Thompson, Jim

A three-time South Dakota Sportscaster of the Year, the 1965 Sturgis High grad was well-known nationally for his pro rodeo announcing. Thompson has been selected to announce every major rodeo finals in the country: PRCA National Finals, Circuit Finals, Indian National Finals, College Nationals, High School National Finals and Senior Pro. He started announcing rodeos […]

Tibbs, Casey

Casey Tibbs: Born March 5, 1929 near Fort Pierre. Perhaps the most famous rodeo competitor of all time, Tibbs was to rodeo what Babe Ruth was to baseball. A 28-foot tall bronze statue of Tibbs riding the famed bucking horse Necktie was dedicated outside the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs in 1989. […]

Tierney, Paul

Paul Tierney is one of the best cowboys to come out of South Dakota after breaking into the sport in 1977. Tierney was born in Kearney, Nebraska in 1952 and earned a business degree in Rapid City. It didn’t take long for Tierney to make an impact in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). He […]

Reeves, Tom

1981 Cheyenne-Eagle Butte High School graduate who studied Rodeo Business at Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Member of the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. The 2001 World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider and 18-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier (consecutive from 1985-2002). The year Reeves won in 2001 he was one of five South Dakotans (Billy Etbauer of […]

Scherr, Bill

Born July 27, 1961 in Eureka. 1980 Mobridge HS grad. 1984 Nebraska grad. One of the few Olympic medalists that South Dakota has produced, Scherr earned a bronze medal at 220 pounds in freestyle wrestling at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. He was the world champion at 198 pounds in 1985 but […]

Johnson, Clint

A 1974 Spearfish High grad, Johnson dominated the saddle bronc riding competition on the pro rodeo circuit in the 1980s. He was the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world saddle bronc champion four times – in 1980 and 1987-89 – and he was runner-up in 1983, 1985 and 1986. He started his pro rodeo career in […]

Garnier, Oliver

The Pine Ridge man was picked as the outstanding baseball player in South Dakota for the 1900s by the Argus Leader during the state’s centennial in 1989. Garnier had his best years in the late 1920s, when major league teams expressed an interest in him. In all, he played 51 seasons of town team baseball, […]

Garrnett, Marvin

A four-time world bareback champion, the Belle Fourche native was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1998. The 5-foot-7, 150-pounder won bareback titles in 1988, ’89, ’94 and ’95 and narrowly missed a fifth title, being edged out on the last ride at the 1996 National Finals Rodeo by brother Mark. Marvin […]

Goff Newcombe, Mattie

A lifelong South Dakota rancher from Meade County, Mattie Goff was born Dec. 21, 1899, at Tepee Creek south of White Owl. She was educated at the Tepee Creek School. Goff Newcombe, who died July 26, 2005, used her love of horses to become a pioneer for women in rodeo in the 1920s. Goff Newcombe […]

Etbauer, Billy

The middle of three brothers who grew up in Ree Heights and went on to star on the pro rodeo circuit, Etbauer was a five-time world champion saddle bronc rider. The Miller High grad competed on the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit for parts of four decades. Etbauer qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in […]