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IGRA Hall of Fame
Inductees sorted by year of induction and last name
First posted Jul 26, 2011
Last update Nov-20-2022
The IGRA Hall of Fame honors individuals who have provided for the development and growth of gay rodeo, or who have accrued an outstanding record or achieved a prominent position in the sport.
IGRA Hall Of Fame Standing Rule
Nomination form     PDF     Microsoft Word

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029


  • Andy Anaya
  • John Beck
  • Al Bell
  • Candy Bell
  • Clarence Bates
  • Roger Bergmann
  • Chuck Browning
  • Tommy Channel
  • Linn Copeland
  • Wade Earp
  • Erin Eaton
  • Frank Elam Jr.
  • Linda Frazier
  • Bryn Geerdes
  • Mitch Gill
  • Amy Griffin
  • Doug Graff
  • Frank Harrell
  • Brian Helander
  • David Hill
  • Jerry Hubbard
  • Dan Iversen
  • Wayne Jakino
  • James Jenkins
  • Rick Jones
  • Bobbie St. Jeor
  • Ron Jesser
  • John King
  • Lee Kittleson
  • Les Krambeal
  • Charley Lanier
  • Laura Lee Laykasek
  • Michael Lentz
  • Tamara Marks
  • Jeanne McLeod
  • Cindy McCormick
  • Sande Miller
  • Trenda Monnahan
  • Jack Morgan
  • Judy Munson
  • Sharon (Casey) Norman
  • Greg Olson
  • Bob Pimentel
  • David Pizzuti
  • Guy Puglisi
  • Candy Pratt
  • Phil Ragsdale
  • David Renier
  • Brian Rogers
  • Lewis Sanders
  • Tim Smith
  • Dennis Terrell
  • Patrick Terry
  • Ron Trusley
  • Murmur Tuckness
  • Jeannine Tuttle
  • Tony Valdez
  • Jonny Van Orman
  • Michael Vrooman
  • Dee Zuspann
  • 2022 Inductees

    Frank Elam, Jr.

    Growing up in Dallas, he did not have a lot of exposure to the rodeo lifestyle, but when he attended the Roundup Saloon in Dallas, he got to know several members of the TGRA. In late 1989, Frank joined up initially as a volunteer at the local rodeo. Soon thereafter the contestant bug got him and he started doing camp events, chute dogging and calf roping on foot.

    More about Frank

    James Jenkins

    James H. Jenkins Jr. was born in Miami, Florida where he spent his childhood years between the city life of Miami and country life on the family "Hobby" farm in central Florida. During those years James' love of horses and the country lifestyle began.

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    Rick Jones

    Rick began his adventure with IGRA in 1990, when a friend suggested that they attend the Great Plains Region Rodeo (GPRR) in Oklahoma City (OKC). A gay rodeo?

    More about Rick

    Trenda Monnahan

    In 1990, Trenda became a member of the Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA). While riding bulls during her second year of WPRA competition, Trenda's head was stepped on, breaking her jaw. Sadly, this proved to be a WPRA career ending injury.

    More about Trenda

    Michael Vrooman

    One of the earliest memories Michael Roy Vrooman Jr. recalls is seeing his sister on horseback with his father. He thought, as any child might, "If my dad is a cowboy, then I must be one too!"

    More about Michael

    Dee Zuspann

    Dee joined the Kansas Gay Rodeo Association (KGRA) in the late 80's with Linn Copeland being the big driving force for Dee to become involved with KGRA.

    More about Dee

    2019 Inductees

    Doug Graff

    In 1992, Doug quickly learned it was easier to meet men if you could dance. Luckily a guy took pity on Doug and taught him to two-step one Sunday afternoon at the Round-Up Saloon. Doug's next assignment was in Cupertino, California where he discovered another country bar and more cowboys... He also met an International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) contestant who Doug believed needed extra special attention.

    More about Doug

    Guy Puglisi

    Guy became a member of the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association in March 2000 immediately after his first exposure to the sport of gay rodeo, which was at the Road Runner Regional Rodeo in Phoenix, AZ in January 2000. Since then, he has served on the NGRA Board of Directors

    More about Guy

    David Renier

    David heard about the gay rodeo from a friend but was too young to enter, so he waited until he was 21. His first rodeo was in Los Angeles in 1985 and he entered the barrel racing event, where he finished in the top 10. That was the beginning of many more years of traveling the United States with his friends.

