ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 20, 2024

PASSAGES OF 2024

GEORGE WILLIAMS

Raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this avid reader of Will James books dreamed of being a bronc rider. He honed his skills at rodeo competitions held by the Tulsa Mounted Troops. Those skills he learned led him to three saddle bronc appearances at the NFR. He served two terms on the RCA board and later the NFR Commission. He was also elected by contestants to judge Denver, Cheyenne and the NFR. Hailing from Maybell, Colorado, this bareback rider qualified for the NFR three times in the early 80’s. Haskins was also the Mountain States year-end champion in 1984 and won the average at the Mountain States Finals Rodeo in 1988-89. A great musician, Haskins played guitar, five-string fiddle and banjo in his band. DAR HASKINS

TUFFY THOMPSON Growing up on the family ranch in Stinnett, Texas started Thompson’s love for horses and roping. A national high school all-around champion he joined the RCA in 1955 and went on to compete in seven National Steer Roping Finals, winning two steer roping world championships. QUINN KESLER This Holden, Utah cowboy parlayed his three Utah high school rodeo team roping championships into a prolific pro career. A career that saw him qualify for the NFR three times, once as a header and twice as a heeler, joining ProRodeo Hall of Famers Trevor Brazile and Speed Williams as the only three to accomplish this feat. JOHN HOLMAN The Kaycee, Wyoming native joined the RCA in1967 and qualified for the NFR three times in saddle bronc. Known as “Witch” by everyone, he was one of the best-liked guys going down the road. The charismatic Holman will be remembered not only as a great bronc rider but also as one of the best story tellers the sport has ever produced. BUTCH MYERS Myers enjoyed a long and successful rodeo career. He was the 1980 World Champion Steer Wrestler and a 12-time NFR qualifier, 11 times in the steer wrestling and once in the tie-down roping. He joined the RCA in 1968 but turned his card in to focus on family and education. He later rejoined the PRCA in 1980 and proceeded to win the world title. During the 1997 NFR, he broke the NFR average record on 10 head at 43.3 seconds at 52 years of age, breaking his own record set in 1986 at 44.3 seconds on ten head. JARRELL RUSSELL This soft-spoken Texan was born in Shamrock in 1947 where he graduated from high school and then received his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Tech University. He qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo in 1968 and roped calves at the NFR in1977. Throughout his career he won many major rodeos including Salinas, Cheyenne and Denver.

PETE FREDERICKS Native American Pete Fredericks was born in1936 on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. After a successful high school rodeo career, he went on to participate in intercollegiate rodeo, helping Dickinson State start their successful rodeo program. He qualified three times for the NFR, twice in bareback riding and once in saddle bronc. In 1976, he became a founding member of the Indian National Finals Rodeo. PERCYNA MOORE Born in 1937 to wild west performer parents, “Percy” was introduced to rodeo and show business from the beginning. A WPRA and PRCA gold card member and barrel racer found herself enjoying the administrative side of rodeo. Throughout her career, she served as the secretary and timer for more than 10 PRCA stock contractors, the Prairie Circuit Finals, National Finals Steer Roping and NFR. ERNIE TAYLOR A lifelong native of Hugo, Okla., the legendary tie-down roper represented his community as an eight-time NFR qualifier and 1973 Rodeo Cowboys Association Tie-Down Roping World Champion. Taylor also served as a mentor and friend to some of the most prolific cowboys in PRORODEO history, including ProRodeo Hall of Famer Roy Cooper. Taylor served in the United States Army, attended Harding Simmons University and Southeastern Oklahoma State University. DONNIE HUTSELL The Ritzville, Wash., stock contractor was a co-owner of Flying 5 Rodeo Company and Big Bend Rodeo Company with Walter “Sonny” Riley. During his tenure as a stock contractor, Big Bend Rodeo and Flying 5 Rodeo produced some of the best bucking stock in the sport, including five PRCA Bulls of the Year, a Bareback Horse of the Year and three Saddle Bronc Horses of the Year. Big Bend Rodeo’s Spring Fling was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2014.

ProRodeo Sports News 12/20/2024

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