ProRodeo Sports News - Nov.20, 2020

DeVere Helfrich photo Eddy Akridge of Midland, Texas, won the 1961 bareback riding world title partially thanks to winning Round 1 on Oral Zumwalt’s Centennial. Akridge won $719 at the 1961 NFR and won the world title with $15,029.

Above: C.R. Boucher won the

1961 NFR average in

81.1 seconds on eight head and claimed the 1961 steer wrestling world title. At left: The NFR Program from 1959. DeVere Helfrich photo

DeVere Helfrich photo Bullfighters Wick Peth and Wiley McCray kept the 1961 NFR bull riders safe. Peth went on to be inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979, and Mc- Cray’s bullfighting career lasted 39 years with two NFR trips, 1961 and 1972.

DeVere Helfrich photo Tie-down roper Sonny Davis posted a time of 107.7 seconds on seven head during the 1961 NFR. The $924 he earned placed him second in the world standings with $16,318.

DEC. 3-12, 2020

ProRodeo Sports News 11/20/2020

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