Minick, Pam
Notable • Inducted 2025
Pam Minick’s career left a legacy as a true ambassador for the western way of life as a competitor and promoter. From being named Miss Rodeo America in 1973 (Pam Martin), to winning the WPRA breakaway roping world title in 1982, to serving on the WPRA Board of Directors for 17 years to continuing her impact on the sport in front of the camera in a multitude of roles, no woman has made a bigger impact in the rodeo world.
Unlike many of her rodeo contemporaries, she was not raised as an all-around ranch hand but instead her equine ambitions were learned aboard a pair of $300 horses (Rebel and Rio) that her parents bought her and her sister.
Minick proved a quick study becoming the first woman awarded the Nevada Cowboy Association’s Rookie of the Year title. After high school, she planned to go to UNLV, but before she could go to her first class, she was named Miss Rodeo Nevada at the state fair in Reno. Two months later, she was crowned Miss Rodeo America. As the youngest Miss Rodeo America, she hit the road in 1973 to represent the sport. Minick took to making public appearances and promoting rodeo like a pro. In 1976, Minick joined rodeo superstars Donnie Gay, Larry Mahan and Jim Shoulders to cover the live rodeo broadcasts on CBS—one of just three television networks at the time when it wasn’t unusual for 1.2 million people to tune in.
While pursuing her career as a TV personality in rodeo she remained competitive turning her focus to the roping end but also worked to advance women in rodeo by serving on the WPRA Board of Directors. She served as an At Large Director from 1978-1980 before taking on a bigger role as the WPRA Vice President serving alongside Jimmie Munroe from 1980 through the 1993 season.
A natural with a microphone, she was the first woman granted a PRCA Announcer card. During her career, she hosted shows that included rodeo, equestrian, country music and the famous Rodeo Bowl Parade on ESPN, TNN, NBC, CBS, The Outdoor Network, RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel. In 1994, Minick co-announced the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, becoming the first women to announce a major professional rodeo. She also interviewed many world champions at the National Finals Rodeo.
She joins her husband, Billy Minick, as a ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee. He was inducted in 2018 in the stock contractor category.
