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Michael (Mike) Lee Meads (1970-2024)

Mike moved to Hermiston, Oregon in grade school where he was active and successful in 4-H showing horses, dogs, and livestock. Mike's love of horsemanship continued through high school where he excelled on his high school rodeo team in the team roping and calf roping events. Mike cherished helping youth in agriculture and later in life followed his Mom's footsteps and became a 4-H leader for Badger Canyon Livestock 4-H Club. He adored each and every one of his members and was always ready to jump in and help. Seeing youth succeed was important to Mike. He was eager to help organize youth leadership events in agriculture whenever he was asked. Mike's successful career in the agriculture field began at McGregor, he went on to Wilbur Ellis then Pioneer Implement which was acquired by RDO Equipment in 2003. Above all, Mike treasured family and was never afraid to let others know how proud he was of each and every one of them.

Jimmy Ray "Sparky" Sparks (1960-2024)

Sparky loved Team Roping and Rodeos. He loved to watch his kids compete and ride the horses that he trained for them. Sparky always had his family mounted on good horses. We always did everything as a family, and he was very proud of his family. Most weekends you could find The Sparks family at a roping somewhere with close family and friends. Sparky loved his team roping family he was the best flagger and Coach around.

Daniel Troy Bush (1985-2024)

Daniel Troy Bush, 39, Live Oak, FL passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The Lake City, FL born native was a lifelong resident of Live Oak and attended City Church in Lake City, FL. He was a member of the National Team Roping Association and International Chemical Workers Union Council Local # 784C.

Loagan Helton (1990-2024)

Loagan started a bucking bull company raising bulls for rodeo competition. Loagan was an intricate part of the successful training team of American quarter horse racing seasoning with super star horse Llano Cartel. In 2013, they won Remington Park and in 2014, Florida Hialeah Park. Loagan and his father Wade won the American Quarter Horse Nation with Llano Cartel in 2013.Loagan was a very outdoors person who enjoyed skiing, golfing, riding horses, fishing and boating. Loagan also was very skilled in martial arts earning a black belt in Taekwondo. Loagan enjoyed spending time with family and always had a number of fun and interesting projects to keep busy and share with family and friends.

Jeffrey James Thorstenson 1971-2024

Jeff qualified many times for State and National High School Finals and also continued to rise through the amateur and professional rodeo ranks, many times qualifying for the NRCA, SDRA and Badlands Circuit Finals. However, nothing thrilled him more than roping with his son Jace and wife Kristie. Jeff and Kristie were married May 17th, 1995, at Rapid City, SD. Following their marriage, they lived in the New Underwood area where together they began to make their dream of raising and training good horses come true. Jeff rode colts and shod a lot of horses and trained team roping horses and of course rodeoed a lot. They relocated to Cave Creek, AZ to continue their passion together and it wasn’t long after, on August 14, 2003, when their pride and joy Jace joined their family.

Ron Reuter 1955-2024

Fate stepped into his life when he picked up a rope in January of 1994 and never put it down. A day didn’t pass that he wasn’t roping, reading about roping, watching videos about roping or pantomiming that he was roping when in fact he had no rope. He was a quick study and before long, his deft hands and hard won callouses helped him reel in multiple saddles, a list of accolades and prizes that helped cement his newfound reputation. As a loving father, he enjoyed sharing his love of horses and roping with his daughters, relishing the time he spent with them in leadline and roping. Ron had a heart that beat for his family, especially for his grandchildren who lived as a constant gleam in his eye.

Ray Allen Paul 1963-2024

Ray was born on January 8, 1963 in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, Canada to Lawrence and Fay (Wells) Paul. In his younger years while living in Canada, he enjoyed playing hockey. After moving to the states, he was extremely active in high school rodeo and carried his love of rodeo into his work as a cowboy. He loved working in feed yards, ranching, and all aspects of working cattle. His passion was team roping, a skill he exhibited in many ranch rodeos.

Quinn Kesler 1993-2024

“Rope Like Quinn.” Quinn always had a rope in his hand from the time he was a small child. He roped anything and everything in sight, even his foot during a particularly boring sacrament meeting. It didn’t take long for him to establish himself as a skilled roper, and he entered his first championship at the age of nine. His first big roping win came during the National Finals Rodeo in 2015. Despite all his professional achievements, the real legacy Quinn leaves the rodeo arena is that good cowboys still exist. In any situation, Quinn was always caring, generous, and Christ-like.

Gene Plant 1944-2024

Gene Thomas Plant, 79, a long-time resident of Estancia, NM, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2024 in Albuquerque, NM. Gene had many passions throughout his life, with horses being his biggest. Gene loved to train race horses with his parents and brothers, and they traveled all over the southwest racing their horses. Gene also loved to rope, winning the very first USTRC #6 roping in 1990 with his brother Keith, and continued to rope as he got older with his family and friends.

Richard Berle Anderson 1953-2023

Richard Berle Anderson, 70, of Cave Creek, Arizona, and graduate of CAL High School, Latimer, IA, passed away on July 17, 2023. Dick worked hard his entire life. From owning Anderson Drywall in Lake Havasu City, AZ, to running Red Mountain Stables with his wife in Mesa, AZ, Dick put blood, sweat and tears into everything he did and built a successful and fulfilling life.

Troy Whited 1967-2023

Troy D. Whited, 55, of Lincoln, passed away suddenly on July 4, 2023, at York General Hospital. Troy's great love was roping and riding horses as well as buying and selling horses. He was always very supportive of his sons, Rio and Tee, in their education, rodeo and roping. He provided good horses for them to ride and always attended all their high school and collegiate rodeos as well as countless team ropings. Troy loved spending time with his family and friends. Most of all, Troy was proud of his sons and loved them more than anything in the world.

River Pace Dillard 1987-2024

River Pace Dillard, 36, passed from this life on Sunday, January 21, 2024, to be in the arms of Jesus. River was a member of the FBC Cross Plains, Texas, World Series Team Roping (WSTR), and The Internachi Home Inspectors, as well as the owner of Xpert Inspection Services. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, roping, snowboarding, and loved spending time with his children.

Jesus "Jesse" or "Papason" Garza 1960-2024

It is with very deep sadness that the Garza Family announce the passing of their beloved, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and dear friend, JESUS “JESSE’ OR “PAPASON” EDEN GARZA on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. Jesse had a passion for horses and was a member of the World Series of Team Roping, as well as the U.S. Team Roping Championship. The love, pride, and joy of Jesse life was his family, children, and grandchildren, but especially his great-grandchildren. He will be remembered for his great personality, contagious laugh, and the jokester that he was.

Heavy Sursa 1955 -2023

Heavy Sursa loved being a cowboy! He loved all the people he met, and every aspect of the cowboy life. He loved how patriotic the rodeo life is, the prayers, the friendships and all the memories he made. Heavy Sursa won the #10.5 Finale in 2019 with Slade Witbeck splitting $342,000 and was the face of the Finale Poster for a whole year, a dear friend who was involved in the team roping community since the early USTRC days in the 90's .

Harold Tweed Holden 1940 - 2023

H was a Hall of Fame artist best known for some of the greatest horse monuments in the world. H designed “THE FINALE” bronze as the top award for the WSTR Finale back in 2010 that has been presented to all winners of the WSTR Finale for the past 14 years . “H” Holden donated the casting for the “The Finale” as he wanted working class cowboys with ropes to have a lasting symbol of their achievement. He was a roper himself and understood the significance of his award.

Richard Woodrow Rosaschi 1954 - 2023

He was a Professional Horseman for well over 20 years and was recently inducted into the American Rope Horse Futurity Hall of Fame – a title well deserved.

Jerry Speer 1956 - 2023

The talent he possessed on horseback was matched by none. His knowledge was the kind learned the hard way; shaped by the best cattleman bred in the bush country of South Texas. Then sharpened by the toughest men who pushed cattle through the deepest Northern New Mexico snow. He went on to share his knowledge and passion with everyone.

Theresa Paul 1964-2023

Theresa was known for her smile. She spent many hours keeping books and announcing team ropings and was lovingly known as ‘Momma T’ by her countless team roping family. Her equally treasured name was ‘Nana’, and she was always willing to help anyone in need.

Rowdy Atwood 1972 - 2023

Rowdy was a beloved husband, father, poppy and friend. Not a single day went by that he didn’t have a smile on his face, it was simply contagious. He was a lifelong cowboy, and he was beyond grateful for everything he had. He had the biggest heart and cared so deeply about everyone around him. Hunting, roping, camping, fishing, golfing, taking rides in the side by side, being at the arena and watching westerns and MASH were some of the things he enjoyed. Most of all, he treasured his family and friends.

