TRCHF tips its hat to 17 cowboys, cowgirls at induction ceremony

By JULIET BRISKIN | Staff writer

2004 Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame inductees include (back row, from left) Monty "Hawkeye" Henson, Dr. Charles Graham and Kenna Boultinghouse for Mack Yates (deceased); Ed Cole; Billy "Red" Rogers; Billy Willis; T M "Smitty" Smith; Leon Coffee; Mike Greene for Keith Greene (deceased); David Elms; (front row, from left) Bill Humphrey for Paul Humphrey (deceased); M H Henry; Maxine Hill and Alford Hill for Cecil Alford Hill (deceased); LaTonne Sewalt; and Genevieve Hauff Weyer. Not pictured are Willie Thomas and John and Mildred Farris. Photo courtesy of Dudley Barker.

Feb. 26, 2004 -- For the past 29 years the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame (TRCHF) has been recognizing the outstanding athletes, announcers, producers and support personnel that define the sport of rodeo. On Feb. 14 the TRCHF tipped its hat to 17 cowboys and cowgirls that have excelled in one of the most dangerous and demanding sports of our time.

The 2004 TRCHF induction ceremony was held at the Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center in Temple, and not even a rare Central Texas snowstorm could keep the crowds away.

Dan Willis of Ross and Tom Hadley of Mason, both 1997 inductees, served as Masters of Ceremony, and Charlie Throckmorton, well-known rodeo announcer, amused the crowd with tales from the inductees' rodeo days.

"We come together today to honor these men and women," said Willis in his opening remarks. "You can sift through them with a fine tooth comb and you'll find that each inductee is an achiever above and beyond expectation."

Blanco native and famed rodeo clown, bullfighter, and barrelman, Leon Coffee, was the first to be honored. Known as "the Boogie Man," Coffee has delighted crowds and helped protect contesting cowboys for over 30 years. He has been chosen to work the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA)

National Finals Rodeo (NFR) six times, was named PRCA Clown of the year in 1983, and has appeared in such motion pictures as "8 Seconds" and "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys."

"I wouldn't trade what I've done for a million dollars," said Coffee when asked about his career.

In addition to entertaining children of all ages in the rodeo arena, he is a regular visitor at children's hospitals across the country. "I'm an old-timer now, but for all these year's I've been a kid," explained Coffee. "For all the kids I go visit, maybe one of these days they'll be here and I'll give them the award."

Monty "Hawkeye" Henson thrilled rodeo audiences around the world for over 25 years with his flying dismounts and trademark feather in his hat. The three-time World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider and PRCA Hall of Fame member qualified 14 years in a row for the NFR, won the NFR saddle bronc riding average four times and now adds the TRCHF to his list of accomplishments.

"When I was a kid all I wanted to do was to be able to go to Cheyenne one time," said Henson. "I feel like the luckiest man in the world because very few people get to live out their dreams. I feel so fortunate to be one of the honorees here today. Thank you all."

Henson's rodeo career ended in 1991 when he was thrown from a horse into the chutes, breaking his neck. Turning a near-tragic event into triumph, the singing cowboy has an album to his credit as well as television and movie appearances.

Willie Thomas began his rodeo career in 1948 and once went three years without getting bucked off a bull. His skills in the rodeo arena earned him a place in the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum's Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2003 and the TRCHF in 2004.

"A lot of people will agree with me," said Willis. "Willie Thomas is one of the greatest bull riders that ever lived."

The TRCHF, originally the Central Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, was founded by Johnny Boren of Belton in 1975 to showcase outstanding rodeo athletes and preserve their history for future generations. Although Boren passed away in September 2003, the TRCHF continues with its mission and is currently raising funds for a permanent home. Until then, the inductee plaques and rodeo memorabilia can be viewed at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton.