The Wrangler Horse and Rodeo News

50 The WRANGLER, Horse and Rodeo News • August 20 - September 4, 2019 ProRodeo Hall of Fame welcomes 2019 class COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Stars converged at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame as the Hall enshrined its 12-member class of 2019 Saturday. The class was headlined by four- me world champion team roping heeler Allen Bach (1979, 1990, 1995 and 2006). "I've just been reflec ng on how cool our sport has been," Bach said. "Everything about my life is based around rodeo. The team roping schools I do, the business that I do. Had it not been for rodeo, I would not have anything. I've just been doing a lot of reflec on on how cool it was to live this kind of life." Bach holds the PRCA record for most qualifica ons (including invita ons) by a team roper to the Na onal Finals Rodeo with 30 (1978-96, 1998-2008). "I'm not the most talented, but I loved what I did," Bach said. "I probably outworked most of the people I roped against. A lot of talented guys didn't make it as far as guys like us just because we loved it and we didn't mind working hard at it. My deal was the work ethic I learned, not just in the arena, but driving all night and persevering through dry spells in July and August. Everybody likes to hear about the winning, but you have to learn to accept losing to get to the winning." The rest of the 2019 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductees included Commo on, one of the greatest bucking horses of all me; stock contractors Elra Beutler and his son, Jiggs, posthumously; two- me world champion steer wrestler Dean Gorsuch (2006, 2010); world champion bull rider Doug "Droopy" Brown (1969); world champion bareback rider Larry Peabody (1984); notable Jerome Robinson; the Cody (Wyo.) Stampede Rodeo; contract personnel Tommy Lucia, posthumously; and three Women's Professional Rodeo Associa on inductees – barrel racers Jimmie Gibbs Munroe and Sammy Thurman Brackenberry and notable Florence Youree. In addi on to the inductees, Guy Ellio , a former arena director for the Na onal Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver and the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and a number of others, received the Ken Stemler Pioneer Award, which honors individuals in recogni on of their groundbreaking, innova ve ideas and forward thinking. Bach also won NFR average tles in 1979 and 2006, roping with Jesse James and Chad Masters, respec vely. In 1990 and '95, Bach paired with Doyle Gellerman and Bobby Hurley. In 2007, Bach became the 11th rodeo compe tor to surpass $2 million in career earnings. Bach joined the PRCA in 1978. Bach rallied from 15th to world champion with his 1990 victory in Las Vegas, becoming the first med-event cowboy to go from 15 to 1 at the NFR. The first year that the PRCA crowned both world champion header and world champion heeler saw Bach and partner Bobby Hurley take the top spots. Commo on – Bareback Horse Commo on won three Bareback Riding Horse of the Year awards (1998- 2000) when he was part of the Beutler and Gaylord Rodeo Company string. The 1,300-pound, bay stallion, who stood at 16.1 hands, was voted the top bareback horse at his first Wrangler NFR in 1997. He made 10 consecu ve trips (1997- 2006) to the Wrangler NFR before re ring in his prime at the 2006 Finals at the age of 15. Two rounds were won on him at the Wrangler NFR. Commo on has sired more than 70 horses who have gone on to compete at the Wrangler NFR. His daughter Killer Bee was named the Top Saddle Bronc at the Wrangler NFR in 2013 and 2014 and was runner-up for Saddle Bronc of the Year in 2015. Another daughter of his is Wound Up, the 2016 Top Saddle Bronc at the Wrangler NFR and the 2017 Saddle Bronc of the Year. "The thing about him is we raised Commo on," stock contractor Bennie Beutler said. "What made Commo on so special was his disposi on and he knew it. When you saw himself carrying himself around the arena, he knew he was something special. A lot of guys break them and halter break them, I wanted him to be was wild. We never broke him. I think what Commo on's legacy will be is all the horses he has sired." In August 2013, ar st T.D. Kelsey's larger-than-life-statue of Commo on was dedicated at the Na onal Route 66 Museum Complex in Elk City, Okla. He passed away Sept. 7, 2016, at the Beutler & Son ranch near Elk City, Okla., at 25. He was buried next to the statue. Elra Beutler & Jiggs Beutler – Stock Contractor Elra and his son, John Arthur "Jiggs," Beutler formed Beutler and Son Rodeo Company in 1956. Elra had previously worked with his brothers, Jake and Lynn, to form the Beutler Brothers Rodeo Company. The new company started with seven rodeos its first year. That steadily increased un l the Beutlers were pu ng on about 30 each year across six states. The Beutler name has been part of professional rodeo for decades, from the onset of Beutler Brothers Rodeo Company in 1929 to the collabora on of Beutler & Son Rodeo Company. Beutler & Son became synonymous with top livestock and a quality rodeo produc on. Focusing on quality over quan ty, they chose rodeos based on the traveling needs of their stock. They sent livestock to the NFR every year between 1959-1962 and from 1964-1988. Elra and Jiggs were among the foremost rodeo promoters in the business. "I always thought Jiggs and Elra should have been in the (ProRodeo Hall of Fame) before me," said Bennie Beutler, who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2010. "Elra taught me all about the stock and being a horseman and Jiggs taught me how to run the rodeos. They were good at what they did, and they lived and bled rodeo. It doesn't get any be er than this to get Commo on and Jiggs and Elra in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame." Jiggs was Bennie's father and Elra was Bennie's grandfather. Bennie's sisters, rodeo secretaries Vickie Shireman and Dollie Riddle, gave the acceptance speech for Elra and Jiggs. Fast-forward to the present, and Bennie and his son, Rhe , operate Beutler & Son Rodeo Company. "This is kind of unreal," said Shireman about Jiggs and Elra being inducted. "It is just a tremendous honor to get this kind of award. This is what it is all about." Elra passed away in 1987 at the age of 90. Jiggs died in a tractor accident in 1980 at the age of 55. Lynn Beutler, Elra's brother, was inducted into the inaugural ProRodeo Hall of Fame class in 1979. Elra and Jiggs owned Old Spec, the curiously spo ed, cross-bred Brahma bull that in 350 a empts, over a seven- year bucking career, allowed only seven riders to make qualified rides. Old Spec was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979. Elra and Jiggs also owned the 1973 Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year, Sam Bass. "This is a special day," Riddle said. "… Today is the highlight for me with our dad and granddad being recognized for the work they did." Dean Gorsuch – Steer Wrestler Gorsuch, a steer wrestler with two world tles, eight qualifica ons to the Wrangler NFR, two Tour tles and $1.3 2019 ProRodeo Hall of Fame Inductees

• Cover