Gail Hughbanks Woerner
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September 26th, 2018

9/26/2018

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Brent Thurman Memorial Bull Riding 2018
The Last Ride

There was a hot time in Dripping Springs, Texas. last Friday and Saturday nights when the Brent Thurman Memorial Bull Riding was held at the Dripping Springs Ranch Park Event Center.  People came from all directions to attend this bittersweet, yet exciting event – it was STANDING ROOM ONLY!  
 
This was the 20thYear the Brent Thurman Memorial Bull Riding had been held.  This was to be the last one.  In addition to the Bull Riding, there was a Cowboy Reunion and Auction of Friday night with Jake Hooker and the outsiders.  On Saturday it began with an Exceptional Rodeo, from 5:30 to 6:30, sponsored by the Brent Thurman Foundation for ‘Brent’s Kids’.  The ‘kids’ could ride Bucky the Bull, rides horses, try roping, pet the ponies, and more.  After the bull riding was over, there was a dance featuring The People’s Choice Band.
 
The bull riding was exciting, with 40 riders from all across Texas and two from Brazil.  The bulls were provided by twelve different stock contractors, and were quite lively and ready to perform.  The introduction of the bull riders was done like the Professional Bull Riders do and feature them with lots of fireworks!  The announcer was Creed Roberts, the bullfighters were; Ace Lloyd, Todd Yarbrough, Winston Derby, Cody Patton and Chris Hammack.
 
Well known former bullfighter, barrelman and continuous funnyman, Leon Coffee, was featured, along with laugh-getter David Haffelder.  Leon put Brent on his first bull, when he was only 8 years old, told Brent’s mother, Kay Thurman.   Leon was not only a bullfighter but a long-time friend of the family.
 
Chance Lopez of Karnes City, TX won first; Ralph Benson of Atkins, TX won 2nd; Sterling Furr of Boerne, TX won 3rd; McKennon Wimberley of Stephenville, TX won 4th; and 5th place was won by Zack Miles of Gonzales, TX.
 
The stock was furnished by the following people; BP Cattle Company, Bailey Kays Bad Boys, Silent 7, Curry Creek, Shumaker, Murph and Donahoe, Shane Davis, Edward Martinez, JD Nix, Cooper/Skruggs, Covenant Rodeo and Shane Davis 2.
 
Brent was born March 3, 1969, and joined PRCA in 1988.  He was 5’9” and weighed 148 pounds. He was an up-and-coming bull rider from Dripping Springs, Texas. In 1993 Brent first qualified for the National Finals Rodeo, which meant he was one of the top fifteen bull riders in the country.  When the Finals ended after 10 go-rounds he was 6thin the World.  He placed in the National Finals in four go-rounds.  He won a second, a fourth, tied for third and fourth place, and in the 8thgo-round he tied for first and second with Mark Cain.  Brent made over $25,000 at the Nationals Finals that year.  His best payoff that year was Denver with a $4,901 total.  He finalized that year in PRCA with $69,465.
 
            Brent Thurman, age 25, made the National Finals, for the second time,  in 1994. Again he was one of the top fifteen bull riders in the world!  In the 10thand last round he drew Growney Brothers bull, Red Wolf, and was bucked off.  He received cranial and facial fractures.  He was wearing a protective vest, but unfortunately, the injuries were above it. Six days later, December 17th, he died of these injuries.  His death was the only one that has occurred at the National Finals Rodeo because of injuries sustained at the Finals in its fifty eight year history.
 
The Hill Country Sun, July/August issue, of a magazine from Dripping Springs had an article on Brent and said, “He’s known as a gentleman who never met a stranger, the guy who made you feel like you were his best friend.  The one you wanted to hang out with, who always had a grin on his face.  He was one of the good guys, and a hero to many. Brent Thurman is not be forgotten . . not ever.

