ProRodeo Sports News - July 27, 2018

2018 INDUCTEES

WPRA Legends

Barrel racers join HOF inductees COURTESY WPRA F or the second time in the history of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame – 2017 being the first – barrel racers from the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) will be among the class of inductees. Their class includes Kristie Peterson, Billie McBride and a WPRA equine inductee, French Flash Hawk (Bozo). Peterson, a four-time world champion, and her great horse French Flash Hawk, better known as Bozo, will fittingly go into the Hall together. Following on the heels of Charmayne James and her great horse, Scamper, it was Peterson and Bozo who ended James’ streak of 10 straight world titles, capturing their first of four world titles in 1994. Although Peterson and Bozo were not successful in defending their title in 1995, the duo would return to the top of the sport in 1996 and then win three straight. “How wonderful … that is just awesome,” Peterson said upon learning the news of the induction honor. “I feel very honored and humbled. To go in with Bozo is definitely the carrot on top. I am just speechless.” When asked how it felt to follow James and Scamper, both in the arena and now into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Peterson said, “Being in the shadow of Scamper is a great place to be.” McBride joins Peterson and Bozo in the Hall as another four-time WPRA champion. She will be inducted posthumously, having passed away at the age of 90 on May 10, 2017. McBride first saw barrel racing at an open rodeo event in 1937 and decided at 10 years old that it was the path she wanted to travel. McBride was a charter member of the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA), formed in her hometown of San Angelo, Texas, just over a decade later. “She would be overwhelmed and thrilled,” said Alva Jean Meek, McBride’s daughter. “We just passed the one-year anniversary since we lost her, but this news would have made her ecstatic. The GRA was a big part of her life, and she put her heart and soul into the earlier association.”

Pictured above are Kristie Peterson and Bozo, both headed to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, as is Billie McBride (shown below). Photos by Kenneth Springer and James Cathey

ProRodeo Sports News 7/27/2018

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