The Miss Rodeo America Hall of Fame
Saturday, August 13, 1955 marked the first Miss Rodeo America Pageant in history, creating a half-century worth of tradition. The Miss Rodeo America Hall of Fame honors individuals and groups who have contributed above and beyond to the success of the Miss Rodeo America organization/Pageant and its perpetuation.
The Miss Rodeo America organization is a tradition etched in the history of professional rodeo and the western life style. Created and produced by a group of volunteers who annually give of their time, talent and effort, those chosen for the Hall of Fame may be representatives of both the competitive and cooperative spirit of 51 years of Miss Rodeo America.
As part of Miss Rodeo America’s 50th Anniversary celebration, December 1, 2004 marked the first inductions into the Miss Rodeo America Hall of Fame. Inaugural inductees were Mr. Bill Hervey from Greensboro, NC and Mrs. Arlene Kensinger from Cheyenne, WY.
Nomination
Instructions
1. Any person can submit a resume answering questions regarding
their nominee. Nomination forms can be obtained through a member of the
Hall Of
Fame Committee. or the Miss Rodeo America business office.
2. Each application will be held for four (4) years for consideration.
Nominee may be living or deceased.
3. The Hall of Fame Committee will make the final decision
on Inductees. There may or may not be an Inductee(s) each year.
4. The previous year’s Inductee(s) will serve on the
Hall of Fame Committee for one year (if living).
For
additional information please feel free to contact members of the Hall
Of Fame Committee:
—Sherry Smith, Chairperson
—Debbie Dilley,
Carol
Grencevicz,
Sue
Lynn Perry, Zona Vig, Bill Hervey (1 year), Arlene Kensinger (1 year)
and Kiki Shumway, MRAI President.
MEMBERS of the Miss Rodeo America Hall of Fame
BOB
TALLMAN
(1947-
)
Born and raised on a ranch in Orovada, NV, Bob Tallman grew up to enjoy
a successful career in professional rodeo spanning more than three decades.
At age 11, the Tallman family moved to Winnemucca, NV. There he lived for the weekends when he could spend time working on nearby ranches. One weekend, his parents took him to a rodeo in Elko, NV, to watch Hall of Fame cowboy Casey Tibbs.
Enamored by the sound, the sight and the glory, Bob decided that day his future would be in professional rodeo.
Bob attended California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo) and the University of Nevada (Reno) majoring in agri economics. While attending the University of Nevada in 1968, he met his wife Kristen. They were married in December 1969 and celebrated their 37th anniversary this year.
After
attending many rodeos, Bob decided he wanted to try his hand at announcing.
In
1970, Bob announced his first rodeo for which he
was paid $100.
Only five years later, Bob was announcing his first NFR. No one
in the 46-year history of the NFR has announced the rodeo more
times than Bob.
The 2006
NFR marked the 19th time Bob has announced the NFR. During the year,
he announced more than 180 rodeos.
In addition to his rodeo work, Bob also has participated in television broadcasts, including a career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for over 25 years.
Often, Bob can be found in a sound booth recording commercial voice overs for Black Velvet, Dodge Trucks, Wrangler Jeans, Justin Boots and others. Plus, he’s recorded more than 200 projects for corporations like IBM, Con Agra and financial institutions.
Bob served on the Miss Rodeo America, Inc. Board of Directors in 1996, 97 & 98. He has graciously provided his time and talent to serve as Master of Ceremonies for the coronation performance for the past 16 years, taking time from his tremendously hectic schedule during the middle of PRCA convention week and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo schedule.
Bob gives the Lord all the credit for his success. As a way to share his blessings with others, he established Bob Tallman’s Charities in 2000. The foundation raises money for the pediatric program at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.
Bob serves on the Reno Rodeo Foundation Scholarship Committee; serves on Selection Committee for the PRCA Hall of Fame, Past Board Member of the PRCA; and has Bob Tallman’s Ranch Fixins Spices.
Bob was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2004, the St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2006. Bob has received the Lane Frost Memorial Award and has been honored by the State of Nevada for Achievements.
For Bob, family is an important part of his life. He is especially proud of his daughter Nicole who graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Exercise Physiology and has worked for nine years in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Today, Bob and his wife Kristen live on a ranch in Weatherford, TX, where they raise rodeo stock and commercial cattle in partnership with their daughter and son-in-law Nicole and Daniel Pennell.
Bob admits that dirt and cattle are his real love, but he’s not ready to put down the microphone just yet.
