Cowboys talk rodeo at Kilgore Lions Club
By LESTER MURRAY news2@kilgorenewsherald.com

Members of the Gladewater Rodeo (left to right) Randy Corley, Hugh Bowden and Mark Swingler. This was the 71st Annual Gladewater Rodeo.

There were a group of cowboys at the Kilgore Lions Club on Thursday with nothing but rodeo on their minds.

The 71st Annual Gladewater Rodeo, a non-profit organization raising money for various charities, was staged over the last four days.

Hugh Bowden, rodeo director, said this year's rodeo featured 47 more participants than last year. "We had 368 contestants this year," said Bowden.

Randy Corley, rodeo announcer, this year's format was a little different. Donnie Gay, Corley's co-announcer, could not be at the rodeo this year and Corley had to call it all by himself. "It is a lot different when you are used to having someone in the arena also giving commentary, but everything still went great and Donnie will be back next year."

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association started a new rodeo series, called the Heartland series, and the Gladewater Rodeo is in the top of that series said Corley. "Cowboys will be competing for a $500,000 prize at the end of that series," said Corley.

Mark Swingler, considered one of the top rodeo clown acts in the country, said he will be in Texas for the next few weeks and then on a tour of the country. "I am from Austin, so as long as I can stay in Texas I feel at home," said Swingler.

Bowden also touted the Rodeo Museum located directly across from the Post Office. "It will be open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the month of June," said Bowden.

In April, the Gladewater Rodeo was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame, Bowden said.

Travis Martin, Lions Club member, said Lions have been helping with the Gladewater Roedo for the past four years as a fundraiser for the club. The Lions help park cars for the event.