Trenton rodeo pioneer to be inducted into hall of fame

Thursday, September 8, 2011
Roy Lewis will be inducted into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Rodeo Hall of Fame during ceremonies Sept. 23 and 24 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Courtesy photo)

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma -- The Trenton, Nebraska, cowboy and professional roper who brought the sport of rodeo to Trenton will be inducted into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Rodeo Hall of Fame during ceremonies Sept. 23 and 24.

The Rodeo Historical Society will induct the late Roy Lewis, five other cowboys and one cowgirl into the Rodeo Hall of Fame during the 2011 "Rodeo Weekend" at the museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Roy Lewis was a charter member of the Cowboy Turtle Association, which was the beginning of professional rodeo in America. He is being recognized by the Rodeo Historical Society for his expertise in roping -- calf, steer and team roping.

Bullet, a sorrel gelding once owned by Roy Lewis and his brother Roland "Pat" Lewis, was inducted into the ProRodeo Horses Hall of Fame in 1979. (Courtesy photo)

Lewis started roping professionally in 1932 -- he was 18 years old -- and in 1937, he placed second in the world championship of calf roping. Two years later, he won the calf roping world championship. Many of his calf and team roping records held for many years.

In 1953, Lewis and his wife, Dessie, moved from New Mexico to Hitchcock County, where he ranched and helped organize rodeos throughout Southwest Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado. In 1969, he produced the first rodeo in Trenton.

Roy Lewis competed in ropings and rodeos until he was 70 years old. He died on June 6, 2003, at his home south of Trenton. He was 89 years old.

Lewis' horse, Bullet, was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Horses Hall of Fame in 1979. The horses' Hall of Fame (prorodeohorses.com) provides this information about Bullet: " ... sired by noted Quarter Horse Jack McCue, may have begun his rodeo career as a tie-down roping mount in the 1930s, but he achieved his fame as a steer roping horse. Roy and Pat (Roy's brother, Roland "Pat" Lewis) Lewis sold the 1,000-pound sorrel gelding to veteran roper Bob Crosby. In 1941, Ike Rude capitalized on his own skill and Bullet's quickness and strength to win the world steer roping championship. The following year, King Merritt rode Bullet to the world title. Bullet continued to perform consistently, winning two more world titles in 1947 and 1953 with Rude in the saddle."

Roger Lewis of Trenton, Roy's son, told the Hitchcock County News newspaper that the family started the process of nominating Roy for the Rodeo Hall of Fame 4 1/2 years ago.

Pam Minick, president of the Rodeo Historical Society, said, "Induction into the Rodeo Hall of Fame is one of the top honors to be bestowed upon a rodeo cowboy or performer." Inductees are chosen annually by a vote of the Society membership.

Inductees for 2011 include Shawn Davis, Nevada, saddle bronc riding; Martha Josey, Texas, barrel racing; Sonny Linger, Montana, saddle bronc, bareback, steer wrestling and bull riding; and Lyle Sankey, saddle bronc, bareback and bull riding.

Posthumous inductees are Lewis, calf roping, steer roping and team roping; Albert "Bobbie" Christensen, Oregon, calf roping, team roping and stock contracting; Don Happy, California, bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling and pick-up man; and "Directors' Choice," Col. W. T. Johnson, Texas, rodeo producer.

The "Ben Johnson Memorial Award" will go to Wal Garrison of Texas; and the Tad Lucas Memorial Award to Kendra Santos of California. The PRCA World Champion All-Around World Cowboy award will go to Lewis Field of Utah.


The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum is America's premier institution of western history, art and culture.

Founded in 1955, the museum in Oklahoma City collects, preserves and exhibits an internationally-renowned collection of western art and artifacts while sponsoring educational programs and scholarly research to stimulate interest in the enduring legacy of the American West.

More than 10 million visitors from around the world have sought out this museum to gain better understanding of the American West.

Chuck Schroeder, formerly of Palisade, Nebraska, is president of the museum.

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