College Rodeo: From Show to Sport

Appendix H NIRA National Champions, 1949-2003

NIRA National Champions, – 273 appendix H NIRA National Champions, – 1949 Cow Palace, San Francisco, California, NIRA Invitational Finals, First NIRA Champions Men’s Team Sul Ross State College Alpine, Tex. Men’s All-Around Harley May Sul Ross State, Tex. Bareback Riding Harley May Sul Ross State, Tex. Saddle Bronc Dale Stiles U of Wyoming Bull Riding Harley May Sul Ross State, Tex. Calf Roping Eldon Dudley Oklahoma A&M Steer Wrestling Tom Hadley New Mex. A&M Wild Cow Milking Bob Sauke Montana State College 1950 Cow Palace, San Francisco, California, first NIRA championships based on points won during the year (1949) and finals rodeo points. Men’s Team Sul Ross State College Alpine, Tex. Men’s All-Around Harley May Sul Ross State, Tex. Bareback Riding James Mickler Hardin-Simmons U, Tex. Saddle Bronc Riding Harley May Sul Ross State, Tex. Bull Riding Harley May Sul Ross State, Tex. Calf Roping TuffyCooper U of New Mex. Steer Wrestling Bill Hogg Texas A&M Team Roping Earl Reynolds West Texas State 1951 Fort Worth, Texas, Will Rogers Coliseum NIRA championships were based on  points and  finals points. The  champions, from the NIRA newsletter, The Rigging, May , and corroboratedbythechampionsthemselves ,aredifferentfromthenationalrecords. Men’s Team Sul Ross State College Alpine, Tex. Men’s All-Around Harley May Sul Ross State, Tex. a p p e n d i x h 274 Women’s All-Around Jo Gregory Knox Sul Ross State, Tex. Bareback Riding James Mickler Hardin-Simmons U, Tex. Saddle Bronc Harley May Sul Ross State, Tex. Bull Riding Maxie Overstreet Texas A&M Calf Roping F. C. Stover New Mex. A&M Steer Wrestling Bill Guest Hardin-Simmons U, Tex. Ribbon Roping Roy Reynolds West Texas State College 1952 Portland, Oregon NIRA championships were based on points for three semesters (spring , fall , and spring 1952 rodeos) and the finals rodeo points. After this year, points won during the fall and spring semesters of each school year and the finals points were used. Men’s Team Sul Ross State College Alpine, Tex. Men’s All-Around Dick Barrett Oklahoma A&M Bareback Riding Dick Barrett Oklahoma A&M Saddle Bronc Riding Joe Chase Hardin-Simmons U, Tex. Bull Riding Johnny Ackel Sul Ross State, Tex. Calf Roping F. C. Stover New Mex. A&M Steer Wrestling Don Driggers New Mex. A&M Ribbon Roping Dick Barrett Oklahoma A&M 1953 Abilene, Texas, Hardin-Simmons University Men’s Team Hardin-Simmons U Abilene, Tex. Men’s All-Around Tex Martin Sul Ross State, Tex. Women’s All-Around Elisabeth Prude Longbotham Sul Ross State, Tex. Bareback Riding Dick Barrett Hardin-Simmons U, Tex. Saddle Bronc Riding Joe Chase Hardin-Simmons U, Tex. Bull Riding Ira Akers Sul Ross State, Tex. Calf Roping Sonny Sikes Sam Houston State, Tex. Steer Wrestling Don Fedderson Oklahoma A&M Ribbon Roping Sonny Sikes Sam Houston State, Tex. NIRA National Champions, – 275 1954 Lake Charles, Louisiana Men’s Team Colorado A&M Fort Collins, Colo. Men’s All-around Howard Harris U of Idaho Women’s All-around Becky Jo Smith Doom Hardin-Simmons U, Tex. Bareback Riding Bob Schild Colorado A&M Saddle Bronc Riding Bob Schild Colorado A&M Bull Riding Tex Martin Sul Ross State, Tex. Calf Roping Lee Cockrell Hardin-Simmons U, Tex. Steer Wrestling John Gee Colorado A&M Team Roping Bill Teague Hardin-Simmons U, Tex. Goat Tying Charlotte Martin Sul Ross State, Tex. 1955 Lake Charles, Louisiana Men’s Team Texas Tech Lubbock, Tex. Men’s All-Around Ira Akers Sam Houston State, Tex. Women’s All-Around Becky Jo Smith Doom Hardin-Simmons U, Tex. Bareback Riding Ira Akers Sam Houston State, Tex. Saddle Bronc Riding Ira Akers Sam Houston State, Tex. Bull Riding Ira Akers Sam Houston State, Tex. Calf Roping Sonny Sikes Sam Houston State, Tex. Steer Wrestling Gene Frazier Hardin-Simmons U, Tex. Team Roping Sonny Sikes Sam Houston State, Tex. Barrel Racing Kathlyn Younger Knox McNeese State, La. Goat Tying Becky Jo Smith Doom Hardin-Simmons U, Tex 1956 Colorado Springs, Colorado Men’s Team Sam Houston State Huntsville, Tex. Men’s All-Around Ira Akers Sam Houston State, Tex. Women’s All-Around Kathlyn Younger Knox Colorado A&M Bareback Riding Don Yates Colorado A&M Saddle Bronc Riding Ira Akers Sam Houston State, Tex. Bull Riding Ira Akers Sam Houston State, Tex. Calf Roping Don Meter Chadron State, Nebr. Steer Wrestling John Gee Colorado A&M Team Roping Monty Roberts Cal Poly-SLO Barrel Racing Kathlyn Younger Knox Colorado A&M Goat Tying Pat Dunigan Marr New Mex. A&M a p p e n d i x h 276 1957...