Parker County Texas Rodeo 79th Annual Frontier Days PRCA | Page 35

Bill Todd, Richard Williamson, Chuck Bradford, Kelly Joe Barnett, Joe Johnson, Jack Alexander, Bob Magee, Max Massengale, and Darrel Young.
1981 Holton Riddle, Capt.; Francis Nichols, Lieut.; Pat Hamilton, Sec./ Treas.; Bill Veselka, Corral Boss; Larry Nash, Wrangler; Beverly Nichols, Sweetheart. Built new Captain’ s box at Rodeo Arena; began work on an equipment shed; laid new carpet in caretaker’ s home; continued work on remodeling and enlarging clubhouse. New members elected: Dale Ballard, Robert Hardin, Joe Dunn.
1982 Kenneth Hamilton, Capt.; Leroy Schoonover, Lieut.; Pat Hamilton, Sec./ Treas.; Larry Peck, Corral Boss; Ernie B. Rutledge, Wrangler; Lisa Nash, Sweetheart. Hired a new caretaker, Mr. James McCann; completed construction of Director’ s meeting room; completed construction of new equipment shed; constructed new restrooms at Rodeo Arena; constructed a cover over the bandstand at the Rodeo Arena; installed air conditioners in clubhouse and caretaker’ s house; painted all buildings on Posse grounds and repainted all signs; and started construction of dance slab at Rodeo Arena. New members elected: Terry Johnson, Joe Bailey, Aaron Cox, John Westhoff, Jimmy Freeman, Craig Peacock, and Chuck Hamilton.
1983 Perry Mader, Capt.; Jerry Durant, Lieut.; Pat Hamilton, Sec./ Treas.; David Elders, Corral Boss; Mike Thomas, Wrangler; Laurie Elders, Sweetheart. Fencing improvements and arena projects were completed including the addition of the caretaker’ s box seats and a grand entry lane. A large concrete slab was built and the street dance was moved from College Park Shopping Center to the Posse Grounds. The Posse participated in several parades including the inaugural parade for Governor Mark White. New members for 1983: Wayne Bryant, Joe Ernst, Mac Smith, Melvin Dale.
1984 Jerry Durant, Capt.; R. L. Dugan, Lieut.; Pat Hamilton, Sec./ Treas.; Max Massengale, Corral Boss; David Nash, Wrangler; Rick Merritt, Rodeo Committee Chairman, Rissa Thomas, Sweetheart. Increased size of Livestock Show Barns, built lake and installed irrigation for arena. New members elected: Curtis Guess, Bill Pedigo, Kirk Martin, Blaine Peacock, Melvin Dale, Thomas Lackie, Monty Kemp, and also, Sam Nash and Walter Worthington re-joined.
1985 Mike Thomas, Capt.; Larry Peck, Lieut.; Pat Hamilton, Sec./ Treas.; Ernie Rutledge, Corral Boss; Terry Johnson, Wrangler; Brenda Gill, Sweetheart. Began replacement of old wooden bleachers with aluminum seats; built new fence on west side of Posse grounds; purchased longhorn steers and held weekly team ropings; began Ray Smyth Memorial Cutting with members donating cattle, held in place of Quarter Horse Show. Don Edwards entertained at the street dance and two nights after the rodeo; largest attendance and gate to date for rodeo. New members elected: Joe Ross, Avery“ Butch” Morris, Earl D. Fletcher, Bill Piatnitza, Tommy Thomas, and Cleatus Wright.
1986 Leroy Schoonover, Capt.; Dale Ballard, Lieut.; Pat Hamilton, Sec./ Treas.; Jerry Thomas, Corral Boss; Fred Thomas, Wrangler; Michelle Woodruff, Sweetheart. Installed new lighting system. Built restrooms at dance slab. Rebuilt new fence on southwest side of bull pen. Built new walkway on west end of bleachers at contestant area. The Posse participated in several Sesquicentennial Parades. Led the Texas Wagon Train into Fort Worth and the Lone Star Wagon Train out of
Weatherford. The Posse suffered a great loss at the death of three of its outstanding members, Andy Bowden, Ray Smyth, charter member of the Posse, a lifetime rancher of Aledo, Texas, and first president of NCHA, and D. E. Upton, owner and operator of Dorsey Grains. New members accepted into Posse in 1986 were Phillip Schutts, James Young, Earl Pope, and Jerry Wilhelm.
1987 Rick Merritt, Capt.; Ernie B. Rutledge, Lieut.; Terry Johnson, Sec./ Treas.; Harold Swain, Corral Boss; Melvin Dale, Wrangler; and Devonna Ballard, Sweetheart. In 1987, we rebuilt the ticket office to include a shed for our Stage Coach. We also finished the north side bleachers with aluminum and bought the aluminum for the south side. New members were Mark Binion, Bill Cooper, Tommy Newberry, Mike Paschal, Tim Riddle, and Earl Pope. A reunion of the past sweethearts was held with a number of the past sweethearts and Captains there. Many thanks to Donice Nichols, Beverly Nichols, Andra Riddle, and Devonna Ballard along with many others who helped with this.
1988 Noel Bryan, Capt.; Herbert Fowler, Lieut.; Martin Brown, Sec./ Treas.; Butch Morris, Corral Boss; Don Gill, Wrangler; Benny Peacock, Rodeo Chairman; Cindy Thomas, Sweetheart. In 1988, a water truck was purchased, painted, and lettered. An Inaugural Cutting Horse Show, a Barrel Racing Contest, and two Team Pennings were initiated and produced solely by the Posse. The ticket office was renovated and paneled, and new signs were painted. A project was introduced to sell signs for advertisement that lined the arena and chute gates. The seven events of the rodeo were sold to advertisers. The posse ground pens and stalls were painted, and the stagecoach was repainted and lettered. The south side bleacher’ s aluminum seats were installed, and the old porch on the clubhouse was replaced with a new concrete porch. The first team of Belgian horses were purchased. The Charter members of the Posse were introduced at the Rodeo and recognized with plaques. There were some new pre-Rodeo attractions such as“ Cloggers” and drill teams. The Posse attended the International Realtors Convention at Northside, and parades at San Angelo and Abilene and several surrounding towns. The Parker County Livestock Association built a new restroom facility. The Posse was saddened by the loss of several members- Edgar Bowden, J. T. Jones, Jack Pickard, and Bonna M. Taylor. New members were George Slaughter IV, R. D. Meyers III, Steve Rogers, Billy Cain, Bob Muir, Jim Calhoun Jr., and Brookes Worthington.
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