ProRodeo Sports News - Nov. 1, 2019

Marty Melvin was a 9-time NFR qualifier Passing SHORT ROUND

M arty Michael (Chip) Melvin, a nine-time qualifier for the National Finals Rodeo, Melvin, who qualified for the NFR in 1983-89, 1991 and 1996, finished a career-best second in the PRCA world standings in 1985 and was third in 1988. In 1989, he won the average at the NFR with a time of 57.7 seconds on 10 head, placing fifth in the world standings. “I like to ride, but it takes more out of me,” the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Melvin said in the 1986 PRCA media passed away Oct. 18 in Paradise, Texas, after battling cancer. He was 59.

PRCA ProRodeo file photo

Marty Melvin qualified for the NFR in 1983-89, 1991 and 1996.

guide. “My life expectancy in rodeo won’t be as long if I keep riding. ... Everybody tells me my best event is steer wrestling because of my size.” Melvin won the Linderman Award in 1983-84. Melvin earned $762,108 in his PRCA career – $721,887 in steer wrestling, $30,806 in bull riding and $9,414 in bareback riding.

all under the M4 brand. He was inducted into the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Hall of Fame in Fort Pierre, S.D., in 1992. Melvin lived his life as a Christian who put his faith before his rodeoing. He was born on Aug. 24, 1960, in Chamberlain, S.D., to Warren and Donna (Maher) Melvin and shared his birthday with his dad. He grew up in Holabird, S.D., and graduated from Highmore High School in 1978. He grew up playing football, wrestling and rodeoing. Melvin was born into rodeo. His mom was a trick rider. She met Warren at one of his grandfather’s rodeos. Melvin’s grandfather, Bill Maher, had a rodeo string in the 1940s and ‘50s. Melvin attended South Dakota State University in Brookings on a wrestling scholarship and competed for the rodeo team riding bulls and bareback horses, tie-down roping and steer wrestling. He qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo four times. He earned a bachelor of science degree in geography in 1983. Melvin was preceded in death by his father Warren and mother Donna. He is survived by wife, Judy; son, Paul; daughters Marilyn and Katlyn; granddaughter, Elizabeth; sister, Michel Melvin and brother, Monte Melvin.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Melvin, joined the PRCA in November 1979. He was the all-around champion at the 1979 Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo and the bull riding average winner. Melvin was the Badlands Circuit year-end champion in all-around in 1979 and 1981-82 and steer wrestling in 1981. Melvin, 22 at the time, won the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days all-around title in 1983. Melvin was hired as a “Marlboro Man” in the 1980s for cigarette ads though he never smoked. Later in life he worked as an actor in a TV series and music videos. He also loved horse racing. In 1991, he married Judy Painter. They ranched near Keller, Texas, before moving near Paradise, Texas, and raising red Angus cattle and prized Quarter Horses bred and trained for rodeo success,

Melvin

Sowing Good Deeds finalists announced

Hesston by Massey Ferguson is pleased to announce the five PRCA rodeos that have been named as Sowing Good Deeds award finalists. The grand prize is a Massey Ferguson tractor worth $35,000. The winning PRCA rodeo committee will be announced at the 2019 PRCA Awards Banquet at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Dec. 4.

The PRCA committee finalists are: • Gunnison (Colo.) Cattlemen’s Days • Santa Maria (Calif.) Elks Rodeo • California Rodeo Salinas • Reno (Nev.) Rodeo • Home on the Range Champions Ride Saddle Bronc Match, Sentinel Butte, N.D. For more information, visit http:// hesston.com/sowinggooddeeds/

ProRodeo Sports News 11/1/2019

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