ProRodeo Sports News - January 5, 2024

SHORT ROUND

NFR contestant and judge George Williams was 91 Rodeo Passings

G eorge Williams, who qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in saddle bronc riding in 1961, 1963 and 1964, passed away on Nov. 27, 2023, at age 91, in Phoenix, Ariz. Williams finished 10th in the world standings in 1961 and 1964 and 11th in 1963. He placed in four NFR rounds in his career, including taking second in Round 4 and Round 5 in 1964. Born in Amarillo, Texas, May 7, 1932, Williams was raised in Tulsa, Okla., where he got his start

on the RCA board and later served on the NFR Commission. While on the PRCA Board of Directors as the Saddle Bronc Riding Director, Williams introduced and it became a rule to announce scores at the rodeo and it also came into law to use the 1-25 marking system. Williams also was the editor of the Rodeo Sports News (1965-1966) and subsequently served as associate editor of Persimmon Hill magazine and publisher of The Wild Bunch at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center in Oklahoma

Williams

rodeoing at competitions held by the Tulsa Mounted Troops. An avid reader of Will James’ books, he badly wanted to be a bronc rider and was already at work breaking horses for pay – earning $10 per head for putting 30 days riding on each mount. Williams joined the Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1949 and was a PRCA Gold Card member. Back when rodeo judges were elected by contestants, he was selected to judge Denver, Cheyenne and the NFR. He was elected to two terms as saddle bronc riding director

City, Okla. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Williams was noted for his world brainstorming during his competitive days. He was among the first American cowboys to compete in Australia, winning in Queensland in 1958. He also won saddle bronc riding events in Mexico City (1957), and Havana, Cuba, (1958). He was the all-around champion in Fukuoka, Japan in 1962 and competed in the Wild West Show at the Brussels (Belgium) World’s Fair in 1958. He made treks to Europe and Japan with the legendary Casey Tibbs.

Longtime announcer Mike Mathis passes at 75

M ike Mathis, a rodeo announcer for nearly 50 years and the 2015 Justin Committeeman of the Year, passed away on Dec. 13. He was 75. Mathis was born Aug. 13, 1948, in Lufkin, Texas, to the late K.P. “Red” and Hazel (Weems) Mathis. He passed away surrounded by his family at Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican Hospital Las Vegas, Nev. Mathis was in Las Vegas working at the Wrangler NFR at the time of his passing. Mathis was born and raised in Lufkin and

the PRCA Executive Council, a member of the NFR Committee, a member of the PRCA Board of Directors, a PRCA Contract Personnel Representative and a member of the PRCA Texas Circuit Board of Directors. Mathis was the announcer at the National Finals Steer Roping in 2002-2003 and 2006. He was also behind the microphone for the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo in 1998 and 2010; and the RAM Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo from 1991-2014. He was inducted into the Texas Rodeo

Mathis

earned a business administration degree in finance at Stephen F. Austin State University. He later received a master’s degree in finance from Southern Methodist University. Mathis began his professional career as a banker. In 1976, he was named Coordinator of the Angelina Benefit Rodeo where he soon became known as “Mr. Rodeo.” He began announcing rodeos professionally in the late 1970s obtaining his PRCA card in 1983. In 1989, he traded in his business suit for a cowboy hat and a full-time rodeo career. Since then, he has announced rodeos across the United States, served as a member of

Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2013. Survivors include his wife, Shan Harvell Mathis; sons and daughters-in-law, Kirk and Donna Mathis and Todd and Stefani Mathis. Mathis was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Susan (Rutherford) Mathis and brother, Peyton Mathis. Memorial services for Mathis took place Dec. 22. Contributions may be made to the Mike Mathis Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Commercial Bank of Texas, 600 S. 1st Street, Lufkin, Texas, 75901; Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, 101 Pro Rodeo Drive, Colorado Springs, Colo., 80919 or the Angelina Benefit Rodeo, P.O. Box 161, Lufkin, Texas, 75902.

ProRodeo Sports News 1/5/2024

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