ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 20, 2019

KENNETH A. MCMILLEN 9/13/1938-6/2/2019 The Nebraska native graduated from the University of Nebraska and through the years worked for Wheatbelt Public Power, the Egging Company and managed the Far More Coop for 27 years. After retirement, McMillen had time to enjoy raising Registered Hereford Cattle. Melvin qualified for the National Finals Rodeo nine times – 1983-89, 1991 and 1996. He finished a career-best second in the PRCA world standings in 1985 and was third in 1988. In 1989, he won the average at the NFR with a time of 57.7 seconds on 10 head, placing fifth in the world standings. The Louisiana native qualified for the 1960 National Finals Rodeo in bareback riding. He finished 15th in the world standings. During his college career at McNeese State University, he won the national all- around cowboy title, helping his team bring home the national championship trophy three times. MARTY MICHAEL (CHIP) MELVIN 8/24/1960-10/18/2019 JAMES (JIM) MILLER 4/20/1937-9/1/2019 Nicholson, a PRCA announcer, passed away in an accident in the mountains inWoodlake, Calif. Nicholson announced at PRCA rodeos all over the country, including the 2002 RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo. Nicholson, who worked 100-plus performances a year, was also the emcee for the 2015 ProRodeo Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colo., and emcee at the 2018 PRCA Awards Banquet in Las Vegas. CURTIS EUGENE (GENE) PEACOCK JR. 6/13/1928-6/26/2019 The former PRCA competitor spent his life immersed in rodeo and the cattle business. The Kansas native competed in bareback riding, bull riding and saddle bronc riding fromWashington to the East Coast. CHAD NICHOLSON 9/10/1968-5/17/2019

MERLE TEMPLE 9/3/1961-2/26/2019

JACK CARL PLUGGE 10/3/1949-7/29/2019 Plugged provided steer wrestling steers for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas from 1997-2003. Not only did he supply cattle for the Wrangler NFR, but also for high school and college rodeos. Reynolds was the son of Fess Reynolds, a rodeo contestant, bullfighter and rodeo clown. By the age of 2, Jug was performing with his dad. By 3, Jug was a member of the Cowboys’ Turtle Association, thanks to his dad. He went on to be in movies and train animals. Rinestine qualified for the National Finals Rodeo four consecutive years in bull riding – 1959-62. The NewMexico native spent 27 years rodeoing across the country, joining the Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1955. He finished a career-best second in 1962 and finished third in 1959. DON (JUG) REYNOLDS 5/29/1937-1/9/2019 WILLIAM (BILL) RINESTINE 1/11/1933-6/9/2019 One of the oldest living Gold Card members (No. 159) and one of the few remaining members of the Cowboys’ Turtle Association, Smith passed away in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was 91. Smith joined the Cowboys’ Turtle Association two years before the association’s name changed to the Rodeo Cowboys Association, which eventually became the PRCA. The former PRCAmember was born in Merritt, British Columbia, Canada, on ColdWater Indian Reserve. The roughstock rider spent 31 days in a coma after getting kicked in the head. A year later, he won the same rodeo he was injured at. He also won the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up in 1948 as an amateur. A 13-time qualifier for the National Finals Rodeo, Stanton ranked from fifth to 11th in the all-around world champion standings seven times. He qualified for the NFR seven consecutive years between 1962- 68 and seven times for bull riding (1963-67 and 1969-70). When asked to list the top five bareback riders and top five bull riders in the nation, ProRodeo Hall of Famer Jim Shoulders put Stanton on both lists, the only cowboy on both. SAMMY BILL SPAHAN 10/26/1926-9/30/2018 KENNY STANTON 10/8/1941-2/3/2019 VERNON “DUDE” SMITH JR. 6/23/1928-7/3/2019

The bareback rider qualified for the NFR five times (1987-89, 1991-92), finishing a career-best seventh in 1988. Temple, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, was also a two-time World Indian Bareback Riding Champion.

MONTE G. THOMAS 7/16/1941-8/21/2019

Thomas, a Washington native, was a PRCA Gold Card member. Thomas was involved with agriculture his entire life. He preferred timed events, competing in tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling and steer roping.

JAMES TAYLOR WEBB 7/29/2948-7/2/2019

Webb, also known as Coach and Bowie, was a former PRCA steer wrestler. The Texas cowboy also was a teacher and wrestling coach for nearly 40 years, starting the wrestling program at Plano (Texas) Senior High School. He qualified for the Texas Circuit Finals 10 times. The Western artist had exhibitions at the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Artist’s Association’s “Showcase” and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo. Fromminiatures to murals, his works have been shown and collected worldwide by museums, corporations and private individuals. MARTY WOOD 6/4/1933-8/10/2019 A ProRodeo Hall of Famer, from 1957-67, the three-time world champion saddle bronc rider never finished lower than fifth in the world standings. Wood qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 15 times, tied for fifth most in saddle bronc riding history. Wood won the world titles in 1958, 1964 and 1966. He also finished second in the world standings four times – 1957, 1962, 1963 and 1967. Yates was the wife of 13-time National Finals Rodeo team roping competitor Dick Yates, mother of J.D. Yates (a 21-time team roping NFR competitor and an 11-time qualifier for the National Finals Steer Roping) and four-time NFR-qualifying barrel racer Kelly Yates. She was also grandmother to Trey Yates, the 2018Wrangler NFR team roping heeler average winner. LIVESTOCK BILLINGS Saddle bronc horse Rafter G Rodeo’s Billings, a nine-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, passed away July 9. He was 24. Billings was diagnosed with cancer shortly after his final performance at the Mineral Wells (Texas) Rodeo in May. Billings appeared at the Wrangler NFR in 2004- 07 and 2010-14. JAN M. YATES 5/9/1939-3/4/2019 JACK J. WELLS 4/14/2019

JIMMY (JIM) DEAN PETERSON 2/7/1935-9/14/2019

The South Dakota native was a PRCA bull rider and Gold Card member. Peterson won the 1952 South Dakota State High School Championship in bull riding.

THOMAS GORMAN PETERSON 5/29/1958-3/4/2019

Peterson was a PRCA bull rider, winning the average at the Great Lakes Circuit Finals Rodeo in 1983. He was also a PRCA judge after retiring from bull riding. BRYANT (PEANUT) PIERCE JR. 5/7/1978-7/1/2019 Pierce was a PRCA bullfighter. He was a native and resident of Larose, La.

JEAN SWANSON 11/2/1939-4/15/2019

Swanson was a PRCA Gold Card member. The Nebraska native was also a longtime member of the Wahoo Saddle Club.

ProRodeo Sports News 12/20/2019

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