ProRodeo Hall of Fame Announces 2023 Legend of ProRodeo
World-wide entertainer Red Steagall tabbed 2023 Legend of ProRodeo
By TRACY RENCK
Red Steagall, who has had a 45-plus year entertainment career that has spanned the globe from Cow Camps to the White House, will add another line to his resume in 2023.
Steagall has been named the 2023 Legend of ProRodeo.
Steagall will be honored at the 16th annual Wrangler Gold Buckle Gala on Dec. 4 at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Doors open at 6 p.m. (PT) with a reception and silent auction. The dinner begins at 7 p.m. with the live auction and program following dinner.
“This is a tremendous honor to be recognized as a member of that family that has meant so much to me and been such a major part of my life,” Steagall said. “I’m proud to know that they accept me, and the rest of that community accepts me and I’m a part of the rodeo family.”
Steagall’s career spanned the globe from Australia to the Middle East, to South America and to the Far East. He has performed for heads of state including a special party for President Ronald Reagan at the White House in l983, plus three overseas tours to the Middle East, the Far East, Europe, Australia, and South America.
As a native Texan, Red Steagall enjoyed a career in Agricultural Chemistry after graduating from West Texas A&M University with a degree in Animal Science and Agronomy. He then spent eight years as a music industry executive in Hollywood, Calif., and has spent the last 37 years as a recording artist, songwriter, and television and motion picture personality.
He currently ranches outside of Fort Worth, Texas where in addition to his entertainment activities, he is involved in numerous horse related activities.
“This (Legend of ProRodeo) is a real milestone,” Steagall said. “It is something I never dreamed would be possible because as far I’m concerned that title in rodeo belongs to the athletes and to the people who make the rodeo really work. To think they believe I have contributed that much in my life is overwhelming.”
Although Red Steagall is best known for his wonderful Texas Swing dance music and such songs as “Here We Go Again”, “Party Dolls and Wine”, “Freckles Brown”, and “Lone Star Beer and Bob Wills Music”, he also is beloved by Texas cowboys for the quiet times they have spent with him around chuck wagon campfires.
As a songwriter, Steagall has had over 200 of his compositions recorded both by him and other artists. He also has recorded 26 consecutive singles that tracked on the national charts and released a total of 22 albums.
Steagall was a regular on the NBC series, Music Country USA; host of two television pilots, (which he produced); numerous appearances on syndicated television shows such as Hee Haw and Nashville on the Road; and four years as host of the national televised National Finals Rodeo.
“I think probably the most important stage of my career was the years I spent working rodeos in the 1970s and 1980s,” Steagall said. “I worked nearly all the major rodeos in some capacity, and it was my family. Those cowboys would ride the bus with us, and we would party together, we laughed together, we cried together. I pulled a few ropes on the back of the chutes, and they were my family and still are.”
Steagall is the 18th man to be honored as a Legend of ProRodeo, following Jake Barnes, Jim Shoulders, Clem McSpadden, Harry Vold, Larry Mahan, Shawn Davis, Dean Oliver, Donnie Gay, Benny Binion, Mel Potter, Neal Gay, Michael Gaughan, Keith Martin, Cotton Rosser, Bob Tallman, Clint Johnson, and Mike Cervi.
Our Mission
The ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy educates the public about rodeo, its history and impact on Western American culture, and provides recognition to rodeo notables of the past and present and serves as an inspiration for the future.
To bring an appreciation of the American Cowboy and the sport of professional rodeo to the hearts and minds of the public through education, recognition, inspiration and preservation.
Our Vision
The Elite of Professional Rodeo
The colorful history and equally colorful legends of professional rodeo live on at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Since the Hall’s opening in 1979, 279 people, 35 animals and 30 rodeo committees have been inducted. More than 100 individuals are nominated each year, but only a few are selected.
Be a Part of Rodeo History
Rodeo fans from around the world can help honor and preserve America’s original sport for generations to come by joining the ProRodeo Hall of Fame Membership Program. Memberships start as low as $75 a year.
"WPRA Celebrates 75 Years" Exhibit Now Open
WPRA Celebrates 75 Years
The ProRodeo Hall of Fame will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association this summer with an exhibit in the 101 Gallery. This exhibit will feature an overview of the history of the Association from the founding of the GRA in 1945 to the present, a look at the changing fashion, and celebration of their equine partners. This exhibit will officially open May 1st and be available to visitors until September.
An Evening with Goose Gossage Press Release
An Evening Goose Gossage to benefit the ProRodeo Hall of Fame
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The ProRodeo Hall of Fame is honored to announce a new fundraising event with Colorado Springs native and member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, Rich “Goose” Gossage. The event dubbed “An Evening with Goose” will feature an evening of storytelling, an opportunity for Q&A and conversation with the baseball legend. The event will be held on Friday, May 19 at the Hall of Fame beginning at 6 pm.
Gossage is a native of Colorado Springs, graduating from Wasson High School in 1970 where he played basketball and baseball and was inducted into the high school’s “Wall of Fame”.
Gossage’s career covered 22 seasons in MLB from 1972 to 1994. He was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008. In the 1970s and 80s Gossage became the personification of “the closer” along with his bad guy looks and demeanor. He transitioned from a starting pitcher to reliever, then to closer going on to become one of the all-time pitching forces in major league baseball.
Gossage’s best known for his years with the New York Yankees (1978-1983) and the San Diego Padres (1984-1987), playing in two World Series, earning a World Series ring in 1978 with the Yankees. Gossage played for 10 MLB teams total and one team in the Japanese League in 1990. He was selected for the All-Star game nine times, led the American League in saves three times and was voted the Relief Man of the Year once in 1978.
Gossage played the relief pitcher role in an era where relievers were called to pitch in multiple innings, generally from the 7th inning to the end of the 9th inning. Illustrating Goose’s intimidating style, he still today ranks as the number three all-time strikeout leader among MLB relievers behind Dennis Eckersley and Hoyt Wilhelm and Eckersley pitched both as a starter and reliever in his career.
Raised in Colorado, Gossage has a strong love for the western lifestyle, especially the sport of rodeo. “I know a lot of the guys in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, and I have a huge respect for them and what they do for a living,” stated Gossage. “I’m glad my family and I didn’t have to depend on me riding bulls or team roping or bulldogging for us to live! The rodeo athletes are some of the most underrated in terms of athletics and toughness. They earn every penny they win and they don’t have guaranteed money, they have to win to eat,” he added.
“We are excited to bring these two sports together for an evening of stories and fun,” said Kent Sturman, Director of the Hall of Fame. “Colorado Springs is a huge sports town and is the headquarters for several major sports organizations. What better way to support the Hall than to have sports fans of all types spend an evening together enjoying their passions.”
“I was honored when they asked if I would speak at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Gossage said. “It’s in my hometown and it’s for the cowboy way of life that I love. It should be a fun evening.”
“We are offering this new event as a way for local residents who are fans of baseball, Goose and rodeo to come together to support our museum,” Sturman said. “The ProRodeo Hall of Fame is the only heritage center in the world dedicated to the sport of professional rodeo and it is located right here in Goose’s hometown of Colorado Springs.”
The evening will feature a dinner, live auction, stories from Goose about his baseball career, and a Q&A session with Goose. Guests will also be able to tour the Hall of Fame offering them an opportunity to learn about two of America’s favorite sports – baseball and rodeo. Tickets are available at www.prorodeohalloffame.com. All proceeds benefit the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and its programming.
The ProRodeo Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 educational and charitable not-for-profit organization.
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