RMR July 2011 Article - NSPRA Hall of Fame 2011 Inductees

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National Senior Pro Rodeo Association

2011 Hall of Fame Inductees

July 2011 issue

The NSPRA inducted five horsepeople into the Hall of Fame Thursday, June 30, 2011 at the Ravalli County Museum in Hamilton , Montana .

Reta Burnett Birkhead grew up on her family’s Polled Hereford stock farm in Hobbs , Texas . She and her husband, E.P. Birkhead, Jr, a calf roper, own Birkhead Feed Store in Midland , Texas .

Reta was a primary school teacher for 33 years, and was a supervisor for student teachers at the University of Texas Permian Basin. She began Ribbon Roping at age 45 in Forth Worth, placing third in her first event. That changed her life. Reta was NSPRA Ribbon Roping Director from 1994 through 2000.

Mario Ciucci began working at 11 years old on a 1,000-acre cattle ranch in Thornton , California . In 1961, at age 19, he joined the California Cowboys Association and began his passion of Bareback Bronc riding. In 1969, Mario joined the Rodeo Cowboys Association (now known as the PRCA) while managing a 2,500 head cattle ranch. By 1971 he was running a bucking horse riding school with John Hawkins. Horse trainer Pat Parelli graduated in one class.

Mario has won numerous Bareback Riding Championships including the National Senior Finals Average Winner in 2003, National Finals Average Winner 1996, and was second in World Standings in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.

Canadian cowboy Bob Williamson joined the Cliff Claggett’s traveling rodeo in 1954 and rode broncs, steers, bulls, and outrode and drove both regular and pony chuckwagon races. It was there he met and married Faye Claggett, and they rodeoed together for many years. Bob retired from rough stock in 1960, bought a rope horse and began teaching many others, including sons Cliff and Tim — who are now top competitors — and their children, to love the sport.

Bob was instrumental in beginning the Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo Association, and served on local rodeo boards and committees. He continued to compete in calf roping, team roping, and, along with Faye, in Ribbon Roping, until his accidental death in 1997.

Paula Jo McLean is the daughter of RCA members Gerald and Patsy Davis of Newcastle , Wyoming , and was raised on ranches working cows. She competed in high school and college rodeos in goat-tying, barrel racing and breakaway roping, and showed horses in 4-H. Beginning in 1980, she campaigned an APHA stallion, Bar O Top Sail, on the show circuit in Texas and Oklahoma to his Championship, with numerous ROMs.

Paula married Canadian Kenny McLean in 1987 and soon began to compete with him in Senior Rodeo. They also put on rodeos. By 2000, they had moved to Montana , and rodeoed full-time. Paula was Reserve Champion in Barrels and Ribbon Roping for several years. In 2002, she won World Champion Barrel Racer, Ribbon Runner and All-Around, and the Canadian Barrel Racing Championship. Sadly, her husband, friend and coach, Kenny, died that year. In 2005 Paula again won World Champion Barrel Racer on her Paint mare, Last Wish, who had been raised by her and Kenny, and trained by Kenny.

Ron McNare as born in 1955 in Douglas , Wyoming and has lived there ever since. Although not a competitor, Ron has been involved with the NSPRA for the last 15 years with the Douglas Senior Pro Rodeo committee, and has also been involved in the Wyoming State High School Finals Rodeo for the last ten years. Ron is very dedicated and active in producing the Senior Pro Rodeo in Douglas . He is community-oriented and appreciates the benefits NSPRA brings to Douglas , which is one of the more outstanding rodeos on the tour.

The National Senior Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame is housed in the Ravalli County Museum in Hamilton , MT. It is open during the museum’s regular hours. For more information, call 406-363-3338; or visit

www.brvhsmuseum.org.

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