ProRodeo Sports News - August 23, 2019

Cotton Rosser selected as Rodeo Lifer SHORT ROUND

P roRodeo Hall of Fame stock contractor Cotton Rosser has been named the 2019 Legend of ProRodeo. Rosser will be honored at the 12th annual Wrangler Gold Buckle Gala on Dec. 2 at the South Point Grand Ballroom in Las Vegas. “This is a wonderful, great honor Rosser was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1995. He and his son, Reno, operate the Flying U Rodeo and Rosser Rodeo stock contracting companies based in Marysville, Calif. They produce about 50 rodeos a year. “I’m just the PR man now,” Cotton said with a chuckle. “I never imagined my rodeo career would be 2019 Legend of ProRodeo to receive,” said Rosser, 91.

Yoko Kobayashi photo Cotton Rosser waves at the stands during the Gold County Pro Rodeo grand entry in 2018.

Some people say if you’ve seen one rodeo, you have seen them all, and I have always said I don’t think that’s quite true. Rodeo is the greatest sport in the world, and I’m glad to have been a part of it for the last 70 years.” Rosser still rides a horse into the arena, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “Rodeo is the only thing I know,” Rosser said. “It doesn’t get better than that when you ride into the arena and they play the national anthem and there is a full house.” For more than 60 years, Rosser has been known for his spectacular, flamboyant opening ceremonies at rodeos on the West Coast and for many years at the National Finals Rodeo. Rosser purchased the Flying U Rodeo Ranch in 1956, which is now the oldest continuing rodeo livestock company in the United States. In 1985, Rosser was named PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year.

like this. I’m the richest guy in the world with memories and friends. I’ve loved every minute of the rodeo business and I would do it all over again. It has been a great experience.” Rosser is the 14th man to be honored with the Legend of ProRodeo award. The others are Jake Barnes, Jim Shoulders, Clem McSpadden, Harry Vold, Larry Mahan, Shawn Davis, Dean Oliver, Donnie Gay, Benny Binion, Mel Potter, Neal Gay, Michael Gaughan and Keith Martin. Rosser is a pioneer in the rodeo industry in developing the entertainment side of rodeo. Rosser received the PRCA Donita Barnes Contract Personnel Lifetime Achievement award in 2015. “A lot of rodeos we have, we have had for 60 years, like the Cow Palace, Red Bluff (in California) and Reno (Nev.),” said Rosser, who served on the PRCA Board of Directors for many years. “They even put a statue up in Reno of me (in 2014). It just doesn’t get much better. I have raised a good family and I really tried to help rodeo.

The nominees for the PRCA Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award were announced Aug. 15. The nominees are: Grant & Betsy Harris, Roy & Virginia Honeycutt, Edie Longfellow, Duane Reichert, and Jim Svoboda. The award recognizes and honors contract personnel members of the PRCA who have dedicated their lives to the rodeo industry through their commitment, hard work and contributions. The final balloting process will be conducted Oct. 1-11 for applicable PRCA members. The winner will be known and announced before the awards ceremony in Las Vegas. Donita Barnes Award nominees announced

ProRodeo Sports News 8/23/2019

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