ProRodeo Sports News - January 8, 2021

SHORT ROUND

Longtime La Fiesta de los Vaqueros general manager retires Packing it Up

G ary Williams, general manager of La Fiesta de los Vaqueros in Tucson, Ariz., recently announced his retirement. Williams was the only general manager in the rodeo’s 95-year history and served in the position for the last 26 years. Williams has been affiliated with the Tucson Rodeo Committee since 1987, serving as marketing chair, rodeo committee vice chair and rodeo committee chair. In 1995, he was employed as the Tucson rodeo’s first general manager. “Over the past Williams said in his retirement letter to the rodeo committee. During his time at the Tucson rodeo, Williams was involved in numerous professional rodeo associations. He served on the Board of Directors for the PRCA National Finals Rodeo Committee and served on the ProRodeo Committee Executive Council in the At-Large position, representing more than 600 professional rodeos in the U.S. and Canada. Williams served as a member of the board of directors and as president of the Turquoise Circuit. “Gary’s dedication, passion and guidance, along with all our memberships’ commitment, is the reason we have achieved as well as maintained our position as a top-tier PRCA Rodeo,” said Mark Baird, Tucson Rodeo Committee Chairman. 26 years, there was always one constant. It was always one heck of a ride!”

Photo courtesy La Fiesta de los Vaqueros

National Bareback Riding Hall of Fame names inaugural members

The National Bareback Riding Hall of Fame and Museum in Congress, Ariz., was founded in January 2020 with the goal of promoting the event of bareback riding, promoting and displaying the history, and recognizing those over the past 120 years who have contributed in some way to this event. This year the hall named its inaugural class. The first nominee is Jimmy “Digger” Dix. Known as the Australian Legend of Rodeo, Dix qualified nine consecutive

times to the National Finals Rodeo (1969-77). Dix was the first Australian to qualify for the NFR. Dix is joined in the inaugural class by Jan Youran. From a ranch outside the little town of Garden Valley, Idaho, Youran grew up to be one of the top cowgirls in the history of women’s rodeo. She was a charter member of several all-girl rodeo associations. Youran’s career included five bareback riding world titles.

ProRodeo Sports News 1/8/2021

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