Lewis Gene Gilbert 1931 - 2023

He was roping at World Series events as late as 2017. He was a lifetime member of Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and attended Hardesty Senior Citizens. In his younger years, he participated in trick roping, calf roping, team tying, and steer tripping. He competed in many team roping events until his late 80’s, and continued riding and assisting with calf branding into his 90’s. Lewis also enjoyed senior citizen’s dances and playing pool with his special dance partner, Sarah Fields.

TJ Kraft 1983- 2023

TJ spent the winters in Stephenville, TX team roping in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, he started TJ Kraft Construction. His dad always worked alongside him. This past decade he did a lot of unusual construction projects with refurbishing old buildings. TJ recently finished a state-of-the-art shop condo in Berthold, where Drew Kalenze, Ronnie Will and his dad assisted him throughout the project. In 2018, he also did the calving for Yuly Cattle Co. in Berthold. He maintained his horse shoeing business throughout the years as well as training horses for people.

Jimmy Ray Harp 1952 - 2023

He was a mailman and cattle hauler, but his passion in life was being a cattle farmer. He loved to hay and work on his farm. His favorite pastime was team roping with his friends. He was a man of his word and a very honest person. If he told you he would do something, he did it! He was never late for anything he did.

Rooster Reynolds 1961 - 2023

Rooster was destined to be a cowboy! He was successful in high school and college rodeos. In 1987 Rooster earned the titles of Steer Wrestling Champion in both the NRA and EIRA. In 1995, he took the National Finals Rodeo at Las Vegas, Nevada by storm and was named the Wrangler National Finals Average Champion, ending up third in the world. He also found success in the Senior Pro Rodeos, earning the title of National Senior Pro Rodeo Finals Average Steer Wrestling Champion in 2007. Rooster never failed to delight everyone with his famous Rooster Shuffle at the end of a good run.

Cody Murdock 1993 - 2023

Cody was loved by all who knew him. His bright smile was infectious, and you always left Cody better than when he found you. Cody loved being a cowboy and never hesitated to chase a wild cow or stop and nurture a doggie calf. He was kind and gentle to his core. Cody enjoyed hunting, team roping and spending time with family and friends. Cody was a friend to all. He will be remembered for his smile, his funny one-line zingers, his quirky storytelling, and his love for his family and friends.

Tom Corzine 1942 - 2023

Tom spent most of his life deriving great pleasure from his ranch and cattle operation in Colorado. Tom loved team roping, and he devoted much time to practicing and competing in this event. One of the great highlights of team roping was when he and son, Clay won the USTRC National Champion Shootout in 2015. He also enjoyed competing with son, Todd in century roping where the header and heelers age had to add up to at least 100.

Dan Everett Stewart 1946 - 2023

Competing all over the country, he eventually built a roping arena at his beloved Yankeetown Farm to host competitions and became a founding producer of the newly created United States Team Roping Championships and a national leader in advocating for the sport. He was no slouch as a competitor, either, and went on to win many competitions, including the Kentucky State Fair Team Roping in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. Dan will be remembered for his talent, creativity, unrelenting drive, no-nonsense style and straight talk. He said what he thought, meant what he said, and kept his word. He never stopped building, imagining, creating and improving whatever he could. He is surely now at work redesigning the Gates of Heaven.

Neil Trammell 1946 -2023

Neil loved the COWBOY life style. He started roping calves at a young age.

Arvie "Corky" Dean Wade 1944 - 2023

Corky and Judy made their home in Byers where Corky worked at various jobs until 1968 when he went to work full time for the Langford Ranch and the couple welcomed the light of their lives, their daughter Deana Lynn, on June 20, 1968. In 1971 they moved to the ranch and stayed until 1986 when Corky went to work for Clay County Precinct One. He retired in 2006 as Road Foreman after 20 years.

Terrel Cob Vineyard 1996 - 2023

Terrel Cob Vineyard was born February 19, 1996, in Ogallala, Nebraska- to the proud parents of Shawn and Nancy Vineyard – joining an older sister, Tori. Starting at 8 years old, he calf roped, headed, heeled, and ranched on his horse Cowboy from junior high to college. Terrel was great at making friends anywhere he was. He maintained his first friendships and made a million more along the way. He had success in the arena, but he was most proud of the friendships he made. To know Terrel was to love Terrel.

