2009 Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductees and Honorees

2009 Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductees and Honorees Announced
Posted: Jul 24 2009

The Board of Directors of the Rodeo Historical Society announces inductees into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum® Rodeo Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. Recipients of the Tad Lucas and Ben Johnson Memorial Awards also will be honored. Rodeo Weekend at the Museum is scheduled for October 23-25.

Induction into the Rodeo Hall of Fame is one of the top honors that can be bestowed on a rodeo cowboy or performer. Inductees are chosen annually by a vote of the Rodeo Historical Society (RHS) membership. Nine inductees will be recognized during Rodeo Weekend at the Museum October 23-25. The Rodeo Hall of Fame class of 2009 includes

Chuck Henson
John J. Miller
Cotton Rosser
Harry Vold
Florence Price Youree

Being inducted posthumously are:
Walter Alsbaugh
Joe Chase Jr.
Reg Kesler
Tom Tescher

Two special awards also will be presented during Rodeo Weekend. The Ben Johnson Memorial Award specifies that a recipient must be living and been involved with the sport of rodeo for many years. Perhaps most importantly, it is awarded to someone who has given back to the community through service and/or work with young people. The 2009 recipient is Neil Gay of Terrell, Texas, who was a city boy who grew up liking rodeo. He got involved in organized rodeo in 1945 and was hooked when he won first place and $35 on the second bucking horse he had ever ridden. In 1958, the Mesquite Championship opened its doors, and Gay was named the managing director to run the operation. In 1964 a roof was added to the facility, which allowed performances to be held year round without exposure to the elements. He sold the rodeo in 1999, but his family still continues to produce the weekly rodeo and raise rodeo stock.

The Tad Lucas Memorial Award was established in 1990 to recognize outstanding Western women. The recipient is someone who has been a champion in her chosen field and demonstrated the same creative spirit and zeal for promoting Western values that Tad Lucas demonstrated throughout her life inside and outside the rodeo arena. The 2009 recipient is Liz Kesler of Henryetta, Texas.2009 Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductees and Honorees Announced