WENDELL
HAMILTON(1942-
)
Wendell Hamilton, born in Norman, OK, began his business
career at age 11 with a paper route. He went on to build a strong work ethic,
serving
as a car hop, shoe salesman and insurance salesman.
He
began working in the manufacturing business at age 19 with his employment
at John Roberts, Inc.
There he gained his first experience with the “lost
wax” process in the manufacturing of rings. He worked in the factory
and eventually advanced to personnel director when the business moved to Austin
in 1972.
At that point, Wendell began building his own business known as Award Design
Medals, Inc., in Noble, OK.
In 1973, Wendell married his wife Pat and they had four sons. That same year, their production expanded into the design and marketing of belt buckles. He enjoyed great success in the western and rodeo industries, even though a massive fire destroyed the Award Design Medals factory in 1976.
Wendell’s affiliation with the Miss Rodeo America Pageant dates back to the mid seventies when the pageant, as well as the National Finals Rodeo, was staged in Oklahoma City.
In 1981, Award Design Medals, Inc. of Noble, OK, painstakingly created a brass buckle commemorating the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. The die was then destroyed, rending the buckle a limited edition.
Wendell’s company designed and manufactured the Miss Rodeo America buckle as well as buckles for the runners up and other dignitaries affiliated with the pageant. Award Design Medals also made the first state delegate and National Advisory Council pins.
Award Design Medals offered a state buckle program in which a portion of the sales benefited the state programs, and a portion of the proceeds from sales of the Miss Rodeo America buckle benefited the establishment of the MRA scholarship fund.
Award Design Medals, Inc. was the only Platinum Sponsor of the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. At a time when the pageant was in extreme financial distress, Wendell Hamilton gave the organization $10,000, which was the saving grace for Miss Rodeo America, Inc.
Wendell and his company Award Design Medals remained an active and integral part of the Miss Rodeo America organization until the company sold to Montana Silversmith in 2000.
2006 INDUCTEES
VALENA
WEICK DENNIS(1940-
)
Longtime Miss Rodeo America Pageant chaperone Mrs. Valena "Kay" Weick
Dennis of Caldwell, ID, is the newest inductee into the Miss Rodeo America
Pageant Hall of Fame.
Surprise, smiles and tears marked the emotional ceremony, which took place last night during a portion of the 51st annual pageant, held at The Orleans in Las Vegas, NV.
Fellow volunteers surprised Dennis with a video tribute, a crystal trophy and kind words from several friends. Plus her family secretly flew to Las Vegas to be part of the celebration. They were ushered into the convention hall from the back door and made their presence known at the moment Dennis received her trophy and flowers before an audience of 700 people.
The
very humble recipient was moved to tears by the announcement, but the
tears were no match for
her dazzling smile and gracious manner.
Dennis competed in the Miss Rodeo America Pageant in 1957 as Miss Rodeo
Idaho and returned to the pageant in 1977 to serve in a volunteer capacity
as a
contestant chaperone.
Over the years, she has become a much beloved team player among the 150 volunteers that produce the pageant annually. She was recognized two years ago for 25 years of service to the Miss Rodeo America Pageant.
Dennis,
a lifetime Caldwell resident, graduated from Boise State University with
a Master’s
degree in business administration. In 2000, she retired from the Boise
Independent School district, where she taught 3rd grade for
36 years.
In her retirement, Dennis still works with the school district administering
testing modules for the students and filling in as a substitute teacher.
Dennis has been married to Vernon Dennis for 45 years. They have one son, Stuart Dennis, a daughter-in-law Darla Dennis and grandsons Caelen, 6, and Gabriel, 3.
She has been a member of the First Christian Church in Caldwell for over 50 years, where she plays the piano and also is a member of the handbell choir.
BILL
HERVEY(1924- )
Many
of us would not recognize the person by the name his mom called him "Billie
Henry" we would know him as Mr. Wrangler himself or Mr. Bill
Hervey.
William Henry Hervey was born in Greenville, Texas in 1924. He
attended college prior to being sent by the Army to the European
Theater in
World War II where
he was part of Patton's Rainbow Division. Upon his honorable discharge
he completed his college studies in Textile Engineering at Texas
Tech
in Lubbock where he
graduated in 1949. It was at Texas Tech where he met his future wife Vera
Harber or, as we know her—Hoppe. They were married in 1947
in Vernon, Texas.