Ron Bohleen 1944 -2023

Ron attended two roping schools at Don McLaughlin’s in Fort Collins, Colorado. He attended Northern Montana State College and was a member of the rodeo club. He was a member of the Montana Rodeo Association, winning the Calf Roping Championship by $300.00 in 1964 and $1.50 in 1965. He was president of the Northern Rodeo Association where he participated in calf roping, team roping, and bull dogging. Ron has been a “Cowboy” all his life and said he was born 100 years too late.

William “Bill” Kent Dahlke 1950 - 2023

William “Bill” Kent Dahlke, 73, a longtime Marsh Valley resident, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday June 13, 2023. n 2009, he won the #11 Finale at World Series of Team Roping in Las Vegas, Nevada. Most of his life was spent farming and ranching. Later in life he also did excavation work for Frasure Construction and privately.

Larry Mahan 1943 - 2023

“Larry was a great Champion, certainly an iron man, but no, he was not the greatest bull rider to ever live, or the greatest bareback rider to ever live, nor the greatest saddle bronc rider to ever live, he was simply the most important man in the history of rodeo, he was our Elvis with a fuzzy hat.” He gave all cowboys a glimpse on what a champion should look like, what they could accomplish after rodeo, how they should walk, talk, and what they could do to promote the cowboy way of life. He spent over forty years as an announcer for every cowboy hall of fame, award program, parade grand Marshall, and any other event connected to cowboys.

Art Dunlap 1954 - 2023

Art raised his family on the Dunlap family ranch and eventually grew it into Lazy VL Cattle Company, a legacy business. Art loved and respected the land and adhered to proper ranch management to ensure the land would sustain the growing cattle company for years to come. He took pride in raising top quality angus cattle and improving the ranches genetics over the years.

Charles W Morris 1974 - 2023

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather (papa), cousin, and friend.

G Fred Coffinger 1942 - 2023

Born in Phoenix, Az, as a young child his true passion was horses and was a true cowboy spending time with his uncles trotter horses and for four decades excelling as a heeler. During his team roping career he was a Silver Legacy Lifetime member of World Series.

David Charles Rummage 1943 -2023

David Rummage passed away doing what he loved, riding horses . A David Rummage Memorial Team Roping event is being planned for the near future and details will be released when plans are complete.

Jack Reese Stephenson 1942 - 2023

Jack really made a name for himself training horses and rodeoing. He started breaking horses when he was just 12 years old. He knew horses and was always well mounted. He started out his rodeo career in the Texas High School Rodeo Association where he competed in every event he could enter; team roping, bull riding, bareback riding, calf roping and bull dogging. Cactus Jack had a vision and desire for something bigger. He co-founded Cactus Ropes with his cousin Joe Mathews and lifelong friend, Mike Piland. The rope company is still going strong today. His son Robb was very instrumental in the beginning days of the rope company, and he still plays a crucial role in the company today.

Ross Smith 1937 - 2022

Rodeo was a large part of Ross’ life; as a school teacher cowboy, summers were spent travelling to as many rodeos as he could. As a steer wrestler, Ross jumped off perfectly good horses several times a year. In 1995, Ross won the Senior Pro Rodeo Steer Wrestling Finals. Eventually, Ross realized it was as much fun to stay on the horse as jumping off and he started team roping and won saddles and buckles as a header. He was the URP Champion Header in 2006, and continued team roping until age 80. Ross and Margi built their life together in Allison, Colorado, raised three daughters and had horses and cattle. In addition to school teaching and ranching, Ross was a skilled woodworker and jewelry maker.

Wesley Arlyn Sharp 1933 – 2023

Wes enjoyed ranching, roping, and raising and riding good Quarter Horses. The family moved back to Clarendon in 1983. Wes worked for the Archer Daniels Midland Company and Texas Saddlery before starting Sharp Saddlery which he owned and operated for over 30 years. He truly enjoyed the many customers and friends that he made during his travels of West Texas, Eastern New Mexico, and the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Russell Vigil 1954-2023

Russell, from New Mexico, was quiet, you would never know he was capable of winning a team roping until you walked in his saddle room. Russell loved the New Mexico Championships; he would take time off from work to go watch the open and higher number roping’s. He enjoyed watching his nephew’s rope and Sundays were his day to compete and compete he did. Russell won the New Mexico Championships twice in 1998 and 2007, along with numerous buckles, saddles, and trailers.

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