NMWHM - Key Persons
Aldrich Lynn Everett was born July 6, 1941, in Webster, Florida, to Willie James and Willie Mae (Mitchell) Everett. Aldrich aka "Al" has 6 sisters and 6 brothers with him being the eighth born of thirteen children. Al attended Mills High Elementary for both primary and secondary education. At the age of 8 years Al and his brothers would wake in the early morning hours at daybreak to work on the farm prior to attending school. Al sometimes walked, rode horses, rode the tractor, or caught the school bus to school. After school Al would walk, ride a horse, ride the tractor, or catch the bus to work on the farm with his father Willie James Everett. Once Al arrived on the farm he would work with the cattle (i.e.: spraying, feeding, lassoing, branding or share taking) planting, transplanting, stripping cane, irrigating the plants or whatever needed to be done.
Billy Minick was born in Fort Worth, Texas, where he developed an interest in horses and rodeo at an early age, working in the Fort Worth Stockyards. As a rodeo competitor, he was the Texas State High School Rodeo All-Around Champion and attended McNeese State University on a rodeo scholarship. He progressed to the professional ranks and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in Bull Riding.
Following his competitive years former High School and Intercollegiate champion bull rider Billy Minick produced rodeos, including the Fort Worth Stock Show, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and San Antonio Rodeo. He took his rodeo production and entertainment knowledge to The World's Largest Honky Tonk, Billy Bob's Texas. He and his wife Pam are part owners of this landmark in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. He was the recipient of the Ben Johnson award at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, as well as the Darrell K. Royal Patron Award from the Texas Heritage Songwriter's Association.
Cornelious "Paul" Cleveland was born August 15. 1935, to Henry & Maie Clark Cleveland in Sealy, Texas. He was the 10th child of 11 siblings He attended Sealy Elementary and Austing County High School. Paul's father was a sharecropper and ranch foreman. They worked together at the Sill Strauss Ranch in Sealy. Paul's older brochure, James Cleveland purchased his first horse named "Spike" and a Holestein calf for roping and tying. Ready for his first rodeo, his sister Alberta Green purchased his first cowboy outfit.
Paul, Barbara (wife), James and Alberta, built horse trailer out of a metal frame and plywood to transport the horse to the rodeos. Alberta used the bedspread from her bed and made a covering for the top of the trailer. His brother Tilohphus Cleveland of San Antonio, Texas, also known as "Chicken", gave him another horse by the name of Pebbles, another rope and horse trailer so he could further his rodeo career. Chicken told Paul "If you're going to rodeo, you need your own horse and equipment", andthat started it all.
In 1964 , a gentlemen by the name of Robert Dunston of Federal Warehouse had Paul train a horse by the name of Uvalde King also known as "Valde". He sponsored Paul in his first RCA rodeo event now known as Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association. The rodeo was held at he Houston Coliseum now known as the Houston Hoppy Center for Performing Arts. The first performance Paul and Valdie placed a 3rd in the Calf Tie-Down Roping event and the second performance the light from a camera upset the calf and caused Paul and Valde to have a bad run. In 1965 , Paul was introduced to Napoleon Allen who owned a paint horse named "Stardust". Paul trained Stardust for tie-down roping and in March of 1966, Mr. Allen entered Stardust and Paul in the Paint Horse Registered Calf Roping Event held at the Houston's Astrodome Stadium. This was the first Calf Roping Event held at the Houston Astrodome Stadium. This was the first year of the Houston Live Stock Show & Rodeo at the Astrodome. They won 1st place in the Paint House Registered Calf Roping Event. In 1967 , they entered again and won 2nd place where Stardust was recognized as Best Judged Roping Horse.
