ProRodeo Hall of Fame

The ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy educates the public about rodeo, its history and impact on Western American culture, and provides recognition to rodeo notables of the past and present and serves as an inspiration for the future.

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Resources from ProRodeo Hall of Fame

Resource Kit

Becoming a Profession: Rodeo Becomes a Sport

While rodeo began on the plains of Kansas, Texas, and other western states in the 1880s, it took many years before it became a professional sport. In 1936, sixty-one cowboys joined together to fight for proper payment and representation. They were the first to speak out against the injustices practiced by rodeo producers. These men created a new organization for the cowboys and cowgirls for whom rodeo was becoming a career.

Created by: ProRodeo Hall of Fame

Photograph, Dick Griffith

Portrait of Dick Griffith. He is wearing a light-colored hat and a satin shirt.

ProRodeo Hall of Fame

Life Magazine

Cover of the October 22, 1951, issue of Life magazine. Features an image and cover story about rough stock rider Casey Tibbs.

ProRodeo Hall of Fame

Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association pin

Silver, oval pin with a screw back. On front of pin: Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Image of a horse and rider in the center.

ProRodeo Hall of Fame

Col. W.T. Johnson's World's Championship Rodeo

Typed agreement between producer William T. Johnson and contestant Everett Bowman. The agreement is for the 1936 Boston Garden Rodeo. The document outlines the rules for the performance. There is a specific paragraph at the bottom of the document with an agreement not to strike. It is signed at the lower right by Everett Bowman in pencil.

ProRodeo Hall of Fame

Cowboys Turtle Association 50th Anniversary

Dark wooden plaque with a silver buckle attached to the center. Etched plates are on the top and bottom. Scroll etching with a central ribbon on the top plate. In blue enamel letters in the ribbon: Donated by Gist, Inc. Scroll etching on the bottom plate with a central ribbon. In blue enamel letters in the ribbon: In behalf of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy. The central silver buckle is oval with button edging. In raised letters across the top: Cowboys Turtle Assn. In raised letters along the bottom: Pro Rodeo Cowboys Assn. At the center left is a raised image of a turtle. At the center right is a raised PRCA logo. Raised numbers in the center: 50th. A silver ribbon with blue enamel letters is below the number: Anniversary. Raised numbers above the 50: 1936. Raised numbers below the ribbon: 1986.

ProRodeo Hall of Fame

1936 Boston Garden Patch

Orange felt patch with a black elastic band across the back. Black felt numbers are attached to the front, 79. Black paint above the number reads Boston Garden. Black paint below the number reads 1936.

ProRodeo Hall of Fame

1936 Boston Garden Rodeo Program

Photograph of the front cover of the 1936 Boston Garden Rodeo program. The center picture is an image of Colonel William T. Johnson.

ProRodeo Hall of Fame

Cowboy's Turtle Association 1937

Group of men standing posed for the camera. Building at the left side of the frame. Trees across the background. Written along the bottom edge: Cowboy's Turtle Ass'n of America at Cheyenne Frontier Days, July, 1937.

ProRodeo Hall of Fame

Boston Garden Petition

Typed demands across the top of the paper with the date October 30, 1936. Sixty-one signatures are below the typed message. This is a copy of the original that was given to all of the members.

ProRodeo Hall of Fame

Dick Truitt

Portrait of a man wearing a light-colored hat, white shirt, and dark jacket.

ProRodeo Hall of Fame

Everett Bowman

Portrait of a man wearing a black cowboy hat, white shirt, dark jacket, and striped tie.

ProRodeo Hall of Fame

Everett Shaw

Portrait of a man wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, a white shirt, and dark tie.

ProRodeo Hall of Fame

The Formation of a Sport

Becoming a Profession: Rodeo Becomes a Sport

Follow the organization of individual rodeo contestants into a professional sport.

Created by: ProRodeo Hall of Fame

The United Cowboys Turtle Association

Becoming a Profession: Rodeo Becomes a Sport

Cowboys Turtle Association, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 1937.

Created by: ProRodeo Hall of Fame

Cowboy Strike

Becoming a Profession: Rodeo Becomes a Sport

At the 1936 Boston Garden Rodeo, 61 cowboys refused to participate in the rodeo because they were not going to be paid what they had been promised. Look at the Petition in the last activity and answer the questions below.

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Early Contestants

Becoming a Profession: Rodeo Becomes a Sport

Cowboy and Cowgirl Contestants at the 1936 Madison Square Garden Rodeo.

Created by: ProRodeo Hall of Fame

Cowboys Strike!

Becoming a Profession: Rodeo Becomes a Sport

Colonel William T. Johnson chose to offer less money to the contestants at the Boston Garden Rodeo than originally promised. Upset by this change, the contestants refused to participate in the Rodeo. The documents in the slide show document the strike by the contestants.

Created by: ProRodeo Hall of Fame

Petition from Cowboys to Colonel William T. Johnson

Becoming a Profession: Rodeo Becomes a Sport

The contestants at the 1936 Boston Garden Rodeo were upset about the low pay for their performances. They banded together by signing this petition. It was delivered to the producer of the rodeo by Richard (Dick) Truitt, Hugh Bennett, Herman Linder, and Richard (Dick) Griffith.

Created by: ProRodeo Hall of Fame

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