11/21/08 Rodeo Hall of Fame inductees

There are halls of fame all over the country, but they don't mean much unless you have an affiliation to them. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be right back with one I would like to see. Just the name of this program, "The American Rancher" gives away which hall of fame would be my favorite. That's right, the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Okalahoma City, Oklahoma. But, more specifically the Rodeo Hall in that hallowed building. Still, there has to be some connection to make the members of that list special to you. It doesn't take much, maybe just a memory of one of their performances or a chance meeting of one of your heroes. On the fourth weekend of October eight new inductees were added to the Rodeo Hall. Four were deceased, they included announcer Chock Parkison; Claire Betcher Thompson, a 1920's lady bronc rider; world champion bull rider Lane Frost, and Feek Tooke, bucking horse breeder. Lane Frost is surely the most recognizable member of that group, but my favorite would be Feek Tooke. I never met the man but I remember when his bloodline of horses started making themselves known. I was still enjoying being a pickup man at Northwest rodeos and got to work with descendants of his horses. Living personalities inducted were saddle bronc rider Marty Wood; world champion bull riders, Don Gay and Charlie Sampson; and announcer Hadley Barrett. Marty Wood is the name that jumped out at me just because my Dad liked to watch him ride. See it doesn't take much, but a connection is a connection and that's all it takes to make someone interesting to you in a group of very special people. I'm Jeff Keane.