PRESS RELEASE
Kerrie Booher, Director of Communications for the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, announced today a major rebranding of one of the Museum’s cornerstone institutions, the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. Established in 1955, the same year the Museum opened its doors, the Hall celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2025 with a refreshed visual identity and a renewed commitment to honoring the sport of rodeo and the legendary individuals who have shaped it.
The new logo for the National Rodeo Hall of Fame signals the launch of a larger branding initiative designed to elevate public awareness of the Hall’s role as the original rodeo hall of fame. Over the coming months, the Museum’s website, official ballots, and all major print, digital, and broadcast materials will feature the new branding. Yet the purpose of this initiative goes beyond visual change. Through this rebranding effort, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum aims to remind the Western world that the National Rodeo Hall of Fame is the most iconic and preeminent institution dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and honoring the heritage of rodeo. Regardless of background, affiliation, or discipline, induction into this Hall—seventy years after its founding—remains the highest and most respected honor in the sport.
“This isn’t just a new look—it’s a renewed commitment to our mission,” said Pat Fitzgerald, president and CEO of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. “The National Rodeo Hall of Fame has been part of the Museum since day one, and it’s time we remind people that it’s the original and most prestigious honor in the sport—the gold standard for recognizing rodeo excellence.”
As part of this commitment to preserving rodeo history, the Museum and the Rodeo Historical Society proudly announce the 2025 slate of nominees for potential induction into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. The individuals under consideration this year include Chad Berger, Larry Allen Clayman, Joel Edmondson, Josh Edwards, Monty “HP” Evetts, Jess Franks, Bobby Goodspeed, Larry Jordan, Gary Ledford, Tommy Puryear, Jim D. Thompson, and Charlie Throckmorton. In the deceased category, nominees include Neal Gay, O. Raymond “Ray” Knight, Wiley McCray, and Jim and Jan Warvell. These names represent a wide range of rodeo disciplines and exemplify the enduring spirit and values of the West.
Members of the Rodeo Historical Society, a global organization affiliated with the Museum and dedicated to the preservation of rodeo’s history, submit nominations annually. The RHS board reviews these nominations and selects a slate of finalists. After that, all eligible RHS members are invited to vote to determine the final induction class. Ballots will be mailed in the coming weeks, and expanded nominee biographies and voting instructions will be available on the Museum’s website.
The Museum invites rodeo fans, historians, and supporters to mark their calendars for the National Rodeo Hall of Fame Weekend, which will take place November 7–8, 2025, in Oklahoma City. This milestone event will include the 2025 Induction Ceremony honoring this year’s Hall of Fame class, as well as special exhibitions, guest appearances by rodeo legends, and additional celebratory programming. More details about ticketing and accommodations will be announced soon. Updates will also be shared on the Museum’s social media channels.
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is America’s premier institution of Western history, art, and culture. Since 1955, the Museum has been committed to collecting, preserving, and interpreting the evolving story of the American West for the education and enrichment of its diverse audiences. The National Rodeo Hall of Fame, located within the Museum, honors individuals who have made lasting contributions to the sport of rodeo and its legacy.
The Rodeo Historical Society supports the Museum in its mission to preserve and share rodeo history through educational outreach and public programming. More information about the Society and the Hall of Fame can be found on the Museum’s website.
Established in 1955, the National Rodeo Hall of Fame remains the original and most respected institution honoring the heritage of the West’s original sport. Regardless of a rodeo participant’s event, region, or background, induction into the Hall of Fame continues to be the highest distinction they can receive in the sport.
