Wyo cowboys inducted into Hall of Fame

Casper – Only in its second year, the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame (WCHF) brought hundreds of cowboy fans to the Casper Event Center on Sept. 27, where 53 deserving men and women from across the Cowboy State were honored for their lifetime endeavors.

WCHF co-founder Scotty Ratliff told the huge crowd gathered that, after hearing about another state’s similar enterprise, he asked, “How do you get into the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame?”

After learning Wyoming didn’t have one, he and friends set out to build it from the bottom up – both figuratively and literally. One of the WCHF’s missions is to find a brick and mortar home, and Sept. 27, silent and live auctions worked toward that goal.

“There’s a local committee in every county,” Ratliff said. “It can grow, but it’s going to take everybody in this room.”

Cowboys – some of these tough-as-nails men and women no longer alive – were honored with special plaques and a handshake from U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, who proclaimed their hard work and values made the Cowboy State what it is today.

“This is the Cowboy State,” Enzi said. “We have to recognize the cowboy. But Wyoming is the only state with its own code of ethics – and it’s the ‘Cowboy Code of Ethics.’ This is a tremendous heritage.”

Those 90 and older received Lifetime Achievement awards, and throughout the event, special guests Chuck Larson, emcee, and Pinedale’s Andy and Jim Nelson, of Cow Country radio infamy, auctioned off tack, jewelry and other special donations.

For many, the recognition brought proud and tearful moments, along with lots of hugs and handshakes. 

For a full list of 2015 Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame inductees, visit wyomingcowboyhalloffame.com.

Joy Ufford is a correspondent for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.