The rodeo way of life was on full display Saturday, Sept. 13 as several individuals were honored at the Dublin Rodeo Heritage Association Annual Honoree Dinner.
The event was held at Dublin Intermediate School and serves as the Dublin Rodeo Heritage Museum’s largest fundraiser. More than $1,560 was raised through ticket sales, auction items and raffle drawings.
Maddi Pendleton entertained event goers with country music while a catfish dinner was served.
Several awards were presented and Ted Nuce was inducted in the Dublin Rodeo Heritage Association Living Legends Hall of Fame.
Ted Nuce
Being the PRCA World Champion Bull Rider in 1995, winning the inaugural PBR World Finals event in 1994, and qualifying for the NFR 14 consecutive times from 1982 through 1995. He was inducted into the PBR Ring of Honor in 1996 and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame on 2009. Into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame in 2018 and was ranked No. 18 on the list of the top 30 Bull riders in PBR history. Ted is the 5th Rodeo celebrity to be inducted into the Living Legends Hall of Fame.
Ava Colburn Service Award
Tammy Chick from Dublin was the recipient of the Ava Colborn Service Award. This award is given after much consideration, to someone who strives to be the family powerhouse. The person who teaches, wakes everyone up, travels and makes sure the family is on their game in the horse and Rodeo industry. From hauling horses, to packing bags to heading up the trail on a routine basis.
Tom Rogers Media Award Casey Hammons, recipient of the Dublin Rodeo Heritage Museum Tom Rogers Journalism Award, has been very involved with Rodeo, locally and beyond. Casey has been the driving force behind promoting and advertising the Cowboy Capital Pro Rodeo in Erath County.
“Her expertise and hard work in maintaining our Rodeo Heritage is beyond measure,” Rodeo Heritage Museum organizer Rick Taylor said.
This year’s honoree dinner was dedicated in memory of the late Bobby Kerr.
Kerr was known for his antics inside the arena with his mustang act. The cowboy was a horseman at heart training horses for more than 50 years. He also was the founder of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Kerr recently lost his battle with esophageal cancer at the age of 67.
As an entertainment act, audiences were often delighted by the tricks he had mustangs perform, with his act seeing horses do everything from ride in a car with Kerr and a pair of cow dogs to jumping through fire.
“Bobby Kerr was known for his western way of life, and being a role model for many as a family man, husband, father and entertainer. He will live on in the hearts of all that knew him. He will also be inducted into the Living Legends Hall of Fame on Dec. 20 as planned,” Taylor said.
Recent Living Legend inductee and Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller was in attendance at the event along with Living Legend Jeff “Jackrabbit” Harris.