ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 21, 2018

PRORODEO HALL OF FAME

for helping preserve her memory. I guarantee she’s on Cloud 9 today.” PRCA Gold Card Member Coffee is one of only three cowboys to be both a barrelman and a bullfighter at the Wrangler NFR. Since 1973, Coffee fought bulls at the NFR twice (1979, 1984) and was a barrelman at the NFR in 1991, ’94 and ’97. Coffee won PRCA Clown of the Year in 1983 and was in the Top 3 every year from 1984-2001. “It means everything, it’s the culmination of a career,” said Coffee, 63. “I didn’t plan on getting to here. We have been there and done that, and to know that I’m in the midst of people like Jim Shoulders and Dean Oliver, in 20 years there will be guys getting inducted into the Hall and they will say, ‘I’m in the midst of Leon Coffee.’” Garrison was two types of cowboy, a fullback with the Dallas Cowboys and a ProRodeo competitor. He combined his stardom with football and rodeo to raise more than $4 million for multiple sclerosis with his Walt Garrison All Star Rodeos for more than 20 years. “I always liked rodeo, but the main thing I always liked was the (rodeo) cowboys, because they would tell you the truth on a steer or a horse or anything, even though they are trying to beat you,” Garrison said. Minick began his ProRodeo career in 1959, joining the Rodeo Cowboys Association after winning titles in both high school and college. At the peak of his rodeo career, Minick qualified for the NFR as a bull rider in 1966. Although Minick reached the NFR as a contestant, that wasn’t his calling. His biggest contribution to rodeo came as a stock contractor. The Billy Minick Rodeo Company produced top NFR bucking stock from 1968-76, including saddle bronc horse Streamer in 1972 and the bull Tiger in 1973. Tiger, considered one of the rankest bulls of all time, also won Bull of the Year in 1974.

Inductees: (second from left) team roper Speed Williams; barrel racer Kristie Peter- son; Elisabeth Hollmann, the original owner of French Flash Hawk (Bozo); bareback rider Deb Greenough; Alva Jean Meek, accepting on behalf of her late mother and barrel racer Billie McBride; Clay Crago, accepting for the Black Hills Roundup committee; barrelman/clown Leon Coffee; rodeo notable Walt Garrison; team roper Rich Skelton; and stock contractor Billy Minick. Bookending the inductees are Miss Rodeo America Keri Sheffield and ProRodeo Hall of Fame Director Kent Sturman. PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

looked at it as a passion, and I was just lucky to have a pretty successful career at it. I never even dreamed of this, but holy cow this is awesome.” Peterson , a four-time world champion, and her great horse French Flash Hawk, better known as Bozo , fittingly went into the Hall together. Following on the heels of Charmayne James and her great horse, Scamper, it was Peterson and Bozo that ended James’ streak of 10 consecutive world titles, capturing their first of four world titles in 1994. “I am proud to leave a legacy, especially since I have eight grandkids, and seven of them are girls,” Peterson said. “I’m glad I rodeoed at the time I did, it was when team ropers and barrel racers were granted equal pay, and that’s an important milestone in rodeo. McBride accompanies Peterson and Bozo in the Hall as another four- time WPRA champion. She was inducted posthumously, having passed away at the age of 90 on May 10, 2017. McBride first saw barrel racing at an open rodeo event in 1937 and decided at 10 years old that it was the path she wanted to travel. “Mother would be beyond thrilled, and she was excited to hear when the PRCA began inducting WPRAmembers last year,” said Alva Jean Meek, McBride’s daughter. “Thank you again, WPRA, the Hall of Fame and PRCA

“Awards don’t define who you are, but let me tell you the (ProRodeo) Hall of Fame is the Holy Grail to Pam (his wife) and me,” Minick said. “All I ever wanted to do was be a cowboy and marry a cowgirl, and I got that accomplished.” The Black Hills Roundup in Belle Fourche, S.D., started when 15,000 people gathered in a field in Belle Fourche to raise money for WorldWar I in 1918. At the time, the population of Belle Fourche was 1,410. The next year marked the first time the rodeo took place. The large number of people to attend continues today, with an estimated 10,000-15,000 attending a parade during rodeo week in the town of about 6,000. “I was kind of at a loss for words (learning we were in the Hall),” said Clay Crago, Black Hills Roundup Chairman. “It was cool to be out doing what I loved and get that phone call for the rodeo that we put so much time in for. Now, the Black Hills Roundup can add ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee to its résumé as it prepares for its 100th year of the rodeo in 2019.” With the 2018 class included, the ProRodeo Hall of Fame has enshrined 267 people, 34 animals and 29 rodeo committees.

ProRodeo Sports News 12/21/2018

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