ProRodeo Sports News - November 16, 2018

PRCA awards banquet set for Dec. 5 The annual PRCA Awards Banquet in Las Vegas is set for Dec. 5 at the South Point Hotel & Casino, the night before the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo kicks off. Reserve your tickets online at https://prorodeo. org/Portal/Home/PRCA_ BanquetTicketOrderFORM. pdf. Questions can be directed to Crystal Vodehnal at CVodehnal@ prorodeo.com. All res- ervations must be made by Nov. 26. 6 p.m. PRCA Awards Banquet Cocktails; 6:30 p.m. PRCA Awards Banquet. All times are Pacific.

Clay Guardipee photo

Protection Biz

Bullfighter Nathan Harp, second from left, protects a cowboy at the First Chance Bonanza, which ran Nov. 2-3 in Brookings, S.D.

Contract personnel for RAM NCFR, NCFSR Contract personnel for the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo and the National Circuit Finals Steer Roping has been selected. The RAM NCFR, set for March 21-24 in Kissimmee, Fla., will have the following contract personnel: Announcers – Bob Tallman and Roger Mooney Secretary – Mikey Jo Duggan

SHSU Office of University Advancement, Box 2537, Huntsville, TX 77341-2537. Questions may be directed to 936.294.3625 Byler, a steer wrestler, was on his PRCA permit. Bailee Ackerman was one of the top three flag girls from the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo flag competi- tion last year and was set to join the flag team this year at the Wrangler NFR. Both were members of the NIRA Southern Region College Rodeo and competed for Sam Houston State University. Byler was in second place in the steer wrestling. Sam Houston State University honored Will and Bailee at its home rodeo in Conroe, Texas, Nov. 9-10. The helicopter struck a rural hillside, shattering the aircraft and killing the couple and the pilot, Uvalde County Justice of the Peace Steve Kennedy told ABC 13 News in Houston. Lawrence had been a pilot for the family for years and had flown heli- copters in Vietnam during his combat service, Kennedy said. An autopsy was ordered on the pilot to determine if a physical condition might have been a factor in the crash, he said. Craig Hatch, an air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, told CBS News that Lawrence was “very experienced (and) highly qualified.” Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo increases educational commitments The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has increased its educational commitments this year and is partnering with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association for the first time since 2011. In 2019, RODEOHOUSTON will be an official PRCA NFR money event. The 2019 rodeo is scheduled for Feb. 25 through March 17. The educational commitments for the 2019 season total more than $27.17 million, according to a Nov. 1 press release. That’s up slightly from nearly $26.71 million for the 2018 season and $26.07 million for the 2017 season. The largest chunk of the 2019 money is nearly $14.29 million allocated for more than 800 scholarships administered through 12 programs. The remainder of the money consists of more than $8.3 million for Junior Show exhibitors, nearly $3.97 million for educational program grants and $613,640 for graduate assistantships.

Asst. Secretary – Amanda Corely-Sanders Timers – Kate Rumford & Molly Twitchell Pickup Men – Will O’Connell & Shawn Calhoun Bullfighters – Luke Kraut & JD Harrell

Barrelman – JJ Harrison Music – Benje Bendele The NCFSR, which is scheduled for April 27-28 in Torrington, Wyo., has the following contract personnel: Announcer – Bob Edmonds Secretary – Penny Walton Timers – DeeDee Dickinson & Doris Mayhan Music – Brandy Edmonds Newlywed rodeo couple dies in copter crash A newlywed couple leaving their wedding ceremony in a helicopter died early Nov. 4 when the helicopter crashed. Will Byler, his wife, Bailee Ackerman Byler, and their pilot died in the crash, according to The Houstonian , the student newspaper for Sam Houston State University. Both were seniors at Sam Houston State. Will was an Agriculture Engineering major, and Bailee was an Animal Science and Mass Communications major. Both were 23 years old. The pilot was Gerald Lawrence. He was 76. Funeral services were set for Bailee, of Orangefield, Texas, and Will, of Bellville, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Will and Bailee Ackerman Byler Scholarship Endowment at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Donations can be made online at www.shsu.edu/giving or mailed to

ProRodeo Sports News 11/16/2018

ProRodeo.com

29