Rodeo Notable • Inducted 1979 Harry Knight, born in Quebec City, Canada, in 1907, learned to pack horses as a youngster at a Banff, Alberta, lake resort operated by his father. In 1935 he entered his first saddle bronc riding event in Sundrie, Alberta, and began a half-century career in rodeo. Those...
Steer Wrestling • Inducted 1979 John W. Jones. Sr., born June 26, 1932, in Fresno, Calif., excelled on the PRCA’s biggest stage, winning the National Finals Rodeo’s aggregate title three consecutive years and a record four times overall. The Rookie of the Year in 1956, Jones’ world bulldogging title came in...
Team Roping • Inducted 1979 Ben Johnson, son of a famous early-day roper, grew up determined to follow in his father’s footsteps. However, despite winning one world title, he was best known for his depictions of cowboys in the movies and his Oscar. Born June 13, 1918, in Foraker, Okla., Johnson...
Stock Contractor • Inducted 1979 Consideration and friendship for contestants, even in the tension of arena action, made this stock contractor one of the most respected persons in rodeo. Certainly, Andy could identify with the contestants. He had been one himself. Ranch raised, he became a skilled saddle bronc rider in...
Saddle Bronc Riding • Inducted 1979 Sharkey Irwin, a nephew of famous stock contractor and rodeo producer C.B. Irwin, grew up in the rodeo business and earned three world titles. In 1925 he earned his first ProRodeo victories in Laramie, Wyo., in saddle bronc riding and tie-down roping, as well as...
Stock Contractor • Inducted 1979 By 1915, it took 18 railroad cars to move Charles Burton (C.B.) Irwin’s livestock and equipment to rodeos throughout the North America. He once produced a special one-day rodeo for President Theodore Roosevelt, who had missed Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days. This early-day rodeo entrepreneur was born...
Bareback Riding • Inducted 1979 As the inventor of the hard-handhold now used on virtually all bareback riggings, Jim Houston of Omaha, Neb., was one of the innovators of the laid-back, wild spurring style of bareback riding and won two world championships in the event. Houston, who was born Feb. 25,...
Contract Personnel • Inducted 1979 For nearly three decades, Homer Holcomb of Addy, Wash., was known as a world champion rodeo clown and bullfighter. He broke into rodeo in 1932 in Bozeman, Mont., in a show produced by John Ringling of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus fame. He won...
Bareback Riding • Inducted 1979 The single world championship won by John Hawkins is one of the most deserved in rodeo history. In steady pursuit of the title, he was runner-up for three consecutive seasons, once missing the crown by only $18. A broken thigh, later mended with a steel rod,...
Bull Riding • Inducted 1979 Don Gay won four consecutive world championships, 1974-77, the PRCA Season Championship 1976-78, and then followed with another three consecutive world championships, 1979-81. Since he won his last world crown in 1984, Gay has held the record with eight bull riding world titles. Experts in the...
