McSpadden is state's living legend of rodeo

By Ed Godfrey

Published: July 31, 2007

Editor's note: This story was originally published in The Oklahoman on Tuesday July 31, 2007.

Now that legendary bull rider Jim Shoulders has passed away, who is Oklahoma's living legend in rodeo?

The Oklahoman put that question to a dozen longtime rodeo observers in the state. Most of them agreed that no one can match Shoulders' achievements in the arena.

"No one comes close now that Jim is gone,” said Robert Simpson, director of events at the Lazy E Arena near Guthrie.

But if you consider a living legend in rodeo beyond the tougher-in-nails Oklahoma cowboys who have to eat the dirt of the arena floor on occasion, the answer is almost unanimous. It is veteran rodeo announcer Clem McSpadden of Chelsea.

"Clem is a living legend if there is one,” said 36-year rodeo announcer Lynn Phillips of Enid. "There is no doubt about it. Clem is as big as Jim Shoulders was. Even in Canada, they know who Clem McSpadden is.”

Simpson concurs.

"Clem has been involved in pro rodeo for more than 60 years,” Simpson said. "He served as the general manager of the National Finals Rodeo for years.

"He is a member of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. He is one of the most well-respected rodeo personalities in the world. He has seen and done it all for many years. He is as big as anyone in pro rodeo.”

McSpadden, 81, also was the choice of Elsie Frost, mother of world champion bull rider Lane Frost, who was killed 18 years ago this month at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.

Frost said under McSpadden's leadership, the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City became the Super Bowl of the sport.

Oklahoma City had the National Finals Rodeo from 1962 to 1984 before Las Vegas lured it away. Phillips said today's cowboys owe a lot to McSpadden for turning the NFR and professional rodeo into a big-time event with big-time riches.

"The National Finals Rodeo really grew legs and started to walk at the fairgrounds under his tutelage,” Phillips said of McSpadden. .

"You won't find anybody in the sport of rodeo, in any place, that doesn't know who Clem McSpadden is.”

Kelly Corbin of Pawhuska, a longtime Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association judge, is another who taps McSpadden as Oklahoma's living legend.

"As far as contributions to the sport and longevity, it would be Clem McSpadden,” Corbin said. "He would be at the top of my list. Now if you are talking about competitors, that would be a little harder to pick.”

In fact, it was harder to pick. There was no consensus among those interviewed by The Oklahoman when it comes to selecting a single rodeo cowboy as Oklahoma's living legend:

• Bulldogger Roy Duvall of Checotah qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City and Las Vegas 21 consecutive years.

• Guy Allen is the most dominant steer roper of all time with 18 world championships and 30 consecutive years in the National Finals Steer Roping. But he was born in Louisiana and lived in Vinita for only a short time. Is he an Okie?

• The same is true for legendary calf and steer roper Roy Cooper, who was born in New Mexico and once lived in Durant, but has spent much of his career as a Texas cowboy.

• Current rodeo cowboy Billy Etbauer of Edmond has five world titles in saddle bronc riding, but originally is from South Dakota.

Among that elite group, Simpson gives Etbauer a nod ahead of the 64-year-old Duvall as Oklahoma's living legend of rodeo cowboys.

"Ranking Etbauer ahead of Duvall simply comes down to championships won (Duvall won three world titles),” he said. "Billy has dominated in a more competitive era. Roy did change the sport. You could make an argument along those lines alone.”

Stock contractor Bennie Beutler of Elk City votes for Duvall.

"He went to the national finals more than anybody ever went.” Beutler said. "Duvall set all kinds of records when he was in bulldogging. He would be my pick.”

Corbin also selects Duvall because of the toughness needed to be a world-class steer wrestler and his longevity.

"He was in his 60s and still competing,” Corbin said. "As physical as that sport is and to be competitive when you are 60? That's a pretty good accomplishment.”

Chuck Schroeder, executive director of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, said if Cooper is considered an Oklahoman, it would have to be him.

"Eight-time world champion, and he had a tremendous impact on the sport of rodeo,” Schroeder said of the now Decatur, Texas, cowboy. "He certainly is a legendary figure.”

But if not Cooper, Tom Ferguson of Miami has to be a living legend in Oklahoma, Schroeder said. Ferguson won six all-around, two steer wrestling and one calf roping world championships.

"He sure is a guy that absolutely dominated the calf roping and steer wrestling when he was in his prime,” Schroeder said.

Frost thinks Elk City bull rider Justin McBride may not be a living legend yet, but he will be. McBride has won one world championship on the Professional Bull Riding tour and is leading the race this season.

Others receiving votes included roper Mike Johnson of Henryetta, who has a record 20 appearances in the NFR in tie-down roping; four-time world bulldogging champion Ote Berry of Checotah; three-time world champion steer roper Clark McEntire of Kiowa (Reba's dad); four-time steer roping and three-time all-around champion Shoat Webster of Lenapah; and two-time bull riding champion Terry Don West of Henryetta.

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