PAGE 6 ROPERS SPORTS NEWS AUGUST 2023 will happen. It is so humbling.” Knowles may be going into the Hall as a rodeo notable, but he’s known for his work inside the arena as well. He qualified for the NFR in saddle bronc riding in 1981, 1983, and 198687. He also won the NFR average in 1987. He said being a Hall of Famer is something that never crossed his mind while riding or announcing. “The one thing that stands out and it just happened after they announced my induction is all the people who I haven’t seen for years who have wrote nice notes and congratulated me,” Knowles said. “When it is all wrapped up and done, I don’t think there’s any better lifestyle or people to be around than who we deal with on a daily basis. It is amazing.” Years of rodeo commitment land Feller in Hall Tom Feller’s passion and decades of commitment and loyalty to ProRodeo were immortalized on Saturday when he was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame as a notable. “It’s one of those things that you can’t believe you’re worthy of really,” Feller said. “It’s overwhelming to me, especially with the category I’m going in with. When they put your name next to guys like Benny Binion, Mel Potter, or Michael Gaughan it’s truly remarkable. I don’t feel I belong with that group because I admire them so much. The things they’ve personally done for rodeo are so incredible.” When Feller obtained his PRCA card in 1974, his highest aspiration was possibly to clown at the National Finals Rodeo someday. He realized that dream when he was chosen as a barrelman at the National Finals Rodeo in 1981 and was an alternate in 1976, 1982, and 1985. He was also chosen as the PRCA Clown of the Year in 1981 and 1987. For years, Tom worked as a bullfighter with his brother Jim Bob Feller. Tom also wrote a column for the ProRodeo Sports News back in the day. Tom was born Sept. 10, 1948, in Waco, Texas. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. After his rodeo career, Feller has served as the director of event marketing for Justin Brands for more than two decades. Feller, who “rodeoed before sports medicine,” said the Justin SportsMedicine team can’t prevent a cowboy from getting hurt, but they can educate them about how to prevent injuries and can get them back in the saddle again. “Looking back on my life in rodeo, it just makes me realize I was probably put here for a purpose,” Feller said. “That was to not only be a steward of Justin Brands and the western way of life, but to be a steward to the (Professional Rodeo Cowboys) Association. I’m forever grateful for that.” Nightjacket forever enshrined Stock in the sport of rodeo is never undervalued. You could make the argument the roughstock animals and timed-event horses are just as important to success as the athletes that compete on them. With that being said, there have been 38 animals selected to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame since the first induction class in 1979. That number will rise to 39 in 2023 as the famous “Nightjacket” raised by Jim and Maggie Zinser, who founded J Bar J Rodeo Company, will be inducted into the Hall. Nightjacket competed at every Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as a bareback horse from 2000-2007. During that time, the horse helped six different cowboys reach the pay window in Las Vegas. Even with Nightjacket’s success inside the arena, the horse may be more known for his star-studded offspring. Moving from J Bar J to Pickett Pro Rodeo, NFR bucking horses like Fringe Jacket, Straight Jacket, and Night Gazer are direct descendants of Nightjacket. Even with Nightjacket’s passing in 2013 at the age of 19, many more of his offspring are lighting up the ProRodeo ranks as we speak, carrying on this once-in-a-lifetime horse’s This is David S. Brown (408) 640-6026. I recently returned from Fort Worth, Texas and the USTRC Finals and let me tell you there’s a lot going on. LOTS of teams and LOTS of different age groups competing for LOTS of $$$. So, to make a long story short, after months of negotiations, we will start having USTRC ropings along with the WSTR ropings! That means LOTS of great prizes, money and different age groups in a variety of divisions. So be watching Ropers Sports News for coming events featuring WSTR, USTRC, Pacific Coast Shootouts and Southern California Shootouts. Any questions give me a call and good luck! Let's Go Rope! Hello Ropers!! D$B All dates & locations tentative and subject to change. For more info, look for ads in upcoming issues of Ropers Sports News, Pacific Coast Shootouts Facebook page or WSTR. David S. Brown (408) 640-6026 2023 Remaining WSTR Schedule: August No PCS Roping... September 9-10 ..........................................Sanger, CA October 7-8 ..........................................Morgan Hill, CA November 4-5 .........................................Temecula, CA November 11-12 ......................................... Chowchilla, CA BREAKING NEWS!!! One lucky PCS member will win the use of a John Deere tractor for one year at the Chowchilla WSTR in November. Stay tuned for details. 3 x 5” 2023 ProRodeo Hall Of Fame... From Page 5 See PRORODEO HALL OF FAME On Page 7 sport is one of a kind. His longevity and love for rodeo was recognized by the ProRodeo Hall of Fame selection committee as he was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame on Saturday. “When I got up here (in Colorado Springs) it hit me like a ton of bricks,” said Knowles about the realization he was going into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. “This is just crazy. I kept waiting for them to call me and say they made a mistake we thought you were Butch Myers or something, but they never called. It’s just crazy. It is nothing you ever think about. When you start out, this is the last thing anybody ever thinks Cody Wright racked up his second world saddle bronc title in 2010. Previously he had also won the 2008 crown. He is pictured winning the third round of the 2010 NFR riding Spanish Pair of Kelser Championship Rodeo with an 88 score. Cody was also inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. – Kirt Steinke Photo
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