ProRodeo Sports News - June 12, 2020

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Eight-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Martinelli passes away

BY THE NUMBERS 5 The tie-down roping record for most round wins in one season at the National Finals Rodeo, shared by Dave Brock (1978) and recent ProRodeo Hall of Fame selection Cody Ohl (2001, 2013). 111 The number of cowboys who entered the Liberty National Xtreme Bulls in Lawton, Okla., June 5-6. Braden Richardson won the Division 2, star-studded event. $10K The amount of money, $10,469, bull rider Toby Collins had count toward the PRCA | RAM World Standings after his performance at the Super Series Finish in Fort Worth, Texas, May 29-31.

William (Bill) Martinelli, a saddle bronc rider who qualified eight times for the National Finals Rodeo (1962-67 and 1971-72), passed away May 2. He was 85. Martinelli finished a career-best fourth in the world standings in 1963 and won the NFR average in 1965. He competed in the PRCA for 24 years. Martinelli was born in Glendale, Calif., in 1935, and grew up in Playa del Rey, Calif. He got into rodeo in seventh grade.

Martinelli went on to win several major rodeos, including Oakdale, Calif.; San Antonio; Salinas, Calif.; and at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. He also rode broncs in Europe as part of Rodeo Far West for three months, a traveling WildWest show owned by ProRodeo Hall of Famer Buster Ivory. Martinelli married Kay Peterson. They had

four daughters –Mickey, Angie, Megan and Tasha. Angie became a ProRodeo barrel racer. Martinelli retired from competing at 43 but stayed active in rodeo by driving the Winston scoreboard around to PRCA rodeos. From there, he worked the side gate at the NFR for 10 years, with his final time in Las Vegas in 2005. Martinelli is preceded in death by his parents, Marty and Lorraine Martinelli, and his brother, Marty Jr. Martinelli is survived by his wife, Kay; daughters Mickie (Luke) Martinelli Stauss; Angie Martinelli; Megan (Chris) Peterson; and Tasha (Jason) Sweet; grandchildren Rossi (Matt) Glover, Will (Thor), Hanna, Kaeli, Logan, Deagan, Vincent, James, Troy, Pete, Jake and Luke; and great- granddaughter, Leddie Mae.

Martinelli

By the 1950s he was traveling the country with future ProRodeo Hall of Famers John Hawkins, Alvin Nelson and Bill Stroud. Martinelli later met up with eight-time NFR bull rider JimCharles and started hauling a steer wrestling team for ProRodeo Hall of Famer Harley May – hitting New York, Boston and San Francisco’s Cow Palace. Martinelli’s rodeo career was put on hold when he was drafted into the Army from 1958-60, serving some of that time in Korea. After his discharge, Martinelli picked up where he left off, rodeoing with Charles in California.

Miss Rodeo America Inc. announced May 27 the Miss Rodeo America 2021 Pageant, previously scheduled for Nov. 29 to Dec. 6, has been canceled due to the nationwide impact of COVID-19. For the safety, health and welfare of the enormous community necessary to make the Miss Rodeo America competition possible, including contestants, volunteers, family and friends, the Miss Rodeo America Inc. Board of Directors voted in favor of canceling the Miss Rodeo America 2021 Pageant. Miss Rodeo America Inc. is working with state affiliated organizations to amend rules and eligibility for the 2021 competition year. The current Miss Rodeo America, Jordan Tierney (pictured), will continue her reign until December 2021. Miss Rodeo America travels about 100,000 miles during the year of her reign, appearing at nearly 100 rodeo performances, as well as schools, civic groups and other special events, educating the public and creating awareness about the sport of rodeo, its sponsors and its opportunities. For updates on Miss Rodeo America and the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, visit www.missrodeoamerica.com. Miss Rodeo America 2021 Pageant canceled

ProRodeo Sports News 6/12/2020

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