Colorado Springs, Colorado
ProRodeo Hall of Fame: Where Rodeo Legends Stand Tall in Bronze
If you’ve ever walked through the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, you know it’s a place where rodeo’s greatest are honored—not just with plaques on the wall, but with the stories they left behind in the arena. Some of these names are legends I grew up admiring, some were competitors I shared the road with, and a few were good friends.
To have my work standing alongside these cowboys and stock contractors is an honor I don’t take lightly. When I sculpt these bronzes, I want them to do more than capture a likeness—I want them to carry the grit, heart, and fire that made these folks legends in the first place.
Legends in Bronze
Clay O’Brien Cooper & Jake Barnes – Team Roping Champions
There’s no better example of partnership in rodeo than Clay O’Brien Cooper and Jake Barnes. You watch these two work, and it’s like clockwork—the kind of perfect timing that only comes from years of trust, sweat, and dirt. They set records, changed the game, and won seven world championships together. This piece had to capture that split-second when the loop flies, the steer turns, and the job gets done.
Lane Frost – Bull Riding Champion
If you know rodeo, you know Lane Frost. His talent, his character, and his tragic passing made him an icon of the sport. The match ride against Red Rock is the kind of story you can’t write—it’s pure cowboy heart. I made sure this piece reflects that moment, that determination, and the kind of ride that leaves a mark on history.
Charlie Sampson – Breaking Barriers, Building Legacies
Charlie isn’t just a legend—he’s a good friend. The first African-American cowboy to win a PRCA World Championship, he didn’t just break barriers—he knocked ‘em down for the next generation. Charlie took his hits, came back tougher, and won the 1982 World Title. When I got the chance to sculpt him, I wanted that story to come through loud and clear.
James H. Sutton & Yellow Jacket – The Stock Contractor’s Legacy
Great cowboys need great horses, and the Sutton Rodeo family knew how to raise ‘em. James H. Sutton Sr. built a stock contracting legacy, and Yellow Jacket became one of the rankest broncs in the game. Whether it was bareback or saddle bronc, he bucked with the best. This piece honors both the man and the horse that shaped rodeo.
Marvin Garrett – Bareback Riding Champion
Four-time PRCA World Champion Marvin Garrett didn’t just ride broncs—he mastered them. A South Dakota cowboy through and through, his strength and style made him one of the greatest bareback riders to ever hit the dirt. They don’t call him Marvelous Marvin for nothing.
Tom Feller – The Rodeo Clown’s Legacy
Inside the Hall, tucked among some of rodeo’s most respected memorabilia, sits the bust of Tom Feller. A true rodeo icon, Feller spent his career keeping cowboys safe and keeping crowds entertained. His likeness now stands alongside other pieces of his rodeo history, a reminder of just how much impact one man can have on the sport.
Bruce Ford – A Champion’s Trophy Case
The five-time PRCA World Champion bareback rider, Bruce Ford, had no shortage of victories, and it’s fitting that one of my bronzes is now part of his award display. His impact on the sport is undeniable, and having my work included in his collection is an honor.
Coors Man in the Can – The Rodeo Clown’s Honor
There are a lot of tough jobs in rodeo, but barrelmen might just have the roughest. You put yourself between a bull and a cowboy, knowing full well it might end with you taking the hit. This full-size bronze is a tribute to the PRCA Barrelman of the Year, the ones who run toward the danger instead of away from it.
Coors Original Fans’ Favorite Cowboy – A Cowboy for the People
Some cowboys win the rodeo, but some win over the fans. The Coors Original Fans’ Favorite Cowboy Award isn’t about the highest score—it’s about the cowboy who represents the heart of the sport. This bronze stands tall for the cowboys who put on a show, shake hands with the crowd, and live the rodeo way of life inside and outside the arena.
Wrangler Golden Microphone Award – Voices of the Arena
Rodeo wouldn’t be the same without the announcers who bring the action to life. This bronze honors the PRCA Announcer of the Year, the voices that turn every ride, every rope, and every run into a story worth telling.
More Than Just Statues—A Living Legacy
These bronzes aren’t just set in the ground to stand still. They tell stories. They carry legacies. They keep history alive.
If you ever find yourself at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, take a walk through the Founders Hall, Hall of Champions, Heritage Hall, NFR Gallery, and Sculpture Garden. You’ll see cowboys and stock contractors who shaped rodeo, their stories etched into history. Every corner of the facility is packed with rodeo heritage, from the busts and memorabilia inside to the bronzes standing proud outside.
A special thank you to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame for providing these incredible new photographs. Their dedication to preserving rodeo’s past and honoring its champions is second to none, and it’s an honor to have my sculptures be a part of that story.
Want to learn more about these Hall of Famers?
Check out the official PRCA Hall of Fame Inductees.
Other Featured Pieces at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame
These bronzes also have their place in ProRodeo history and will be featured in their own posts:
- Mark Garrett – World Champion Bareback Rider
- Jerry Olson – The Showman on Buffalo Back
- Gene Clark – Legendary Contract Performer
- Marvin Garrett (Award Size) – Honoring a Four-Time Champion
Each of these pieces has a story of its own, and you can read more about them in the Rodeo Legends Gallery.