The Wrangler Horse and Rodeo News

August 20 - September 4, 2019 • The WRANGLER, Horse and Rodeo News 51 million in career earnings has certainly earned his spot in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. "Oh, gosh, it's s ll a dream come true," Gorsuch said. "I'm very humbled and can't tell you how awesome it is, it's something you want when you start your career, but you never know if you will be part of it. It's very, very amazing. When I got a call (announcing his induc on into the Hall of Fame) I thought they were joking, but I teared up and started crying because it's a huge honor to be here." Gorsuch said it takes complete dedica on to compete and be successful in ProRodeo. When his sons (Taydon, Trell and Teagan) got older, his priori es shi ed from rodeo to fatherhood. "Rodeo has been God's plan, and I couldn't have thought it out or dreamed it would be like this," Gorsuch said. The Nebraska cowboy started his PRCA career in 2002 and rapidly rose to ProRodeo stardom as he made his first Wrangler NFR qualifica on in 2005 and won his first world tle in 2006. He went on to qualify again ever year from 2008 through 2013, picking up his second world tle in 2010. Gorsuch competed at the RAM Na onal Circuit Finals Rodeo in 2005 and 2010 and was named Tour champion in 2006 and 2008. Doug "Droopy" Brown – Bull Rider Whether he believes it or not, Brown will soon be surrounded by the legends he's admired. Brown won the 1969 bull riding world championship with $27,610. It was one of 13 total NFR qualifica ons – five in bull riding and eight in saddle bronc riding (though one year he did not compete due to injury). All that success landed Brown a Hall of Fame selec on. "It's pre y humbling when you go through (the Hall of Fame) displays of all the predecessors who are in here and to think that you're in with this group," Brown said. "You wonder how many world champions are in here. You're just another one coming in. I'm very thankful. "I think every cowboy going down the road wants his career to end this way. It's a great way to check out." Larry Peabody – Bareback Rider Peabody, a Montana na ve, made a steady climb in rodeo to his 1984 bareback riding world tle. Within three years of becoming a member, Peabody had qualified for his first Na onal Finals Rodeo. He went on to make five total, all consecu ve, and crowned it with the 1984 bareback riding championship. Saturday he was s ll trying to come to grips that he is now a ProRodeo Hall of Famer. "Yes, it did (catch me off-guard)," said Peabody about his induc on. "You get emo onal, you get to wondering why you got chosen. Sleepless nights (since ge ng here for the ceremonies). It's been a very enjoyable deal, but it's almost like it's too overwhelming." Peabody also won the Na onal Intercollegiate Rodeo Associa on bareback riding tle in 1981. He won the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit bareback riding year-end tle four mes, the circuit team roping tle once and the all-around once. In 1981, that first NFR trip, he set a then-NFR record with an 89-point ride on Growney's Dreamboat Annie. He also split the NFR average in 1983 and finished the season in third place. He edged fellow Hall of Famer Lewis Feild for the 1984 tle by $2,000. The race was so close it came down to the final round of the NFR. Even a er he'd been declared the champ, it took a while for Peabody to truly believe it. "It (the world tle) meant I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish," Peabody said. "That's why I slowed down a er that. I never had the drive to rodeo and pursue another world championship." Jerome Robinson – Notable Robinson was a cowboy with many hats – a contestant, contractor, event producer, contract personnel and member of the PRCA Board of Directors. With so many tles on his résumé, Robinson is being inducted to the HOF as a Notable, a word that summarizes his career. "It's pre y humbling, very humbling, when you think of all those who preceded you and are more deserving," Robinson said. "It's very humbling to be recognized for accomplishments, and you almost feel guilty because you know there are others who did as much as you did. I'm thankful and apprecia ve to the PRCA for everything they contributed to my life." Robinson competed with the PRCA for 16 years, star ng in 1967, and made 11 trips to the NFR (1970-75, '77 and '81). He mentored several PRCA world champion bull riders and many others involved with rodeo produc on. Robinson was instrumental in crea ng PROCOM in 1975, a system s ll in use today for entering rodeos. This task, along with star ng the Winston Tour, are what he considers to be his most difficult achievements. "I was a bull rider, but I was afforded the opportunity to get on the board," Robinson said. "It was an educa onal experience where I learned a lot and was fortunate enough to be around when Ken Stemler took over. He was a linear thinker who could explain things." Cody Stampede Rodeo – Commi ee Cody, Wyo., is o en called the "Rodeo Capitol of the World" – and for good reason, as it's home to the Cody Stampede Rodeo, which has a racted countless tourists to the small town just east of Yellowstone Na onal Park since 1919. Now in its centennial year, the Cody Stampede was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. "It is s ll really overwhelming, and to be part of this impressive class of inductees means the world to us," said Marc Thompson, a co-president of the Cody Stampede with Mike Darby. Darby also was thrilled about the ul mate recogni on given to the Cody Stampede on the year of its 100th anniversary. "It's the icing on the cake, and that's an understatement," said Darby. "It's a dream come true and a whirlwind of happenings and an honor to be here. We try to put on the best possible rodeo every year with the best athletes and best stock and showcase the very best the sport has to offer. Thompson knows the Hall of Fame induc on is something that was years in the making. "I feel blessed with this honor because it honors our 100-year history," Thompson said. "We know how much me, effort and energy they put into making this the las ng legacy and ge ng Hall of Fame status is an honor to the past directors and the Cody community." The Cody Stampede won the PRCA's Best Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year in 1998 and 1999. Tommy Lucia – Contract Personnel Lucia was a Wrangler NFR Barrelman (1973), three- me Wrangler NFR Specialty Act (1997, 1999 and 2004) and three- me PRCA Specialty Act of the Year (2003-05). For more than 50 years he worked as a barrelman and specialty act, entertaining at rodeos across the U.S. In 2010, he was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and in 2016, he was inducted into the Na onal Cowboy Rodeo Hall of Fame. Lucia passed away June 1, 2016, on his 75th birthday. His son, Anthony, a ProRodeo announcer, trick rider and team roper, knew first-hand the passion his father had for rodeo and success. "We're proud of the way that he was, and we're proud of how hard he worked to achieve the things that he did," Anthony said. "When it came down to it, he wasn't doing it for glory he was doing it to survive and to provide for his family. He gave his heart and his soul to professional rodeo, his animals and everybody around him so that he could provide for his family. When it came down to it, that's who my dad was." Dominic Lucia, Anthony's older brother, echoed his brother's sen ments. "Our dad's legacy, as me has moved on, I think we've all realized the importance of that and I think at the end of his life he realized the importance of that," Dominic said. "So, it's something like this that will be there for our kids, our kids' kids and genera ons to come to see what he did. What he contributed not only to rodeo, but also society is something that is very meaningful to us as a family." Jimmie Gibbs Munroe – Barrel Racer While Gibbs Munroe ini ally made a name for herself in the rodeo arena, winning a world tle in 1975, her love and commitment to the associa on cemented her legacy in the sport. "It's just a tremendous honor to be included in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame because it's the only hall that's solely dedicated to the sport of professional rodeo and I'm just so excited that women have a place now and can be included in the Hall thanks to the PRCA," Munroe said. Munroe was an 11- me NFR qualifier and WPRA president from 1978-93. "I spent a lot of years in the sport of professional rodeo and it was certainly good to me," Munroe said. "I was very fortunate in what I was able to do and achieve in the sport. "It's exci ng to be able to join my husband who was inducted as compe tor in the Hall (Dan "Bud" Monroe, a 12- me NFR qualifier, 1986 PRCA World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider and 2007 inductee), that's really something and means a lot."

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