Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame Holds its 2nd Fort Worth Induction

December 16, 2002

Fort Worth Stockyards. A Selection Committee has met and named the 2003 Inductees into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. They are:

Guy Allen, Santa Anna, Texas- 16 time World Champion Steer Roper, has tied Jim Shoulders' 11 straight titles. Mr. Allen has qualified for NFSR 26 consecutive times.
He shares the most NFSR Average Titles with Roy Cooper.

Neal & Kay Gay, Mesquite, Texas- Co-founders of the Mesquite Championship Rodeo, nationally recognized rodeo producers whose events include the Fort Worth Stock Show. Sons Don, Pete and Jim are also rodeo champions and Don Gay is in the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.

George Strait, San Antonio, Texas-founder & producer of the George Strait Team Roping Classic; team roping competitor with his son Bubba. Through his music, he has elevated the image of the cowboy around the world.

Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas- At the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas (which ended last Saturday) Mr. Whitfield added a Sixth World Championship in Calf Roping to his already impressive record. He is the first African-American to win the World Championship and was also named the PRCA All Around Champion in 1999. His career earnings are nearing the $2 million mark.

"Spirit of Texas Awards"
A new award will be unveiled at the Induction Ceremony on January 10: "The Spirit of Texas Awards." They were established to celebrate the uniqueness of Texas and Texans...their boldness, initiative and individuality. Recipients will be members of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and will have memorabilia on display; however, these special awards will be announced & unveiled at the induction ceremony each year. "The recipients of the 2003 Spirit of Texas Awards are folks who exemplify the best traditions of honesty, commitment, achievement, and style," notes Ann Bastable, Former Executive Director.

Nominations to the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame are open to the public. The Selection Committee reviews the nominations in the fall of each year and makes their selections. The 2003 inductees join other notables already in the Hall of Fame, including Ty Murray, Tuff Hedeman, Charmayne James, Lindy Burch, Buster Welch, and Larry Mahan. Inductee displays include championship saddles, buckles, photographs, videos, and other memorabilia.

The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame honors those individuals who have shown excellence in competition, business, and support of rodeo and the western lifestyle in Texas. The museum also features the Sterquell Wagon Collection ( the world's largest Lifestyle Wagon Display) and the John Justin Trail of Fame (honoring the late Fort Worth civic leader and his famous boot company).