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    Tim Smith

    Tim joined the Texas Gay Rodeo Association in 1987, and rapidly became involved in many areas of the association. In 1988, intent on running as a candidate for Miss TGRA 1989, he created the character Tessy. The characters of De Shannon (Mitch Gill) and Chili Pepper (Tony Valdez) were created at that time as well.

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    Anthony Valdez

    After the cancellation of the 1988 IGRA Finals Rodeo in Reno, Tony knew that he had to do his part to make our rodeo history a legacy for the future of all of us. His dear friend, the late Gerald Ford, a former IGRA President, taught him how our involvement in our community would shape our history and help to grow our organization, and to be involved with a cause that was so much bigger than all of us.

    More about Anthony

    Jonny Van Orman

    Jonny became involved in gay rodeo where she loved riding her horse. There was one point where she did do bull riding but decided that was not for her and began barrel racing with her horses that she loved.

    More about Jonny

    2018 Inductees

    Frank Harrell

    Back in the 1980's Frank had subscribed to Drummer and Honcho magazines. In one of the 1995 issues, he found an advertisement for Roundup Magazine which he immediately subscribed to. The first issue he received, June 1995, had the listing for the Gay Rodeos for next year. This was the first time Frank had heard of the gay rodeos.

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    Dan Iversen

    Dan started his gay rodeo years both in the arena, and in the meeting rooms, as well as being involved in outside related groups. A Founding Member of AGRA in 1984, he was also the AZ Fundraising and PR Director in 1986-87, and would be the Vice President by 1988. He was IGRA Rodeo Rules Committee Vice-Chairperson and Chairperson starting in 1987 and continuing on for a number of years through 1994.

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    Jeanne McLeod

    Jeanne McLeod has loved TGRA/IGRA since her first rodeo as a spectator in 1988. She joined the action the following year as a member and ran for Miss TGRA in 1990. She won the title in 1991. Since 1990 she has served in numerous TGRA administrative roles both in San Antonio and Austin on the chapter and state level. She served as TGRA President for 5 years.

    More about Jeanne

    Jack Morgan

    Jack was introduced to gay rodeo in the late 1980's by Jerry Cunningham - who is like a brother to Jack - when Jack and Jerry were young and pretty, they actually modelled together for several years. Jack's initial volunteer experience was at RMRR 6, 30 years ago! Jack has been a member of CGRA ever since.

    More about Jack

    2017 Inductees

    Tommy Channel

    Tommy Channel was born in Cushing, Texas; a very small town about 2 hours east of Dallas. Tommy moved to Denver in the summer of 1985, and quickly found "Charlie's Bar," Wayne Jakino (Charlie's Manager and IGRA Founding President), and Tommy's significant other, David Hill. That was 32 years ago and Tommy is still in Denver with David. During the early years with CGRA Tommy had a horse named Sassy, and he has a few buckles that she helped him win.

    More about Tommy

    Laura Laykasek

    Laura Lee Laykasek

    In 1981, Laura moved to San Antonio, Texas where she made her living as a carpenter. Her adult rodeo career began two years later when Laura met Judy Gayle, the owner of "Our Place Bar" of San Antonio. A group discussion was being held in the bar about forming the Texas Gay Rodeo Association (TGRA), and Laura became involved.

    More about Laura Lee

    Tamara Marks

    Tamara Marks has always been a country girl at heart. Born in Ohio, she lived on a small acreage where she learned to ride bareback on Bridget, her pony. During her 20-year venture with IGRA, Tamara participated in 124 rodeos, 16 World Gay Rodeo Finals, and 9 IGRA conventions. She competed and won ribbons in calf roping on foot, and buckled in the Wild Drag Race, both of which earned her invitations to compete in IGRA's World Gay Rodeo Finals.

    More about Tamara

    Judy Munson

    Judy Munson was born and raised in San Diego, California, along with two older brothers, because her Dad was in the U.S.Navy. Judy met Lori, her partner of 36 years, in Calgary in 1981. Judy's first introduction to competition was due to Kim Dawson, an International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) Arena Director, who was looking for a female to compete with two cowboys. Kim told Judy: "All you have to do is hold a rope on this itty bitty calf, and when it comes out of the chute you hand the rope to your cowboy and you're done.

