ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 20, 2019

PRORODEO HALL OF FAME

Inductees are: (Back row from left) Dominic Lucia, Anthony Lucia (sons of Tommy Lucia), Larry Peabody, Mike Darby and Marc Thompson (co-presidents of the Cody Stampede committee); (middle row from left) Tommy Joe Lucia (son of Tommy Lucia), Doug “Droopy” Brown, Bennie Beutler (accepting for Commotion), and Jerome Robinson; (bottom row from left) Dean Gorsuch, Sammy Brackenbury, Florence (Price) Youree, Dollie Riddle and Vickie Shireman (both accepting for Elra and Jiggs Beutler), and Jimmie Munroe. Bookending the inductees are Miss Rodeo America Taylor McNair, right, and ProRodeo Hall of Fame Director Kent Sturman. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Steve Gray Diamond Dozen ProRodeo Hall of Fame welcomes 12-member class

BY PRCA STAFF S tars converged at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame as the Hall enshrined its 12-member class of 2019 Aug. 3. The class was headlined by four-time world champion team roping heeler Allen Bach (1979, 1990, 1995 and 2006). “I’ve just been reflecting on how cool our sport has been,” Bach said. “Everything about my life is based around rodeo. …Had it not been for rodeo, I would not have anything.” Bach holds the PRCA record for most qualifications (including invitations) by a team roper to the National Finals Rodeo with 30 (1978-96, 1998-2008). He rallied from 15th to world champion with his 1990 victory in Las Vegas, becoming the first timed-event cowboy to go from 15th to first at the NFR. The first year that the PRCA crowned both world champion header and world champion heeler saw Bach and partner Bobby Hurley take the top spots. “I’m not the most talented, but I loved what I did,” Bach said. “… A lot of talented guys didn’t make it as far as guys like us just because we loved it and we didn’t mind working hard at it.” The other 2019 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductees included bucking horse Commotion; stock contractors Elra Beutler and his son, Jiggs,

posthumously; two-time world champion steer wrestler Dean Gorsuch (2006, 2010); world champion bull rider Doug “Droopy” Brown (1969); world champion bareback rider Larry Peabody (1984); notable Jerome Robinson; the Cody (Wyo.) Stampede Rodeo; contract personnel Tommy Lucia, posthumously; and three Women’s Professional Rodeo Association inductees – barrel racers Jimmie Gibbs Munroe and Sammy Thurman Brackenberry, and notable Florence Youree. In addition to the inductees, Guy Elliott, a former arena director for the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver and the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, received the Ken Stemler Pioneer Award, which honors individuals in recognition of their groundbreaking, innovative ideas and forward thinking. Commotion won three Bareback Riding Horse of the Year awards (1998-2000) when he was part of the Beutler and Gaylord Rodeo Company string. The 1,300-pound, bay stallion, who stood at 16.1 hands, was voted the top bareback horse at his first Wrangler NFR in 1997. He made 10 consecutive trips (1997-2006) to the Wrangler NFR before retiring in his prime at the 2006 Finals at the age of 15. “The thing about him is we raised Commotion,” stock contractor Bennie Beutler said. “What made Commotion so special was his disposition and he

ProRodeo Sports News 12/20/2019

ProRodeo.com

108