Mrs. Hervey told me that they met when she and some other girls were playing cards in their room and were told that some guys were there to play bridge with them. Mrs. Hervey saw right through that and told me she believed that he was just there to meet girls.
Mr. and Mrs. Hervey have 4 sons, 7 grandchildren, and 1 great grandson with another due in January 2005.
Mr. Hervey began working for Wrangler as a sales rep in Texas in 1957. In 1962 they relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina where he eventually become President of Wrangler Mens wear. In 1989 Mr. Hervey retired from Wrangler although to this day he maintains an office at Wrangler and still functions as a consultant to the company.
Mr. Hervey recognized that while the support and the patronage of the cowboys was important to Wrangler it was equally important to have the first lady of professional rodeo outfitted in Wranglers. Beginning with Vicki Vest Woodard, and Suzy Gillard Trahan, Miss Rodeo America's 1986 and 1987 Wrangler became a larger partner with the organization and featured Kelli Dilka Brandon in print ads the following year. This partnership was a win win for both as it increased Miss Rodeo America's exposure but also gave Wrangler young women wearing the women's line.
Mr. Hervey loves beautiful young women but he also wanted to make sure they were able to attain their educational dreams. Towards this goal he prompted Wrangler to give $30,000 to the Pageant in 1993. During this pageant these educational dollars were awarded to all contestants. By doing this the Pageant was able to begin building money that we now call the Scholarship Foundation.
Mr.
Hervey is a very valued and trusted member of this Foundation.
In their spare time Mr. and Mrs. Hervey enjoy spending time at their cabin
in Roaring Gap. He is an avid reader of mysteries and war history. He plays
tennis and I am told is very good at solving crossword puzzles. He is a long
time member of the Greensboro Kiwanis club. Mr. Hervey played in the band during
his school years and every year still goes to Sun Valley, Idaho to enjoy a
Dixieland Jazz fest.
It is with great honor that I introduce the first inductee to the Miss Rodeo America Hall of Fame. A man with vision, leadership and enthusiasm which in part has allowed the Miss Rodeo America program to grow and expand into the program we see today: Mr. Bill Hervey. —introduced by Deborah Dilley Palermo, Vice President MRA Scholarship Foundation, Inc. & NAC
ARLENE
KENSINGER(1930-
)
Arlene
gives new meaning to the word GENEROUS—as she has shared not
only her time, her talent and her health but also her financial donations
with the MRA Pageant. She is a very special person who has made a
difference to the organization and every individual who has known
her.
Arlene is just plain fun! She has been involved in trick riding and a Wild West Show in Europe. As a cosmetologist she operated her own salon and she has been "MOM" to hundreds of young girls through the Cheyenne Dandies Drill Team, a program that she founded.
For many years Arlene has been an integral part of the Pageant holding the office of President in 1997-98, leading by example and being an inspiration to every volunteer who has worked with her. Arlene is "level headed", gives the best advice and is a great listener. Since 1984 she has held the position of Chaperone and Schedule Coordinator for each Miss Rodeo America during the Pageant and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
In 1994 Arlene was the victim of a tragic water skiing accident and we almost lost her. But like a true, courageous cowgirl she was soon back in Las Vegas for that years MRA Pageant, back on a horse at the Cheyenne Frontier Day's Parade, and back to water skiing!! She and her husband, Don, helped sponsor and build the Blood Center that carries her name in Cheyenne, WY.
Then in 1997 Arlene lost Don, her best friend, supporter, and love of her life. But she was again equal to the challenge with an inner strength to remain an active and integral part of the many organizations, committees and business ventures she and Don once shared.
Arlene has dedicated years to gathering information and then organizing the six priceless scrapbooks that preserve 50 years of Miss Rodeo America Pageant history. These books are on display this week and they exemplify her relentless effort to support the Pageant. Like a "true servant" Arlene's passion is giving to, helping with and promoting the "girls", the participants, of the Pageant.
Arlene has been inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame and the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame. How fitting for her to be our FIRST LADY INDUCTEE to the Miss Rodeo America Hall of Fame.
Dear Friends, I present our Queen, our First Lady, our Inspiration: Arlene Kensinger. —introduced by Zona Vig, National Director from South Dakota
HALL
OF FAME MEMBERS
2007—Bob
Tallman
2007—Wendell
Hamilton
2006—Valena
Weick Dennis
2005—Bill
Hervey
2005—Arlene
Kensinger
