McSpadden inducted into Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
Legendary rodeo announcer and former Oklahoma State Senator Clem McSpadden will be inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame posthumously tonight in ceremonies at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
McSpadden was general manager of the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City for 18 years (1967-84) in addition to his career as an announcer for such prestigious events as the National Finals Steer Roping (1963-2000), the Dodge City (Kan.) Roundup, the Calgary Stampede and the Canadian Finals Rodeo.
McSpadden was the PRCA Announcer of the Year in 1986, the Cowboy Hall of Fame Rodeo Man of the Year in 1986 and was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1990. He is the third rodeo figure to gain entry into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, joining all-around cowboy Jim Shoulders and bull rider Freckles Brown.
Joining McSpadden in the six-man induction class tonight are former Kansas University football coach Ted Owens, former University of Oklahoma football player Tom Catlin, former Pittsburgh Steelers football player John Kolb, former major league pitcher Cal McLish and professional golfer Bob Tway.
Gay, Kesler to be honored by Rodeo Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City
Stock contractor and rodeo producer Neal Gay of Terrell, Texas, will receive the Ben Johnson Memorial Award this fall for a lifetime of service to rodeo and his community. The Tad Lucas Award, created to honor outstanding Western women, will be presented to Liz Kesler of Henryetta, Texas.
The Oct. 23-25 ceremonies are part of the Rodeo Hall of Fame induction weekend in Oklahoma City. The Rodeo Historical Society has chosen nine notables of the sport for this year's induction class – Harry Vold, Cotton Rosser, Chuck Henson, John J. Miller, Florence Price Youree, Walt Alsbaugh, Joe Chase Jr., Reg Kesler and Tom Tescher.
Brothers have Wright Stuff in Heber City, Utah
Their brother, Cody, may be the reigning world champion saddle bronc rider, but a host of Wrights are showing up at the pay window in PRCA events across the country. At the Mountain Valley Stampede in Heber City, Utah, July 31-Aug. 1, four Wrights won checks after finishing in the top eight in the saddle bronc riding. Alex Wright's 74-point ride was second only to Matt Morrison's winning 78-pointer on Diamond G Rodeos' Lots'a Fun, while Cody Wright was fifth, Cal Wright sixth and Jesse Wright eighth.
It is believed to be the first time four brothers have placed at the same rodeo in PRCA history. The quartet of brothers won $2,585 of the $6,802 awarded by the rodeo in saddle bronc riding, or 38 percent of the money.
PRCA rodeo clown Garry Miller dies at 59
PRCA rodeo clown Garry (ReRide) Miller, of Laveen, Ariz., died of a heart attack July 20 at age 59. His funeral service will be Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. (PT) at Parkway Christian Church, 14787 N. Cholla St., Surprise, Ariz.
Miller became a PRCA member in 2003 and worked a number of rodeos in the Southwest, including the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Jaycees Parada del Sol.