During the 70's and 80's Paul started producing his own rodeos and jack pot calf ropings. He spent a lot of his time teaching youngsters the techniques and calf rropingsgood cowboy. Paul was the first to add junior events of competition for youngsters in his rodeos, such as Jr. Tie-Down Calf Roping, Jr. Break-Away Calf Roping, and Jr. Steer Riding so that the participants of 17 year old younger could participate in the rodeos he produced. Paul acknowledges his friend of 40 years or more, Jack Bass, , for his contribution to his success. Paul trained several of Jack's horses for calf roping and a barrel horse for Jack's daughter. In 1981 Paul trained Jack's horse "Pete" and they entered the Quarter HorseJudged Roping event held at the Astro Arena. In the same year, Bugs was World Championship Appaloosa Horse Show Champion in the Timed Calf Roping event held at the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Rodeo Historical Society for the National Cowboy
One of the most colorful and recognized men in the rodeo world, Darrell Barron has done it all! During his college days where he was a 2-time qualifier for the College National Finals, Darrell competed in Bareback, Steer Wrestling, Bull Riding, Tie-Down and Team Roping events. He won the CNFR Steer Wrestling Championship in 1975. As a member of the PRCA since 1971, he has competed in Bareback, Steer Wrestling and Team Roping events. He's been a pickup man for some of the best contractors in the business including Harry Vold, Christensen Brothers, and Beutler and Son Rodeo Company. Darrell has won at Cheyenne, Phillipsburg, Santa Fe, and Colorado Springs! He knows rodeo, knows what it takes to compete, and is one of the most well rounded and respected men in the sport.
With that kind of background, it was a natural move for Darrell Barron's expertise to be in demand on the arena floor. For 16 years he served as Arena Director for the College National Finals Rodeo and was Livestock Superintendent and Arena Director for the Texas Circuit Finals for 15 years. From 1976-1987, Darrell was Livestock Superintendent and riding Event Chute Boss for Cheyenne Frontier Days and has served in the same capacity for other major events across the country. Darrell Barron has been easily recognizable at the Wrangler National Finals since 1982 where, with his distinctive mustache, hat, and high-top cowboy boots, he has directed activities as the Riding Event Chute Boss.
With such a resume, it is no wonder that Darrell Barron serves as Director of the rodeo Historical Society for the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City and in 2010 became Director of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in Fort Worth. In 2008, Darrell was honored to be inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.
When he's not busy with some of the duties above, Darrell enjoys team roping, building spurs, and working with horses with his wife Lee.
Douglas Harman's strong interest in the heritage of the West can be seen in many important programs and projects, including his work on the Chisholm Trail, Fort Worth and Tarrant County history and the Texas Trail of Fame.
Growing up in Lincoln, Nebraska, Doug received his BA from Nebraska Wesleyan University. He went on to American University in Washington D.C. where he earned his MA and Ph.D. with a focus on urban government management. After five years of university teaching, Doug went into local government management, serving as city manager of Alexandria, Virginia for ten years.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Founder
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Member of the Executive Committee
- President of the Executive Committee
Lynn (Smokey) Hart was born December 11, 1960 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was abandoned three days after being born and placed in a foster home without a name. Lynn never knew either of his biological parents (African American father and Native American mother). He was raised in Chancellor, South Dakota by a single German woman and devoted Christian, Elizabeth Ulfers. Lynn was raised in the church and grew up on a corn farm in a German community until the passing of his foster mother, when he was 10. He was immediately shipped off to Landover, MD and placed in a foster home again and subsequently adopted by Jim and Lois Hart. The Harts also adopted twin girls who were also mixed (black and white). As Lynn grew up, he became subjected to the challenges of two oppressed minorities in America (African American and the Native American), even though the Hart's loved him and his sisters dearly. Lynn became an advocate and community activist for both ethnicities of his heritage. The Harts were professors at Prince George's College in Maryland, but Lynn desired to return to South Dakota, so as Lois still had roots in Watertown, SD, they gave up their careers in teaching and returned to South Dakota where Lynn graduated from Watertown High School.
