November 14, 2003
Sheila was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.
She shared this incredible honor with the following fellow inductees:
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GLENNA GOODACRE, NEW MEXICO A world renowned sculptor, Glenna's works include the Vietnam Women's Memorial in Washington DC, the Irish Memorial in Philadelphia, and Crossing the Prairie in Oklahoma City, which won the 2002 James Earl Fraser Sculpture Award. In 2003, she was awarded the prestigious Texas Medal of Arts. ANN SECREST HANSON, MONTANA One of the few women to ever work as a pick-up rider, Ann has lived a life of quiet dedication devoted to ranching and rodeo. In addition, she is a talented Western musician, an artist and an award-winning cowboy poet. VELDA TINDALL SMITH (1908-1990) TEXAS A classic cowgirl from the golden age of rodeo, Velda Tindall Smith's career began at the age of 12, learning to trick ride from Florence Hughes Randolph. She served as President of the Texas Barrel racing Association for 5 years and at the age of 54, went on to win grand champion barrel racer at the 1964 Dallas Fair. VAN ROMANS - RECIPIENT OF THE FERN SAWYER AWARD Currently an advisor to a variety of museums including the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, The National Constitution Center, the Museum of the Cherokee in North Carolina and the New Zealand National Museum, Van joined Walt Disney Imagineering in 1968. he continues to conceptualize new exhibits for the World Showcase pavilions at EPCOT Center. |
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THE ROTUNDA OF THE COWGIRL HALL OF FAME |
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GUESTS TO THE COWGIRL HALL OF FAME ARE GREETED BY THIS BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURE |
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THE INTERIOR OF THE COWGIRL HALL OF FAME |
November 13, 2004
Welcome Reception
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<----- SHEILA WITH FRIENDS
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| SHEILA AND CAROL ROSE -----------> (Yes Carol, she did wear her hat... See Sheila's Acceptance Speech below) |
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SHEILA WITH GOOD FRIEND AUDREY GRIFFIN
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LOUISE SERPA, INDUCTED INTO THE COWGIRL HALL OF FAME IN 2000 FOR HER 40 YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHING RODEOS. SHE HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS "THE ANSEL ADAMS OF THE SPORT". |
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NOVEMBER 14, 2003 |
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RED STEAGALL THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES INDUCTEE TO THE HALL OF GREAT WESTERNERS AT THE NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OK. AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED, MULTI TALENTED ENTERTAINER WITH 26 CONSECUTIVE RECORDINGS ON NATIONAL CHARTS AND CREDITED WITH OVER 200 SONGWRITING COMPOSITIONS
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LUCKY ATTENDEES OF THE INDUCTION LUNCHEON GATHER | |
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 FRIENDS OF SHEILA'S ATTEND THE BANQUET |
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SHEILA WITH GOOD FRIENDS DOUG AND SUE HERTHEL
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NOVEMBER 14, 2003 |
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As a little girl of eight
I was earnestly told by someone that didn't know any better “to be a real cowgirl I would have to fall off my horse three times”.
I took this very seriously ...Judy my first horse, a 16 h Morgan/Percheron bred mare...would thoughtfully scrape me off her big round back as she galloped under tree branches she knew were too low for the both of us, or throw me off as she shied at an imaginary murderer.... planting her front feet in the ground as if she had run head-long into a cement wall while she let her hind legs whip around sideways as I hurtled out into space. Since I accidentally fell off Judy often, I assumed the cowgirl requirement meant falling off three times a day, not just falling off three times. Consequently to be sure I would make it to the Cow Girl Hall of Fame I fell or threw myself off Judy at least three times everyday. I can't remember it hurting,... bouncing along in the gravel.... becoming a real cowgirl was the all consuming goal at the time.
So here I am these many years later no longer black and blue..... Surprised, awed and delighted to be in Fort Worth, Texas fulfilling an unspoken childhood dream. A forgotten dream as I grew up.
When I learned that in fact to my amazement, I was to be inducted into the Real Cow Girl Hall of Fame......that I was to join Glenna Goodacre, who I have admired immensely for 15 years and always wanted to meet, but never imagined I would... To stand beside Ann Hanson..... The lady that really has taken the bumps and bruises as a pick up rider.... and wishing I had the opportunity to meet Velda Smith when she was trick riding and barrel racing......
I must say I am quite overwhelmed. I think about Mary Latimer who came up with the idea of nominating me to the Cow Girl Hall of Fame, to my complete surprise... To Don Severa, my long-time friend and partner who jumped in to help make this wonderful award a possibility. He wrote to people I have known for so many years.... letting them know of my nomination and suggesting , if they would like to, write in their thoughts and where to write...., to my staff at Varian Arabians who compiled all the information about my years in the horse world that I had long ago forgotten. To all my wonderful friends that have trooped to Fort Worth, Texas to be a part of this weekend party... To the Cow Girl Hall of Fame staff who have guided me cheerfully through this whole process.
I thank you, each and every one. I am in Texas and so I am doing what Texans know how to do best....I am having a really great time!!!
And to Carol Rose who told me this last summer, as we sat on a bale of hay reminiscing about the old days, and talking about how this induction into the Hall of Fame would be the highlight of my life….. and Carol telling me to be sure and remember to wear my hat. This is a highlight Carol… and I did remember to wear my hat.
THANK YOU
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FELLOW HONOREES <------ ANN SECREST HANSON
GLENNA GOODACRE -----> ACCEPT THEIR HONORS |
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SHEILA SPORTS HER CEREMONIAL MEDALLION
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BILL AND KRISTIN REYNOLDS
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SHEILA WITH LINDY BURCH. LINDY WAS INDUCTED INTO THE COWGIRL HALL OF FAME IN 1997. SHE WAS THE FIRST WOMAN TO WIN THE NCHA FUTURITY AND THE FIRST FEMALE NCHA OPEN WORLD CHAMPION |
