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WARREN G. (Freckles) BROWN |
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| Known as Freckles, Warren G. Brown won the world bull riding title in 1962 at the age of 41, making him the oldest man in ProRodeo history to win a riding-event championship title. World War II interrupted Brown’s rodeo career. A member of the OSS, he made four combat parachute jumps into China, where he staged a rodeo using Army mules and native cattle. Following the war, Brown resumed his rodeo career and suffered several injuries, including broken legs and a broken neck. After winning the world title in 1962, he finished third in 1966 and 1968 and fifth in 1967. Tornado, a famous bucking bull, tossed more than 200 world-class bull riders in the dirt before Brown rode him and made it to the whistle. Brown was born Jan. 28, 1921, in Wheatland, Wyo., and passed away on March 20, 1987. World championships: 1 (1962) |
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WINSTON BRUCE |
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Canada’s Winston Bruce has made his mark on rodeo, not only as a contestant but also as an administrator. As a rodeo competitor, Bruce was a 10-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier in saddle bronc riding. The native of Stettler, Alberta, developed a winning style through hours of practice, even in the snow. He summed up his formula for success as nerve, ability, coordination, balance and try. Bruce was the 1957-58 Canadian saddle bronc riding champion, and he won the saddle bronc riding title at Calgary and Cheyenne in 1959. In 1961, Bruce won the world title. The son of a stock contractor, Bruce grew up around cowboys and rodeos. In 1969, Bruce made the move from competing to working in rodeo. He was named assistant arena director of the Calgary Stampede, and in 1970, he became arena director. From 1980-2002, he served as division manager for the rodeo, supervising the production of the Calgary Stampede and the rodeo stock breeding program. Bruce, born Oct. 27, 1937, was the first Canadian contestant inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. |
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BULLET |
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| Bullet, sired by noted Quarter Horse Jack McCue, may have begun his rodeo career as a tie-down roping mount in the 1930s, but he achieved his fame as a steer roping horse. Roy and Pat Lewis sold the 1,000-pound sorrel gelding to veteran roper Bob Crosby. In 1941, Ike Rude capitalized on his own skill and Bullet’s quickness and strength to win the world steer roping championship. The following year, King Merritt rode Bullet to the world title. Bullet continued to perform consistently, winning two more world titles in 1947 and 1953 with Rude in the saddle. | ||
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BARRY BURK |
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Barry Burk, a 17-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, has been described as the greatest tie-down roper who never won a world championship. He was reserve champion from 1967-73 and 1975, as well as finishing in third place three times. Born into a rodeo family, Burk traveled the circuit as a youngster with his father. He competed in junior and collegiate rodeo in bareback riding and tie-down roping. Burk was the American Junior Rodeo Association all-around champion from 1957-61 and won titles in tie-down roping five times and steer wrestling three times. Burk, born Jan. 11, 1942, in Duncan, Okla., said, “I enjoyed rodeoing, always have and always will. If I should die tomorrow, people can come to my funeral and say, ‘Well, old Barry enjoyed it while he was here.’” |
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CLYDE BURK |
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Orphaned at age 19 during the Depression, Clyde Burk held his family of two brothers and two sisters together. Born June 13, 1913, in Comanche, Okla., Burk made himself into a tie-down roper and went on to win four world championships. An outstanding horseman, Burk trained Bartender, the sorrel gelding he rode to win his first two titles. When Bartender began to age, Burk bought the great Baldy from Ike Rude. Baldy, also a 1979 inductee into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, carried Burk to his second pair of world titles. Burk’s brilliant career was cut short when he was killed while hazing for another cowboy in Denver on Jan. 22, 1945. |
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JOHN BURKE |
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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 PRCA Properties and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, as well as the Rodeo Information Commission for the RCA, the PRCA’s predecessor. With the City of Casper (Wyo.) and the PRCA, Burke sponsored the first ProTour Rodeo Finals and the Winston Tour tryouts. He also organized “The Casper Outfit” for the Winston Tour. Burke served on the committee that developed the original contract, moving the National Finals Rodeo to Las Vegas. He coordinated moving the NFR’s rodeo and production equipment from Oklahoma City to Las Vegas. Burke became the NFR’s first general manager of production in Las Vegas and served in the management of the NFR through 1991. Burke, born Feb. 27, 1918, in Long Beach, Calif., received the RCA Award of Merit in 1969 and was named PRCA Man of the Year in 1982. Burke was unable to attend his Hall of Fame induction ceremony due to a serious illness and died just 12 days later on Aug. 22, 1996. |
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