ProRodeo Hall of Fame inducts TheraPlate Ambassador Charmayne James into 2017 Class, WPRA Included for First Time
Colorado Springs, CO (August 24, 2017) —The first Saturday of August in 2017, August 5, went down in the history books of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) as the day their members were inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame for the first time.
Highlighting WPRA’s inaugural class was 11-time world champion Charmayne James along with 32-time world champion Wanda Bush and a joint PRCA/WPRA equine inductee Star Plaudit “Red”. The ladies joined Randy Corley, a 12-time PRCA Announcer of the Year, and five world champions that help make-up the historic 12-member 2017 induction class.
Corley, along with gold buckle winners including the late Buck Rutherford (all-around, 1954), Enoch Walker (saddle bronc riding, 1960), Tommy Puryear (steer wrestling, 1974), Mike Beers (team roping, 1984) and Cody Custer (bull riding, 1992), were enshrined with rodeo notable Bob Ragsdale, a 22-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier in three events. Also inducted into the Hall were four-time bareback horse of the year, Christensen Bros.’ Smith & Velvet, and the committee for the Ogden (Utah) Pioneer Days.
James may have had to wait 22 years to join her legendary horse, Scamper, in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, but was ecstatic to be a part of this historic class. “I finally get to join him (Scamper), and that’s emotional,” said James, who now makes her home in Boerne, Texas. “Today is really a big deal, not only for me, my family, but I think for all the barrel racers of the WPRA. I couldn’t be more proud and humbled to be one of the first inductees as one of the barrel racers.”
James, who grew up in Clayton, N.M., the home of the very first barrel racing National Finals Rodeo in 1959, won the first of 10 consecutive world titles at the youthful age of 14 in 1984.
James was the first WPRA member to wear the coveted No. 1 back number in 1987, and became the first barrel racer to cross the $1 million mark in career earnings. In addition to the 10 consecutive world titles (1984-1993), James and Scamper won the NFR average title six times (1984, 1986-87, 1989-90 and 1993). In 1996, Scamper became the first and only barrel horse (until 2017) to be inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
James would add a cherry on top of her illustrious career, returning to the top of the sport aboard Cruiser (Cruisin on Six) in 2002, winning her 11th world title and seventh NFR average title.
“My mom traveled a million miles with me and my whole family sacrificed, so this induction is not just about me, but also your family and friends,” James said. “The horses along the way, I couldn’t have been here without the great horses. Obviously, Scamper was a godsend. This is just like icing on the cake getting up here today and accepting this honor.”
With the 2017 class, the ProRodeo Hall of Fame now has enshrined 259 people, 33 animals and 28 rodeo committees.
The WPRA, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., provides opportunities for women across the United States and Canada to compete in the timed events of barrel racing, team roping, breakaway roping, and tie-down roping, and is the oldest women’s sports organization in the country. The Association started in 1948 with 38 Texas ranch women banding together to create the very first professional sports association created solely for women by women – the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA). The GRA began with 74 original members with 60 approved contests with a total payout of $29,000. In 1981, the GRA changed its name to the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA). Today, it is a computerized association with more than 3,000 members, over 1,200 events and payouts totaling over $4.8 million. For more information on the WPRA and a list of events visit www.wpra.com.
TheraPlate Revolution applauds the honor for James and is thrilled to have her on the company’s team of outstanding ambassadors. TheraPlate Revolution offers therapy platforms with a wealth of benefits for both horses and their human teammates. To learn more about how the innovative TheraPlate can improve horses’ health, or to arrange a no-obligation demo, visit www.theraplate.com or call toll-free (800) 920-3685 or direct (817) 629-5171.
