ProRodeo Hall of Fame inducts Wyoming cowboy Bobby Harris

Colorado Springs, Colo. – The 2022 class was inducted on July 16 in ceremonies at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy. Each year, more than 100 individuals are nominated, but only a select few are inducted. Wyoming native Bobby Harris was honored to be a part of the induction ceremonies.  

Bobby qualified 18 times for the National Finals Rodeo in the team roping event. He also qualified for the National Finals Steer Roping in 1986-91, 1993 and 2016. In 1991, he was crowned the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Heeler Champion alongside Hall of Famer Tee Woolman. 

Accepting remarks 

Bobby noted many people asked him how he felt when he became aware of his acceptance into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.  

He shared, “In competition, we’re geared to win. It’s all about winning – preparing to win, but when I got this call, it’s a very humbling thing.” 

Since Bobby was a child, all he wanted to be was a cowboy. When he was 15 years old, his dad bought him his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) card. Many people asked why he wanted to compete at such a young age, and he would reply, “I’m ready.” 

Throughout his career he has been able to build and form many relationships throughout the rodeo community. 

Bobby said, “Relationships are everything.”  

At an early age, he started team roping and steer roping. Shortly after graduating from Gillette High School, he stayed with Dick and JD Yates and worked on his roping, he shared. 

During his acceptance speech, he expressed gratitude towards the Yates family, his family and his parents Nick Harris and the late Jayne Harris Voiles. His family also includes wife Colleen, daughter Kendall, stepdaughter Natalie, son Ray and stepsons Bailey and Brody, brother Brad and sister Charlene, but he gave special gratitude towards his dad. 

“My dad is everything,” he said. “You have rodeo heroes – my dad rode broncs, roped calves, tripped steers – I didn’t have to go very far to have a hero, he was right there every single time.”  

“One of the special things about this induction is, my family gets to be a part of it,” he said. 

“It’s an honor when you’re selected on other people’s thoughts. It’s really humbling to be included with the other Hall of Famers in ProRodeo,” said Bobby in a PRCA press release. “It means so much to me because the PRCA has been my whole life since I was a little boy. I always wanted to be a cowboy. To be able to be included in this hall of fame is just really humbling and very honorable.” 

2022 Class 

Several other cowboys, cowgirls, livestock and a rodeo committee were inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Class members were inducted by category. They include Trevor Brazile, all-around; Bobby Mote, bareback riding; Ardith Bruce, barrel racing; Rick Young, contract personnel; Jake Beutler, stock contractor; Mel Potter, notable; Cindy Rosser, notable; Medicine Woman, livestock, saddle bronc; Whiskey, livestock, steer wrestling; and Nebraska’s Big Rodeo, Burwell, Neb., rodeo committee. 

Brittany Gunn is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.