ProRodeo Sports News - October 16, 2020

early next spring or summer depending on COVID-19 conditions. The family suggests several memorial donation sites like Trout Unlimited, Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund and the American Diabetes Association. Lonnie Max Wright, a PRCA Gold Card member, team roper, tie-down roper and bull rider, and longtime resident of Murphy and Caldwell, Idaho, passed away Sept. 29. He was 80. Wright was born Nov. 21, 1939, in Buffalo, S.D., to a rodeo family. His father, John, was a champion team roper, tie- down roper and saddle bronc rider, and his grandfather raised remounts for the Army in the Black Hills of the Dakotas. Wright came to Idaho with his family as a child and attended school in Marsing. He served in the Navy from 1958 to 1961. He worked many years as a bricklayer and retired in 2005 after working 20 years as a property appraiser for Owyhee County. He was married to his wife, Barbara, for 48 years. Wright held a gold card in the Idaho Cowboys Association and the PRCA. He was a member of the National Senior Pro Association, ACTRA and the USTRC. This summer he competed in the Professional Senior Rodeo Association in Council and Emmett, Idaho. In 2014, Wright was the champion heeler of the prestigious Caldwell Night Rodeo Memorial Century Roping. He was the all-around champion in the Idaho Cowboys Association for six consecutive years, 1966-71. He also holds two state championships in the team roping, tie-down roping and bull riding in the ICA. He holds two team roping LONNIE MAX WRIGHT responsive and give fans the option to follow their favorite cowboys with the click of a button. Changes include up: • Bulked up cowboy profile stats • More videos and photos of the rodeo life • Stock profiles to go with stock stats • Enhanced results in an easy-to-read format Scholarship established for late bull rider Swanson The family of bull rider Rowdy Lee Swanson has worked with the Oklahoma

at Jordan Valley and retired the Wayne Albert All Around Trophy in New Plymouth in 1967. In 2008, Wright was inducted into the Idaho Rodeo Association Hall of Fame. Wright is survived by his wife, Barbara; son, John; daughter, Kaila (Scott); daughter, Ashley (Everett); brother, Jerry (Irene); sister, Vickie Nagele; many grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. In Wright’s memory, the family requests all donations to be made in his honor to Spurs and Spikes Crisis Fund, 3060 Market Road, Homedale, ID 83628; or the Idaho Cowboys Association Crisis Fund at icarodeo.com.

PASSAGES

GORDON BAYLESS GRIFFITH

Gordon Bayless Griffith, who qualified for the 1982 National Finals Rodeo in bareback riding, passed away Aug. 23 in Boulder, Colo., of complications from diabetes and dementia. He was 62. In Griffith’s lone appearance at the NFR in Oklahoma City, he finished 13th in the average and 13th in the world standings. Griffith graduated from Boulder High School and later graduated from Lamar (Colo.) Community College on a rodeo scholarship and attended Cheyenne (Wyo.) Community College in the horse management program. Griffith was an avid outdoorsman and once thanked his mother for bringing him to Colorado as a baby where he said, “He could grow up in paradise.” Gordon was a standout rodeo contestant, winning championships in Little Britches, high school and college. He won or placed at nearly every major rodeo in the U.S. He leaves a multitude of rodeo friends who supported him faithfully, looking after him during diabetic episodes and helping him “get down the road.” He was a well-respected farrier and shod horses most of his life. During nearly 40 years of life after rodeo he loved sharing outdoor activities, especially fly fishing. Griffith was honest to the core and loved to laugh at a good story. Scott Booton, his lifelong friend, said you’d have to kill him to make him lie. And although he did not talk about it,

ARRIVALS

THOMAS QUADE BENTON A boy, born Oct. 8 to six-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo bull rider Trey Benton III

and his wife, Reba, of Richards, Texas. Thomas weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and was 19¾ inches long. This is the couple’s first child. Benton

TATUM LYNN DAVIS A girl, born Oct. 5 to team roper Dustin Davis and his wife, Taryn, of Terrell, Texas. Tatum weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces and was 20

PRCA NOTES he was devout, and his Bible was read daily helping him through hard times. He cherished friendships with Native Americans and always respected others’ spirituality or beliefs. He was preceded in death by his father, John. He is survived by his mother, Beth. Amemorial will be held hopefully championships in the IMPRA. In 1964, he won the team roping championship in the International Rodeo Association. In 1966, he won the Earl Lovan Trophy

Davis

inches long. Tatum was welcomed home by older brother, Teagan, 2.

BRIEFS ProRodeo.com gets facelift with user-friendly features ProRodeo.com continues to evolve and to bring fans and sponsors the most in-depth information and stories about cowboys, committees, and rodeos. On Oct. 7, the best website for all things ProRodeo unveiled an upgrade to better fit rodeo fans’ needs. Several changes will make ProRodeo. com more user friendly and mobile

State University Foundation to establish an online giving option for a scholarship fund in memory of him. Swanson passed away Sept. 17 of injuries sustained while competing at the Palo Pinto County Livestock Association’s PRCA Pro Rodeo in Mineral Wells, Texas. Swanson was 20. He was a PRCA permit holder from Duncan, Okla., and a member of the OSU rodeo team in Stillwater. The junior was studying animal sciences. Those wishing to donate to the fund can visit okla.st/2GmMwgs.

ProRodeo Sports News 10/16/2020

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