    More about Judy

    2016 Inductees

    Andy Anaya

    Andy Anaya

    Andy Anaya was born in 1962, and grew up in Tucson, Arizona. While in High School in Tucson, Andy excelled at team roping and with his partner, won the High School National finals in 1980. Andy's first IGRA rodeo was the 1992 Road Runner Regional Rodeo. Andy earned 490 points and came in Third Place for All-Around Cowboy, behind his Life Partner, Greg Olson, who earned 610 points, and his Team Roping partner, Dennis Terrell, who earned 500 points.

    More about Andy

    Amy Griffin

    Amy Griffin

    Amy was born in Jackson, Michigan on November 14, 1960. After spending two years unsuccessfully prodding Amy to join them in competing a pair of well-meaning, but duplicitous friends, Mark Marshall and Bill Pederson, signed her up for a Golden State Gay Rodeo Association membership, and as their Wild Drag Race partner for the "L.A. Rodeo" in 1993. Having never seen any of the IGRA rodeo events, she was skeptical, and a bit frightened.

    More about Amy

    Dennis Terrell

    Dennis Terrell

    Dennis was born in Tyler, Texas in 1961, and grew up in a town close by called New Day, Texas. Dennis' first IGRA rodeo was the 1992 Road Runner Regional Rodeo. Dennis earned 500 points and came in Second Place for All-Around Cowboy, behind Greg Olson, who earned 610 points. Dennis competed in all 12 IGRA rodeos that year, including the IGRA World Gay Rodeo Finals in Phoenix. He was the All-Around Cowboy at eight of those rodeos.

    More about Dennis

    Murmur Tuckness

    Murmur Tuckness

    Mary Myrle Tuckness was born in 1955 in Del Rio, Texas. Her parents, Robert and Mary Lee Tuckness moved their family to the San Angelo area in the late 1960's. As a spectator, she attended her first gay rodeo in Denver in 1983. After checking it out and watching to learn, she and a few friends traveled to compete in Denver's third Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo. She competed in bronc riding, bull riding, steer riding, chute dogging and wild cow milking.

    More about Murmur

    2015 Inductees

    Clarence Bates

    Clarence Bates

    Not much is known about Clarence. He owned a small ranch near Kingfisher, Oklahoma, where he operated the Bar B Rodeo Company. Clarence was the stock contractor who provided livestock for the first rodeo, and many follow-up rodeos in: Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Chicago, Little Rock, Colorado Springs, Detroit, Billings, Omaha, and Albuquerque. Clarence was murdered on December 1, 1999

    More about Clarence

    Wade Earp

    Wade Earp

    Wade Wayne Earp is a paradox. He is one of the toughest competitors you will never want to face, and he is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. Wade is often described as having a heart "as big as Texas!" He has volunteered countless years of his time to making the rodeo and all his other beneficiaries the very best they can be.

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    Les Krambeal

    Les Krambeal

    While growing up, Les' primary interests were his horses and 4-H. His grandmother nurtured his love of horses, and he began competing in horse shows at the age of three. Over the years, he became both a local and state champion. In the summer, Les would go for long trail rides, and he also participated in many cattle drives riding his favorite horse, Penny.

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    Lewis Sanders

    Lewis Sanders

    Lewis Sanders comes from a long family history of rodeo. Lewis' grandfathers, great grandfathers, and many great uncles were some of the pioneers of rodeo in Arizona and New Mexico, dating back to the late 1880's. As he was growing up, Lewis attended rodeos whenever he could and always yearned to be the 'cowboy' his granddad was. He loved riding horses, but was never a great rodeo competitor.

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    2014 Inductees

    Jerry Hubbard

    Jerry Hubbard

    Jerry Hubbard was born in Fort Stockton, Texas. At the age of 12 he began riding horses and competing in 4H gymkhanas. Jerry continued to compete in Horse Speed Events at rodeos throughout his high school years. Jerry was always there to help other contestants get set on their bucking animal. After twenty years working for Texaco Oil, Jerry took an early retirement package in 1992 and went to school to learn horseshoeing.

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    Cincy McCormick

    Cindy McCormick

    Cindy McCormick was already a Charter Member of the Golden State Gay Rodeo Association (GSGRA) when the first Los Angeles gay rodeo was just in its planning stages. When rodeo weekend arrived, Cindy was ready to compete - except in the rough stock events. Acording to the archived rodeo score sheets from 1985 through 2000, Cindy never competed in a rough stock event!

