Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame facts for kids
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| Established | 1975 |
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| Location | Stockyards Championship Rodeo, 121 E. Exchange Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76164 |
| Type | Hall of fame |
The Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame is a special museum and hall of fame located in Fort Worth, Texas. It's all about celebrating the exciting sport of rodeo and the amazing people and animals who make it great. This museum helps keep the history and traditions of cowboys and cowgirls alive for everyone to learn about.
Contents
The Story of the Hall of Fame
The Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame started in 1975. A man named Johnny Boren, who was a former bull rider and businessman, had the idea. He also managed a part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Some other business people from Belton, Texas, helped him get it started.
The Hall of Fame first opened in different places in Belton. It even moved to the Bell County Expo Center for a while. Later, it moved back to Fort Worth, close to where it was first thought up.
What You'll Find Inside
Today, the Hall of Fame is located inside the Cowtown Coliseum in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. When you visit, you'll see more than 300 pictures and stories. These displays honor the people and animals who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame wants to make sure the history of cowboys and cowgirls is remembered. They honor rodeo stars from Texas, including famous world champions. But they also recognize many other important people and animals who have made rodeo special. More than 500,000 people visit the Hall of Fame every year!
The Hall of Fame also has cool programs for young people. The "Promoting the Future" program gives scholarships to high school students. This helps them go to college. The "Horizon Honoree" program celebrates amazing high school and college rodeo performers.
How People Get Inducted
Each year, new members are added to the Hall of Fame. This special event usually happens on the first Saturday in April. It takes place at River Ranch in the Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District.
The induction weekend is a big celebration! It includes a golf tournament on Thursday. On Friday afternoon, there's a Rodeo Reunion. New plaques honoring the inductees are also revealed at Cowtown Coliseum. For example, in 2005, the Hall of Fame welcomed rodeo performer Dan Taylor and his wife, Berva.
Famous Inductees
Many amazing people and animals have been inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. Here are just a few examples:
- Organizations and Events:
- Cowtown Coliseum (2011)
- Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (2015)
- Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (2013)
- San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo (2011)
- Tarleton State University 1967 Men's Rodeo Team (2017)
- Amazing Animals:
- "Bodacious" (a famous bull owned by Andrews Rodeo Company, inducted in 2020)
- "Cebe Reed" (a horse owned by Martha Josey, inducted in 2019)
- "Pearl", Big Smokin' Wonder (a horse, inducted in 2016)
- "V-61" (another famous bull owned by Bill Minick, inducted in 2012)
- Rodeo Stars and Supporters:
- Joe Beaver (2003)
- Wanda Bush (2002)
- Roy Cooper (2010)
- Don Gay (2007)
- Richard "Tuff" Hedeman (2010)
- Monty "Hawkeye" Henson (2004)
- R.E. Martha Josey (2007)
- Larry Mahan (2015)
- Billie McBride (1980)
- Pam Minick (2011)
- Jimmie Gibbs Munroe (1997)
- Ty Murray (2016)
- Carl Nafzger (2008)
- George Paul (2005)
- Jim "Razor" Sharp (2009)
- Rob Smets (2010)
- Red Steagall (2005)
- Bob & Kristen Tallman (2019)
- Sissy Thurman (1978)
- Fred Whitfield (2012)
- Jackie Worthington (2009)
- Gene Autry (2013) - a famous singing cowboy!
