ProRodeo Sports News - August 2, 2019

FAN SPOTLIGHT

The Harmon (left) and Walker families love the Wrangler NFR

ENTERTAINMENT

FANS AND FAMILY

Ray Walker was a Kansas rancher who began attending the Wrangler NFR in Oklahoma City, and followed the event to Las Vegas until his death in 2008. Glenn grew up on his father’s ranch, and after retiring as a school teacher and principal in the Kansas City area, he’s returned to operate the GL Ranch with Barbara. The Walkers say they love the excite- ment of being among the 17,000+ fans who pack theThomas &Mack Center each night. They also enjoy Cowboy Christmas and the World Series of Team Roping at the South Point, as well as other Western festivities. Attending with the Walkers each year are Joyce’s sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Ward Cooper. Recently, the quartet’s annual visits to Las Vegas have included some extra special thrills and chills, courtesy of one of Glenn’s former students. “Three-time world champion bareback riderWill Lowe was a student at Spring Hill High when I was principal, and I used to record the NFR for him because he didn’t have a way to watch it back then,” Glenn recalls. “I remember telling himhowwe always went to theWrangler NFR and that I expected to see him there one day. It’s been amazing watching his success, and we usually spend some time with him in Las Vegas. I sometimes even call him after the 10 days are over to rehash everything.”

HARMON, WALKER FAMILIES CONTINUE NFR TRADITIONS By Neal Reid

W

THE HARMONS

The entire Harmon family—including Lois, her grown children Shelly, Brad, Julie and Connie, and their families— have continued to attend portions of the Wrangler NFR each year. While making the trip to Las Vegas without Flip has been difficult, coming togeth- er to celebrate an event Flip loved so much is an important family tradition that endures. “Las Vegas in December has always been special for the Harmons, and Flip was there for each night, each year,” Lois says. “He was an insider who knew everyone. The Wrangler NFR is always so fun, like a family reun- ion. And the dirt in Las Vegas always smells so good—if you’re a true rodeo person, you’ll know what I mean.”

alking into the Thomas & Mack Center for the first time in 1985 fol- lowing the move of the

DECEMBER 5 Terri Clark

DECEMBER 6 Tanya Tucker

DECEMBER 7 John michael montgomery

DECEMBER 8 The charlie daniels band

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo from Oklahoma City to Las Vegas was an indelible life moment for Lois Harmon. “It’s like it was yesterday, and I will never forget it,” says Harmon, who has attended every NFR in Las Vegas and many more when it was previously held in Oklahoma City. “The environment at the Thomas &Mack Center was amaz- ing. Then they added the lasers on the dirt. It has just been magical. It immedi- ately felt ‘big-time,’ and I have so many wonderful memories.” Attending the NFR has long been a Harmon family tradition, originally made possible by Lois’ late husband, Floyd “Flip” Harmon, who served for many years as the chairperson of the Days of ’47 Rodeo in the Salt Lake Valley in Utah. Flip, who died in 1997, was named Committee Person of the Year by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1986, then was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

DECEMBER 9 Ronnie Milsap

DECEMBER 10 Tracy Lawrence

DECEMBER 11 Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan

DECEMBER 12 Ray Wylie Hubbard

DECEMBER 13 jamey johnson

F

THE WALKERS

or most Wrangler NFR fans and longtime ticket-holders, there’s a personal connec- tion to the entire experience.

That’s certainly the case for Glenn and Barbara Walker, who make the annual trek to Las Vegas each December, car- rying on a tradition started by Glenn’s parents, Ray and Joyce Walker.

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Photos: Courtesy Harmon, Walker families.