    More about Cindy

    David Pizzuti

    David Pizzuti

    At the age of five, this Hall of Fame inductee went to the circus with his family, and on the way home told his Mother: "When I grow up I want to be a clown!" At the age of 21, The first documentation of David performing as a rodeo clown was at the first "Bay Area Rodeo" which was held in Hayward, California in September 1988.

    More about David

    Brian Rogers

    Brian Rogers

    In 1992 the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association (NGRA) was formed in the state where the first gay rodeo had been held, two decades before. Informed by his Texas/Oklahoma upbringing and committed to the celebration and preservation of the gay country and western lifestyle, Brian joined NGRA in 1996 and has been an active member on the NGRA Rodeo Planning Committee ever since then.

    More about Brian

    Ron Trusley

    Ron Trusley

    Ron was never athletic and was very shy. He was not an out-going person and is still shy. Ron was a founding member of the Desert Valley Squares - a square dance group in Phoenix. When the Arizona Gay Rodeo Association (AGRA) was started, the "Midnite Ramblers" was a square dance group within the rodeo association. He was voted in as a member of this square dance group and quickly became "hooked" on rodeo.

    More about Ron

    2013 Inductees

    Linda Frazier

    Linda Frazier

    Linda's initial exposure to gay rodeo was a fundraiser behind the old R & R Brass Rail bar in Wichita. Linda had never seen clogging before and she thought it was something she really wanted to do. Linda's first performance outside of Wichita was three months after joining the Kansas Rockin' "R" Cloggers, at the first Great Plains Regional Rodeo in Oklahoma City in August 1986.

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    Mitch Gill

    Mitch Gill

    Mitch became involved in many organizations, but his real loves were the International Imperial Court System (IICS), and the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA). Mitch held many titles in both organizations, and served as a role model for hundreds.

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    Lee Kittleson

    Lee Kittleson

    The star of the gay rodeo circuit galloped through Manhattan streets in an attempt to raise funds for AIDS research. Lee Kittleson saddled up his horse at Madison Square Garden and weaved through the busy traffic on Eighth Avenue to hold a news conference at Central Park

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    Jeannine Tuttle

    Jeannine Tuttle

    At age seven, Jeannine's family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where her love of horses began...riding her aunt's horse and her neighbor's horses every chance she got. When she was 13, Jeannine talked her Grandfather into buying her, her first horse. He was a 14 month old Quarter-Pony. Jeannine broke and trained him herself and then started competing in play days and 4-H rodeos.

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    2012 Inductees

    Brian Helander

    Brian Helander

    "I enjoyed every minute of my term as IGRA President, despite the sometimes difficult task of leading an organization of 26 Member Associations with about 5000 individual members, all with diverse viewpoints. I think I only lost 3 or 4 friends, but always tried to see the bigger picture and the greatest good. I brought my best independent thinking to my job as President."

    More about Brian

    Michael Lentz

    Michael Lentz

    Michael's interest in country/western dancing, love of the cowboy scene, excitement for the thrill of rodeo competition, and desire to share these experiences with others made him one of the pioneers who first brought gay rodeo "east of the Mississippi".

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    Patrick Terry

    Patrick Terry

    Patrick's unwavering support and dedication has helped make the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) and many of the Member Associations and their rodeos what they are today.

    More about Patrick

    2011 Inductees

    C

    Erin Eaton

    In November 1984 Texas hosted its first gay rodeo near Houston. When Erin arrived she knew she had to get involved somehow, so she worked as a Secretarial volunteer. The "Rodeo Bug" bit Erin hard at that first rodeo. Throughout her 20 year rodeo career, Erin worked in many positions from Chute coordinator to arena director across the IGRA circuit.

    More about Erin

    Bob Pimental

    Bob Pimentel

    Bob Pimentel has been a leader in gay IGRA rodeo for years. Bob was born in Redwood City, California just south of San Francisco. Bob started with gay rodeo in 1984 and continues to today. He has always maintained a personal commitment to gay rodeo, the western life style, and various AIDS/HIV related causes.

    More about Bob

    2010 Inductees

    Bryn Geerdes

    Bryn Geerdes

    All Bryn ever wanted to be was a cowgirl. And so she was! At age 2, wearing her brother's cowboy hat and boots, she would ride a wooden bench for a horse with a mop for a tail.

