. This is the couple’s first child. ARRIVALS Smith DREW THOMAS KNOWLES

PASSAGES

Jack Carl Plugge, who provided steer wrestling steers for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, passed away July 29 in Grand, Island, Neb. He was 69. The cowboys of the PRCA

RONALD RAY (RUSTY) MARTIN Ronald Ray (Rusty) Martin, a former timed-event PRCA cowboy, specializing in steer roping, passed away Aug. 11. He was 74. Martin, of Checotah, Okla.,

honored Plugge and his family by selecting their steer wrestling steers for the Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas, from 1997-2003. Plugge was

also was a longtime PRCA steer roping director. Martin was born Sept. 19, 1944, to David Franklin (Dick) and Virgie

Plugge

born toWalter and Adelia (Bishop) Plugge on Oct. 3, 1949, in Tilden, Neb. They lived on a ranch around Bartlett and had a rodeo stock contracting business. Later, they moved to town where Plugge attended grade school and high school in Bartlett. He graduated in 1967. In 1969 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served one tour of duty in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1971. After returning home, he worked on a ranch around Bartlett. He met his wife, Peggy Armold and they were married on June 23, 1973, and had a son, Trent, and daughter, Kaycee. They joined the Armold family ranching operation. They continued ranching until 1997, then started supplying timed-event cattle for high school, college and professional rodeos. They were chosen to supply timed-event stock for the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Finals in Casper Wyo., for several years. In 2005, they returned to ranching until the present day. Plugge became a part-time brand inspector in 2000. Plugge loved his family, especially his grandchildren, and took great pleasure in supporting all their activities, including sporting events and rodeos. He was known for his pranks and witty sense of humor. Plugge was blessed with the ability to write skits, poems, songs and radio commercials ranging from the serious to the humorous. Plugge is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Walter Lee; sister, Barbara Nickols; brother-in-law, Don Reiter; and one grandchild. Plugge is survived by his wife, Peggy, son, Trent (Dana); daughter, Kaycee (Jason); sisters, Shirley Reiter and Joanie (Bill) Burton; seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Memorials are suggested to 4The Cure or the Burwell (Neb.) Baptist Church. Daryl Joe Hobdey, a three-time qualifier for the National Finals Rodeo in bareback riding, passed away July 15. He was 87. Hobdey qualified for the NFR in 1960, ’65 and ’66. He finished 10th in 1960, and 13th and 15th in 1965 and ’66, respectively. Hobdey was born on May 24, 1932, in DARYL JOE HOBDEY

Martin

WilliamMartin in Checotah, Okla. Martin graduated fromChecotah High School in 1962 and was an all-state and All-American football player. Martin received a scholarship to Oklahoma State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. He moved to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to play professional football for the Edmonton Eskimos before returning home to serve in the U.S. Army. Martin moved to Liberal, Kan., to become the feed lot manager for Seward County Land and Cattle. That job led him to Hereford, Texas, as manager of the Outside Cattle Operations in Texas and NewMexico. Opportunity brought him back to Checotah where he spent his life owning and operating the Rafter R Ranch. Martin served on numerous boards including the Board of Regents for Oklahoma State University and A&M colleges. He was chairman of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Range Round-Up Committee, director of the National Livestock Commission from 1987-2019 and a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Checotah. Martin wore a big hat, but he had an even bigger heart. He loved his family, his friends and his community. Martin was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Betty Blackburn; and brother, Dusty Martin. Martin is survived by the mother of his children, Karen Harding, their two daughters and husbands, Shannon and Bill Brady, and Kyla and Malachi Millard; four grandchildren, Martin and wife Taylor Brady, Cheyenne and husband Eric White; Kadan and husband Brett Eibner, and Micalah Millard; great- grandchildren, Kannon and Karter Ray White, and a host of nieces and nephews, family, friends and special friend Gretchen Payne. He is also survived by his Oklahoma State football family. Share online condolences with Martin’s family at www. garrettfamilyfuneralhome.com.

PRCA NOTES

ProRodeo Sports News 8/23/2019

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