His legacy as a compassionate and driven young man has left many treasured memories and a permanent reminder of what goodness and selflessness is all about.  Brent Thurman truly cared about and loved people and life beyond measure with real enthusiasm.  ‘He lived everyday of his life exactly like he wanted.  Brent lived more in 25 years than I could if I lived to be 100,’ says his mother, Kay.”

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September 05th, 2018

9/5/2018

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​A Whoppin’ Good Time Was Had By All!!

I can’t believe it is September already.  How time does fly when you are having fun.  Our Rodeo Clown Reunion this past summer was one we won’t soon forget.  The former rodeo clowns that attended were all ready to have a good time — and that we did.  Our sponsors and the Fort Worth Stockyards couldn’t have been nicer or done more for us. The temperatures were ranging above 100 degrees all three days and off and on we were always able to slip in the Coliseum and barrels of cold water was there for us.  But most of the time we were out with the crowds enjoying the western flavor of the historic Fort Worth Stockyards!

Forty-five laugh-getters and bull-baiters showed up.  Forty-four men and Dixie Reger Mosley, the only woman rodeo clown who did it for thirteen years, all had a great time.  The crowds during The National Day of the Cowboy were the greatest.  It was evident they came prepared to have fun.  The day started with different venues all over the Stockyards and Reunion-goers were here — there — and everywhere.  Cow milking contests – mustache contests – face painting — music!  Until . . . it was time for the parade.  Then all forty-four piled on two low trailers and followed the Texas Longhorn Herd down Exchange Blvd. past Main Street and back to Billy Bob’s Texas. 

After that, the Rodeo Clown Reunion laugh-getters got in front of the Coliseum and juggled, kidded with the audience, posed for hundreds of photos.  They even had a stick horse rodeo and challenged the children to run against celebrities in the audience.  A panel of rodeo clowns from Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, and New York were interviewed by the Announcer of the Rodeo about their lives and their unique professions as bullfighters, barrelmen and funnymen.  

We all chowed down on catered dinners in the Coliseum both Friday and Saturday evenings before the rodeo.  The food was sponsored by Riscky’s, and the fearless funnymen and their significant others raved about the food.  During the rodeo, our Reunion rascals put on a couple of acts for the audience both nights.  You see, although some have been away from the rodeo arena for a long, long, long time, they haven’t forgotten their timing nor their eagerness to entertain.  They all carried an abundance of red noses, in their pockets, to share with the children they met.

After the rodeo, most of the ‘older set’ went back to the hotel, La Quinta Inn & Suites, and either crashed or sat in the large lobby and visited and told stories of “the good old days.”  Up early and back in the lobby for a tasty breakfast the next morning, and more fun to be had.  Some of the younger (and I’m talking 50 and over) went to Billy Bob’s Texas for some dancing and more.  The comments the next day were ‘They’d never seen anything like it!”  How great is that?

We even had a Ladies Luncheon, which is held strictly for the ladies that accompany their former rodeo clowns to this venue.  After all, many of these ladies were the ones that had to stay at home with the children while the men worked rodeo to rodeo all over the place.  They were entertained by Devon Dawson, a Fort Worth western diva who has an amazing repertoire of western music, plus songs she has written, which were perfect for this group.  Also Teresa Burleson, the 2017 Lady Poet of Texas, recited some of her creations, to the delight of everyone there.

You see, this is an event that entices those former rodeo clowns that commit to come early and stay late.  Although it was a three-day event, some were there for six days.  It is so good to see friends from across this great nation that have a background of entertaining rodeo audiences and saving cowboys from harm or worse.  It is also a great time to meet new people, they might have heard about for years, but were at different rodeos across the nation and their paths never crossed - - until the Rodeo Clown Reunion.

Our sponsors were the greatest.  Some have been giving us gifts to give away for years.  We do appreciate their participation in our event.  Thanks to everyone that attended the reunion, those that came to the Fort Worth Stockyards for The National Day of the Cowboy, and those that we interacted with in some way while there.  Until the next one . . .  
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    Gail Hughbanks Woerner is one of rodeo's foremost historians, having written hundred of articles and six books on the subject. She has interviewed hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls,

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