In the Early Years category, which is contributing prior to 1940 is KING MERRITT.
Merritt was born in 1894 at Calhoun, Georgia. In his late teens, he moved to Wyoming where he raised his family on a quarter horse and cattle ranch. Many of the horses he raised became famous rodeo horses. He and his wife, Marie, raised a large rodeo family. All three sons, Hyde, Dean & Cotton were super ropers and won many titles. His daughters, Sis, Ramona & Ginger competed in the events of roping and racing their horses. King became a rodeo contestant in 1920 and continued until right before his death in 1952. He was one of the greatest of all ropers.
King traveled by train to his first Pendleton Round Up in 1925. He attended every Round Up thereafter until 1951. He won the Steer Roping Championship in 1925 and 1935. In 1936 he won the Calf Roping Championship. His family said the Pendleton Round Up was his favorite rodeo.
The 2010 Inductee to the Round Up & Happy Canyon Hall of Fame in the Rodeo Contestant category is ROY “SUPER LOOPER” COOPER.
Cooper was born November 13, 1955 at Hobbs, New Mexico. He leads a rodeo roping family of three sons, Clint, Clif & Tuf and step-daughter, Shada, who is married to the World All Around Champion, Trevor Brazile.
Roy is regarded as one of the greatest ropers in history. In three decades, he broke every roping record in the books. He claimed eight world titles in calf roping, steer roping and All Around categories. In 1983 Cooper claimed the sport’s “Triple Crown” by winning World Titles in the All Around, Steer Roping and the Calf Roping events.
Roy roped at Pendleton his entire roping career. He liked Pendleton because he could rope calves and steers the same day. While competing in the Pendleton Round Up, he won the Calf Roping Championship in 1978 and then in 1982 & 1984 he won All Around Championship.
The 2010 Inductee to the Pendleton Round Up & Happy Canyon Hall of Fame in the Round Up Volunteer category is TOM CURRIN.
Currin was born in 1940 to George & Helen Currin at Pendleton, Oregon. He resided most of his life on the family owned ranch on Little Butter Creek. There he ranched with his brother, Ron, raising cattle, wheat and hay. He also flew several airplanes on the side, doing crop dusting and counting & tracking collared animals. He has been very active in the Community of Heppner, serving on boards & committees. His family consists of wife, Marlene, son, Jeff, and his stepson, Ryan and his wife Julie. He retired from the ranch in 2007, but not from his volunteering.
Tom has been an active volunteer at the Happy Canyon Show and the Pendleton Round Up since 1962. This year he is being honored for his 47 years as a volunteer for the Pendleton Round Up. He has worked on the stretcher crew, fence crew, untying crew and for 31 years has worked on the bucking chute crew. Tom is a valuable volunteer. With his experience, he knows what to do and does it. His contribution helps make the Round Up run smoothly.
A Special Honoree in 2010 inducted into The Hall of Fame is V.W. “MAC” McCORMACK.
Mac was born in 1895 in Buffalo, New York. He and his wife, Edith had one daughter, Dorothy. He came to Pendleton in 1939 and established McCormack Construction Company. He was very active in the Community. He built many famous sites, but also served on the City Council, President of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Round Up Board of Directors.
Mac and his Company saved the Pendleton Round Up in 1940. On August 15, 1940, during a baseball game in the Round Up Stadium, a huge fire broke out and destroyed the grandstands and valuable equipment stored under them. Mac pledged his Company would replace the grandstand with no profit to his Company and started immediately without knowing if he would receive any funds for materials and workers. A crew of 70 men worked night and day for 23 days to build a 3,000 seat concrete grandstand. The 30th Pendleton Round Up went on as scheduled thanks to the efforts of Mac McCormack and his crew.
Category: Features, News & Updates, People & Volunteers
