ProRodeo Sports News - May 1, 2020

PRORODEO HALL OF FAME Elite Eight Hall will welcome octet in August C BY PSN STAFF ody Ohl, a six-time PRCA world champion, headlined an award-winning, eight-member class of inductees that will be enshrined in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 1. Ohl, who won five world championships in tie-down roping (1997-98, 2001, 2003 and 2006) and another in all-around (2001), will go into the Hall of Fame with renowned bareback horse Grated Coconut of Calgary Stampede, world champion bull rider Butch Kirby (1978), stock contractor Jim Sutton Jr., contract personnel Sunni Deb Backstrom, notable Randy Witte, the Ellensburg Rodeo and world champion barrel racer Martha Josey (1980).

CODY OHL Tie-down roper, all-around

At 46, the six-time world champion will add the title of ProRodeo Hall of Famer to his long list of accomplishments. “It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” Ohl said. “You dream of being a world champion your whole life, and it only gets to be real for so many. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame for a great career is pretty amazing.” After winning the 1994 PRCAOverall Rookie of the Year, the Texas cowboy collected six world champion buckles. He also qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 20 times (1994-2001 and 2003-14) and the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping three times (1999-2001). With $3.5 million in career earnings, Ohl is second only to Trevor Brazile in total money won in ProRodeo competition. Ohl’s 20 NFR qualifications tie him for second-most in tie-down roping with Fred Whitfield. Only Mike Johnson has more with 23. Perhaps Ohl’s most memorable run came in a round at the 2003Wrangler NFR when he clocked a time of 6.5 seconds, tying for the third-fastest time ever witnessed in ProRodeo. During his final trip to the Wrangler NFR, he won at least a share of first place in three rounds to extend his tie-down roping event record total to 52 round wins. Ohl also shares the record for most NFR round wins in a single year, and he did it on two occasions. Ohl won five rounds in 2001 and 2013. The only other tie-down roper to win five rounds in a single NFR was Dave Brock in 1978. “Just to be surrounded by the ones in this class (of inductees) and the ones continuing to go in means the world,” Ohl said. “The money and prizes were great, but without all the awesome fans none of it would be possible. Not only is it a great deal to be inducted, it’s awesome to have such a following.”

PRCA ProRopdeo file photo Cody Ohl won six world titles and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 20 times and the National Finals Steer Roping three times. He’s headed to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

ProRodeo Sports News 5/1/2020

ProRodeo.com

22