Gladewater Round-Up inducted in hall of fame

The Gladewater Round-Up is slated to be inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame April 11 and 12. The ceremonies will be held at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton.

In 1938, after months of informal discussions about a "big annual event" for the citizens of Gladewater that could attract and host people from across East Texas, the Gladewater Chamber of Commerce developed the Gladewater Round-Up Association.

Two men, Jack Yates and Murray Sells, are given credit for getting the organization off the ground. Yates was a local businessman dealing in pipe and supply and loved the sport of rodeo. He had helped organize rodeos in France during World War I. Sells was an oil operator and enthusiastic horseman that raised purebred and gaited horses.

The first official Gladewater Round- Up Rodeo was held May 21, 1938, which included a rodeo and a horse and dairy show. Later the events would be separated due to the length of the production and rodeo became the focus. The first Gladewater Round-Up almost became the last Gladewater Round-Up due to bad weather and finishing in the red. A group of citizens came together and underwrote the debt and the event became continued and grew into Gladewater's largest event.

Each year the Gladewater Round-Up attracts the top cowboys and cowgirls in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and includes all of the standard PRCA events, plus a calf scramble and mutton bustin', which features local FFA and 4-H kids competing for scholarship money.

Gladewater has featured some of the biggest stars in rodeo over the years including the cowboys, cowgirls and bucking stock. On June 9, 1971, Gladewater made rodeo history when John Qunitana rode the notorious V-61, owned by Billy Minick. Quintana scored what at the time was the highest marked ride in the history of rodeo with 94 points and it was also the first time V-61 was successfully ridden in what was reported to be 466 attempts.

The Gladewater Round-Up arena sits on twenty acres of prime land with the original arena being a part of an earthen oil pit dating back to Gladewater's oil days. The oil pit is now gone and an all aluminum arena was constructed in 2003 at a cost of $1 million and a seating capacity for 5,000 spectators. The Gladewater Round-Up has been nominated as one of the top five medium size outdoor rodeos by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

There are 31 individuals scheduled to be inducted along with the Gladewater rodeo committee. Some of the inductees will include world champion cowboys Sid Steiner and Byron Walker. Rodeo fans are encouraged to attend the event and tickets are $25 for Friday and $20. A combination ticket is available for $40 and association members can purchase tickets at a reduced rate. Reservations can be made by calling 972-841-9083.

The Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame honors men and women who were prominent in the world of rodeo and made a significant impact on the sport. The TRCHF is working to build a museum and Hall of Fame in Belton to preserve the history of rodeo. The organization has been honoring cowboys and cowgirls since the 1970s.

Membership in the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame is open to the public and Hall of Fame nominees for 2009 are currently being accepted. For membership, nomination or donor information call 254- 797-0140 or visit the Hall of Fame website at www.trchf.com.