Saddle Bronc Riding • Inducted 1989 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...
Saddle Bronc Riding • Inducted 1979 Earl Thode, admittedly the best of the early-day saddle bronc riders who used the fore-and-aft, full-stroke spurring style now required by saddle bronc riding rules, may well prove to be the event’s best ever. He won the first ever world saddle bronc riding title in...
Saddle Bronc Riding • Inducted 1979 Mike Stuart of Wynnewood, Okla., was known as a happy-go-lucky ranch cowboy who learned the fundamentals of rodeo through his day-to-day work on the RO outfit along the San Pedro River in southwestern Arizona and northern Sonora. Stuart, born March 10, 1901, hit the rodeo...
Saddle Bronc Riding • Inducted 1979 Bill Smith, born July 28, 1941, in Red Lodge, Mont., is one of a few men with the distinction of winning three saddle bronc riding titles, doing so in 1969, 1971 and 1973. A professional horse breaker in his youth, Smith started his professional career...
Saddle Bronc Riding • Inducted 1979 Saddle bronc rider Gene Pruett could ride any horse he was dealt, good or bad. Born Feb. 1, 1917, in Moscow, Idaho, to a pioneer family, he entered his first rodeo at age 17. In 1948, he won his first world title. In 1955, he...
Saddle Bronc Riding • Inducted 1979 Born May 5, 1903, Pete Knight dominated saddle bronc riding more than any other contestant of his era, winning four world championships and four Canadian titles. Though born in Philadelphia, Pa., Knight grew up around Stroud, Okla., and near Crossfield, Alberta. He entered his first...
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...
Saddle Bronc Riding • Inducted 1979 Shawn Davis, a three-time world champion saddle bronc rider, has devoted much of his life to the sport of rodeo. Davis won his first title in 1965 and then captured back-to-back titles in 1967-68. In 1969, he was leading the world standings when a bronc...
Saddle Bronc Rider • Inducted 2023 Ranching has been part of the Wright family for over 150 years. As the oldest son of Bill and Evelyn Wright, Cody was taught the importance of hard work and dedication to achieve your goals. He has certainly achieved them. Wright started competing in rodeo after...
Saddle Bronc Riding • Inducted 2017 Enoch Walker, the 1960 Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion and National Finals Rodeo average winner, took to the skies in his ascent to ProRodeo fame – qualifying for 10 NFRs during his 20-year tenure with the Rodeo Cowboys Association. In 1960, the 28-year-old cowboy had been...