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    David Hill

    David Hill

    David was born in March 1954 in Alaska - which at that time, was still a territory. His parents, originally from Wyoming, moved to Alaska to seek work on the Alaska railroad. In 1955, they returned to Wyoming where he grew up.

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    2009 Inductees

    John Beck

    John Beck

    John started riding on a black & white rocking horse that his dad made. He then received his first pony on Christmas Day, 1954. When he was in the 5th grade, his family moved to O'Neill, Nebraska where he joined the local 4-H club and started showing cattle and horses.

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    Charley Lanier

    Charley Lanier

    If he were thrifty, kind, and reverent, Charley Lanier could be the consummate Boy Scout, but fortunately for TGRA and IGRA, he channeled his dedication and talents to our organizations instead.

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    Candy Pratt

    Candy Pratt

    Candy Pratt was born in Dallas and grew up in Irving, Texas. She became the owner of her first horse when she was 8 years old. With intense practice and dedication, her horsemanship skills earned her hundreds of trophies, plaques, and other awards.

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    2008 Inductees

    Chuck Browning

    Chuck Browning

    Chuck Browning was born in Casper, Wyoming where he was exposed to the ranch and rodeo lifestyle. He moved to Phoenix after graduating college and it was there that he was first introduced to IGRA in 1989. It would soon become apparent that rodeo was in his blood and a passion in his life.

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    Bobbie St. Jeor

    Bobbie became involved with gay rodeo when the Springfield Chapter of the Missouri Gay Rodeo Association was formed in 1991.

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    Ron Jesser

    Ron Jesser

    Ron was one of the Fathers of Gay Rodeo. He was instrumental in forming the original framework of IGRA and in the development of the first IGRA Rodeo Rules.

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    2007 Inductees

    Roger Bergman

    Roger Bergmann

    Roger believes his greatest achievement was when he was elected President of the IGRA where he served from 1993 through 1995. He has great pride in the friendships he made during those years, and the accomplishments that were made by IGRA and all of the Member Associations.

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    Sharon (Casey) Norman

    Casey is a spirited, inquisitive and a fearless individual. Her love of animals, ranching chores and rodeo, while growing up on the family ranch, started her rodeo career. In 1961, when she was told she couldn't ride a buffalo, her response was "Put him in the chute." Casey won the Little Britches Rodeo that year.

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    2006 Inductees

    No photo available

    Al Bell

    Al Bell left his legacy in the city of Long Beach with his country western flair. He and his, then partner, Pat McGrath opened a bar for those of us wanting country music, down home comfort and a place to plant our dancing boots. Floyd's was the place to be for many years. You would be able to walk into the friendliest bar in Southern California.

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    No photo available

    Candy Bell

    Candy participated in rodeos for 10 years and won over 100 buckles, including 13 international championships. She finished her competitive career in 2001 in the same way she had started, by winning the steer riding buckle at the Phoenix rodeo.

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    Phil Ragsdale

    Phil Ragsdale

    In Reno in 1975, Phil came up with the idea of an amateur rodeo as a fundraiser. He thought it would be a "kick" and although Phil passed away in 1991, he surely would be amazed to see how that dream has evolved thirty years later. Following is some of the story from the history of gay rodeo and IGRA:

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    2005 Inductees

    Linn Copeland

    Linn Copeland

    As a founding member of KGRA, Linn was instrumental in getting the organization up and running and Kansas was seated at the second IGRA convention in 1986, along with Missouri and New Mexico.

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    John King

    John King

    John King, along with Wayne Jakino, Al Bell, and Terry Clark were IGRA's "Fantastic Four". They blazed a trail for all of us to follow, at a time when gay and rodeo were not fashionable.

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    Sande Miller

    Sande Miller

    Sande Miller joined the International Gay Rodeo Association in 1987. She was inspirational in changing the level of competition, raising the bar throughout and encouraging other female contestants.

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    2004 Inductees

    Wayne Jakino

    Wayne Jakino

    Once upon a time, there was a man with a vision. This vision came about because a drag queen (or so they were called at the time) bumped into this man at the National Reno Gay Rodeo in 1981.

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    Greg Olson

    Greg Olson

    When one thinks of gay rodeo, many dynamic competitors come to mind. Among fans of gay rodeo, a trademark polka dot shirt looms large even today. This gentleman, and he truly was a gentleman, was the epitome of sportsmanship both inside and outside the arena.

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