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Late announcer’s memory rides on at youth rodeo

 
By Bryan Painter | Published: July 14, 2009    Comment on this article Leave a comment


SHAWNEE — The voice was absent, but the memories were strong.

The bareback riding opened the International Finals Youth Rodeo on Monday void of the Western tones of Mark McGee.

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Death under investigation

On May 20, Stacy Sloan Whiteley swerved off the road and into Mark McGee’s lawn tractor as McGee was cutting the grass at his home near Valliant, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said. The mower was about 20 to 25 feet from the road when struck, said an investigating trooper. The 47-year-old McGee died from massive injuries. A trooper reported an odor of alcohol at the scene. The crash is under investigation, the McCurtain County district attorney’s office said.



Youth Rodeo


• WHO: About 900 contestants from

29 states.


• WHEN: Performances at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. daily through Friday; Finals at 2 p.m. Saturday.


• WHERE: Heart

of Oklahoma Exposition Center, 1700 W Independence, Shawnee.

The rodeo announcer had worked the microphone for each of the previous 16 years of the youth rodeo and was scheduled to handle the chores again this year.

But on May 20, McGee was struck by a pickup while mowing at his home near Valliant. The 47-year-old was thrown from the mower and died from massive injuries.

Still, McGee was not absent during the first performance Monday.

Mark Lynn McGee’s memory was alive in the International Finals Rodeo award buckle worn by his and wife Debra’s son, Colby, 16.

His memory was alive in the black ribbon worn over the heart of his cousin, Don McGee, who was chosen as one of two announcers for this year’s rodeo after Mark’s death.

And his memory was alive in the words that announcer Jim Pugh said as his head lowered, his jaw tightened and his fingers nervously rolled an ink pen: "Honesty and integrity, that was Mark. You could always, always depend on him.”

Never met a stranger
On Wednesday night, Mark McGee will be inducted posthumously into the International Finals Rodeo Hall of Fame. He had announced the rodeo all 16 years and had called the action at the International Finals Rodeo seven times.

But Don McGee said Mark wasn’t one to boast of titles and accomplishments, at least not his own.

"The best description I’ve heard of Mark is that he was a well-digger and that was from his pastor,” Don McGee said.

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Related Topics: Sports, Rodeo



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