ProRodeo Sports News - November 2, 2018

TIME CAPSULE

T here were many world champions before the formation of the National Finals Rodeo in 1959, but the NFR was the first for- malized Super Bowl for professional rodeo. It should come as no surprise that many of the first NFR qualifiers went on to have successful careers, and some are forever enshrined in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, which opened in 1979. Twenty of the 1959 NFR competitors were among the inaugural class of inductees. Of the first NFR’s competitors, 39 are in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Sixty years after the first NFR, two of the multi-event qualifiers have yet to be inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame – Jim Tescher and Leonard Block. Original First-Timers First NFR in 1959 featured many rodeo notables

Barrel racers weren’t included in the induction classes to ProRodeo HOF until 2017. However, Mildred Farris was inducted in 2006 for her contributions as an NFR secretary (five times), assistant secretary (five times) and timer (15 times). She also won the Secretary of the Year eight times and served on the PRCA Contract Personnel Executive Council from 1988-2002. She also carried the American flag at the NFR’s opening ceremony for 17 years. Her contributions to rodeo extended into the GRA/WPRA where she served as director, vice president and president from 1965-71. KEY * – Won the world ** – Won the average # – Won both the average and the world Note: Numbers following names indicate year competitor was inducted into ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Following are the competitors at the 1959 National Finals Rodeo:

BAREBACK RIDING #Jack Buschbom – 1979 John Hawkins – 1979 Jim Shoulders – 1979 Ralph Buell Walt Mason Guy Weeks – 2001 Clyde Frost Bernis Johnson Benny Reynolds – 1993 Don L. Wilson Elliott Calhoun Bert France Frank Rhoades Eddy Akridge – 1979 Buddy Peak STEER WRESTLING *Harry Charters – 2015 Tom Nesmith – 2015 James Bynum – 1979 **Willard Combs Wilbur Plaugher – 1990 Harley May – 1979 Milt Simon Doyle Cobler Billy Hale Don Feddersen Danny Daniels Jim Painter

Sherry Combs Wanda Bush – 2017 Martha Ann Symons Billie Ann Evans Manuelita Mitchell Betty Ray Florence Youree STEER ROPING *Everett Shaw – 1979 Shoat Webster – 1979 Troy Fort – 1979 Sonny Davis – 1979 Howard Haythorn Joe Snively **Jim Snively Dale Smith – 1979 Harry Lynn BULL RIDING Bob Wegner – 2015 #Jim Shoulders – 1979 Joe Green Bill Rinestine Benny Reynolds – 1993 Bob Sheppard Jim Charles Pete Crump Duane Howard – 2008 Wayne Lewis Ed LeTourneau Harry Tompkins – 1979 Ronnie Rossen – 2007 Freckles Brown – 1979 Bob Cullison Joe Bergevin Dell Haverty Merle Lee Davis Leonard Block John Dalton Buddy Groff

Casey Tibbs at the 1959 NFR.

DeVere Helfrich photo

TIE-DOWN ROPING *Jim Bob Altizer – 1979 Dale Smith – 1979 Dean Oliver – 1979 **Olin Young – 1979 Sonny Davis – 1979 Jake Bogard Tom Nesmith – 2015 Glen Franklin – 1979 Bobby Goodspeed Lee Cockrell Monroe Tumlinson

Claude Henson/Choc Hamilton Doad Hex/Leon Bright Lewis Garcia/Don Nichols Frank Ferreira Sr./Bill Erickson Leonard Block/Earl Nelson Billy Hamilton/Carl Woodson Sherman Sullins/Sonny Tureman (1979) Dave Boynton/Ray Miller SADDLE BRONC RIDING

*Casey Tibbs – 1979 Winston Bruce – 1989 Enoch Walker – 2017 Deb Copenhaver – 1992 Marty Wood – 1991 J.D. McKenna Guy Weeks – 2001 **Jim Tescher Lyle Smith Bob A. Robinson – 2006 Bill Feddersen Les Johnson Tom Tescher Jim Roeser Duane Howard – 2008

Mel Potter T.B. Porter Rex Beck Herschel Romine

John Hatley Tater Decker Jim Tescher TEAM ROPING Fred Darnell/Joe Glenn (2007) #Jim Rodriguez Jr. (1979)/**Gene Rambo (1989) Duane Reece/Bronc Curry Les Hirdes (2001)/Al Hooper Dan Branco/Harold Mattos Art Arnold/Ted Ashworth Dale Smith (1979)/John Clem

BARREL RACING Mildred Farris – 2006 #Jane Mayo Jo Ann Crosby Janet Dudley Sissy Thurman Billie McBride – 2018

Fay Ann Horton Sis Armstrong

ProRodeo Sports News 11/2/2018

ProRodeo.com

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