ProRodeo Sports News - July 27, 2018

2018 INDUCTEES

Deb Greenough

Brilliant career highlighted by 1993 bareback title

BY TRACY RENCK S ome cowboys seem destined for greatness – cowboys like Deb Greenough. Greenough was born into the family of the “Riding Greenoughs” and named after world champion Deb Copenhaver. He also was born in Red Lodge, Mont, the same Red Lodge that’s the site of the Home of Champions Rodeo. Greenough’s grandfather, Bill; great-uncle, Turk, a legendary saddle bronc rider; along with sisters Alice and Mary Greenough, formed the Riding Greenoughs that barnstormed the country during the 1930s demonstrating how bronc riding was supposed to be done. Deb Greenough, who was honored at the 89th edition of the Red Lodge roots, Greenough didn’t live on his name. He earned the respect of fellow cowboys and his success through effort. Like many cowboys, Greenough honed his rodeo skills at the college level before buying his PRCA card in 1986. “The biggest thing that comes to mind for me is this is just a true, neat, awesome feeling, and an honor,” Greenough said. “I grew up watching Bill Smith, J.C. Bonine, Donnie Gay, Larry Peabody, just tons of people. I dreamed of one day rodeoing and going up and down the road and getting to the Finals and hopefully winning Greenough Home of Champions Rodeo this summer, will be inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Despite his deep rodeo

Bareback rider Deb Greenough, shown here on Kesler’s Skoal’s Snowy River at the 1997 Calgary Stampede, was the 1993 world champion. Mike Copeman photo

Greenough missed winning the world title despite capturing the NFR average crown with 783 points on 10 head. That year he won Rounds 6, 8 and 10. Greenough set the stage in 1993 by winning paychecks from 57 rodeos during the regular season. After slumping in the fall, Greenough fell to third in the world standings before the NFR, but he wasn’t about to let a chance to be a world champion slip through his hands again. He made sure of that with a strong performance at the NFR. Greenough accumulated 757 points on 10 head to finish fourth in the average and earn $50,108 in Las Vegas. Greenough’s NFR was highlighted by winning Rounds 9 and 10 outright and splitting the Round 2 victory with Chuck Logue and Bill Boyd. He placed in five rounds. The victory in Round 10 was clutch. He cemented the world championship with an 80-point ride on Copenhagen Fletch of the Beutler Bros. and Cervi Rodeo Company.

a world title. That was my passion. But something like this (being inducted) comes and it is something I never even thought of as a kid. Now that it has happened, it is a thrill.” By 1988, Greenough set in motion a brilliant bareback riding career. He qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 13 consecutive years (1988-2000), tying with Joe Alexander for the fifth-most overall NFR qualifications in bareback riding in PRCA history. His 15 career NFR go-round wins at the NFR is also fifth most in the event. Greenough reached the pinnacle of success in 1993 with a world championship. He finished the season with a then-bareback riding season record of $128,740 to defeat Robin Burwash, who finished second with $98,173. A year earlier, Greenough lost the world championship by a little more than $5,000 to fellow ProRodeo Hall of Famer Wayne Herman.

ProRodeo Sports News 7/27/2018

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