ANNOUNCING THE 2020 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Due to COVID, the awards will be presented to these worthy inductees in 2021.

Contestant: Todd Boggust

(1964–2001)

His 12 CFR steer wrestling (SW) qualifications and five NFR SW qualifications speak for themselves where Todd is concerned. The cowboy from Paynton, Sask., was an outstanding steer wrestler and an ambassador of the event, and was liked by absolutely everyone.

Todd won the Canadian Steer Wrestling Championship title in 1995 and the $50,000 at Calgary Stampede in 1996.

Sadly, we lost Todd in August 2001 to cancer.

He was awarded the CPRA Douglas Lake Ranch “Cowboy of the Year” in 2001 posthumously.

Many of today’s steer wrestling competitors credit Todd with much of their success, stating, “He was there influencing me when I got started.”

Todd was a rancher and a cowboy at heart. For these reasons and more, we recognize and welcome Todd Boggust to his rightful seat in the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.

Contestant: Robert Bowers

Raised in Fort St John, B.C., Robert Bowers personified both toughness and hard luck in his rodeo career.

This amazing cowboy first made his mark on the rodeo scene in 1993 when he won the CPRA Permit Award. Then based in Brooks, Alta., Robert earned eight rough stock CFR qualifications: four in bull riding (1997, 1998, 2002, 2004) and four in bareback riding (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003). He earned three bull riding NFR qualifications (1997–1999) and two PBR World Finals qualifications. In 2004, he won $85,677 bull riding at the Calgary Stampede.

This dual-event cowboy is also famous for riding and winning with either hand and is one of the few men in history to qualify for the PBR World Finals, Wrangler NFR and the CFR.

Robert won his Canadian Bull Riding title in 1997 and later was the 2002 High Point Champion.

Known as a world-class competitor, this decorated individual is a humble cowboy who has inspired many young rough stock riders. We’re privileged to induct Robert as one of our 2020 Class into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.

Contestant: Guy Shapka

Guy Shapka of Alix, Alta., has a list of accomplishments as long as a bronc rein. His rodeo career in saddle bronc riding spanned from 1974 through 2002, with 17 CFR qualifications and three NFR qualifications.

He was crowned the Canadian Novice Saddle Bronc Champion in 1982, and National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Saddle Bronc Champion in 1983. He was named the Rookie of the Year in both the CPRA and PRCA in 1984. Guy went on to win the Canadian Saddle Bronc Championship in 1987. In both the 1988 and 2002 Olympics he represented Canada. Guy was the season leader in 1995 and the CFR Saddle Bronc Average winner in 2000. Named CPRA Cowboy of the Year in 2002, Guy retired after his final ride at the CFR that year.

For these accomplishments and so many more, Guy has earned his seat in the Hall of Fame.

Builder: Dallas Mackie

A name synonymous with the Cranbrook Pro Rodeo, in 1987, Dallas Mackie was a founding member of the Cranbrook Pro Rodeo committee.

For many years, that rodeo board was one of the few all-women committees in the world. Dallas’ love of horses and rodeo comes straight down the line from her father, Fred Bradford. Today, over 34 years of commitment and dedication as a volunteer is something few can list as an accomplishment in the rodeo arena. In 2005, Dallas was voted as the CPRA Committee Person of the Year and is worthy of the Builder accolade for many reasons.

This well-regarded horsewoman and her late husband, Ron, spent a lifetime breeding Quarter Horses and Paints.

We proudly honour Dallas Mackie as one of our 2020 class of inductees into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.

Animal: RTR Little Willy a.k.a. "Willy"

Born in 1986, this phenomenal, recordsetting Quarter Horse goes back to the Thoroughbred racehorse, War Admiral on his dam’s side. (War Admiral was the fourth winner of the American Triple Crown and Horse of the Year in 1937, and the rival of Seabiscuit in the ‘Match Race of the Century’ in 1938.)

Owned by Greg Cassidy, Willy has earned well over $3 million and carried four cowboys to World Steer Wrestling titles in Las Vegas: Rope Myers (2001), Lee Graves (2005), Jason Miller (2007) and Luke Branquinho (2008). He also earned six Canadian Steer Wrestling titles for competitors Greg Cassidy (2000), Curtis Cassidy (2006), Lee Graves (2003, 2005) Cody Cassidy (2008, 2009), plus a 2002 Olympic Gold medal with Myers..

In 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 he was voted as the CPRA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year. In 2004, he earned second place in the voting for the AQHA-PRCA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year, and in 2008 he was voted the AQHA-PRCA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year. Willy was retired following the 2010 Wrangler NFR.

Quite possibly one of the most decorated animals in Canadian rodeo history, Willy is a very worthy addition to the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. c