Rodeo Notable • Inducted 1996 John Burke, a longtime Casper, Wyo., resident, was an integral part of ProRodeo for more than 30 years. Rather than in the rodeo arena, his efforts were behind the scenes, and his contributions were in administration and organization. He served on the board of directors for...
Rodeo Notable • Inducted 1991 During his career, the name Billy Bob Watt signified a shrewd business manager, tough negotiator and man of his word. He was named to the Board of Directors of the Fort Worth, Texas-based Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show and Rodeo in 1945, elected president in 1946...
Rodeo Notable • Inducted 1991 Buster Ivory, who got his start as a cowboy, went on to be well-known for his efforts in the management and administration of ProRodeo. Born Aug. 9, 1923, in Alturus, Calif., Ivory’s first rodeo was in McArthur, Calif., in 1937. According to Ivory, “It wasn’t much...
Rodeo Notable • Inducted 1990 No one in the history of the National Finals Steer Roping has announced the event more times than Clem McSpadden. McSpadden of Chelsea, Okla., has announced the NFSR 27 times, starting in 1963 with his last coming in 2000. Born Nov. 9, 1925, in Busyhead, Okla.,...
Rodeo Notable • Inducted 1988 Benny Binion was born on a Texas farm in 1901 and began trading horses for a living when he was just 10 years old. Through the years, he raised some of the best bucking and pickup horses in rodeo. ProRodeo Hall of Fame stock contractors such...
Rodeo Notable • Inducted 1988 A love of horses and the cowboy lifestyle marked Malcolm Baldrige’s life. Born Oct. 4, 1922, in Omaha, Neb., Baldrige was a confirmed cowboy by the age of 7. At 20, he already had spent six summers working as a cowboy for a dollar a day...
Rodeo Notable • Inducted 1985 Born March 5, 1926, in Bryn Mawr, Pa., Lex Connelly was a successful roper and steer wrestler for 11 seasons. He also served terms as team roping director and vice president of the then-titled Rodeo Cowboys Association. After he retired from competition in 1957, he was...
Rodeo Notable • Inducted 1983 In the late 1920s, Bob Crosby realized that he could make a living as a rodeo cowboy. Crosby, born in 1897 in Midland, Texas, won his first rodeo title at the age of 13. With the encouragement of Will Rogers, he entered the bigger rodeos in...
Rodeo Notable • Inducted 1979 For nearly four decades, James Cyrus “Cy” Taillon combined sincerity, style and grace of delivery to raise the standards of rodeo announcing. First-timers in the stands became fans when Taillon explained rodeo rules to them. Hearing him, every spectator felt he was part of the action....
Rodeo Notable • Inducted 1979 Dave Stout’s dedication to professional rodeo began in 1937 when he became the 38th member of the Cowboys’ Turtle Association. Born June 18, 1908, Stout competed in tie-down roping from 1930-50. In 1960, he became the director of the Rodeo Cowboys Association’s (RCA) Information Foundation. He...