Pam Minick is a former Miss Rodeo America, and is one of the most well-known faces in the world of rodeo. She's a former Women's World Champion Calf Roper and qualifier to the Women's National Finals rodeo in team roping. Minick has appeared as a sports commentator/interviewer on over 1000 nationally televised Rodeo, Equestrian, and County Music specials. She also served as the marketing director of Billy Bob's Texas for 25 plus years; as well as being an owner with husband Billy, and face of Billy Bob's Texas.
Honors for Pam Minick include the 1992 Coca Cola Woman of the Year in Pro Rodeo for her contributions to the sport. Pam was selected to co-announce the prestigious Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, marking the first woman to announce a major pro rodeo. In 1994 Pam was named the recipient of the "Lane Frost Award" for enhancement of the sport of rodeo and in 1999 Minick received the Tad Lucas Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. In 2000, she was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, in 2004 she was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in Fort Worth and in 2006 was named Great Woman of Texas.
Billy and Pam Minick are inductees in the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and recipients of the Charles Goodnight Award.
From U.S. Presidents to U.S. Opens, the World Series to the World Cup, the Olympic Games to 30 straight Super Bowls, Scott Murray has covered them all. He spent over three decades with NBC television as a multi Emmy Award-winning television sports anchor and broadcast journalist. Scott was named Sportcaster of the Year 17 times by various news organizations. He has been recognized as a Living Legend of Journalism by the Press Club of Dallas and is a recipient of the prestigious Silver Circle Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Although retired from nightly television news, Scott returned to NBC/DFW to host the weekly TV public affairs/philanthropic program, Talk Street for several years, while hosting the Emmy Award-winning program, Conversations with Scott Murray and The Scott Murray Radio Show, weekly on 570 KLIF. Scott continues to be a sought-after keynote speaker and published author of 2 books (Whatever It Takes and Bring Out the BEST). In addition, he regularly serves as an emcee/host/moderator for corporate conferences and charitable events, a TV/radio spokesperson and is also Chairman/CEO of Murray Media, an Emmy Award-winning video/HD television production and A/V event media company.
Scott served on the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee and as chairman of the Honorary Committee of the NCAA Final Four Tip-Off Gala. He is on the board of trustees of the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Dallas Sports Commission, National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame Gridiron Club; charter board member of the SMU Athletic Forum Board and the Doak Walker National Running Back Award; executive board member of the Davey O'Brien Legends Award and Founder's Award Committees; executive board member of the Armed Forces Bowl; executive board member of the Heart of Dallas Bowl; former President of the Texas Motor Speedway Children's Charities Board of Directors; member of the Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities Advisory Board, Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation Board and Children at Risk Advisory Board; member of the Board of Trustees of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the President's Advisory Council of the AT&T Performing Arts Center.
Scott stays very active in the north Texas community as a volunteer, serving on the board/advisory boards of countless children's, civic, charitable and non-profit organizations. His commitment to community has resulted in his being honored with such awards as Citizen of the Year, Man of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year, and recipient of the following: Governor's Award; Directors Award from the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice; George Washington Medal of Honor Freedom Award; The Military Order of the World Wars Patrick Henry Award; National Youth Leadership Council Gift of Leadership Award; Tom Landry Award of Excellence; Taste of the N.F.L. Man of the Year; National Philanthropy Day AFP Special Recognition Award; People of Vision Award; Johnny Stallings Award; Barbara Jordan Citizenship Award; Komen for the Cure National Individual Community Service Award; United Way Hercules Award; Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Excellence in Media Award; Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society-Honorary Inductee; Daughters of WWII Carry the Torch Award; National Congress of Parents and Teachers-Honorary Inductee; American Cancer Society Sword of Hope; St Jude Children's Research Hospital Honoree; Special Olympics Torch Award; Legacy of Men Tackling Domestic Violence Award; Boy Scouts of America God and Service Award; Philanthropy World Hall of Fame Inductee; Texas Baseball Hall of Fame-Honorary Inductee; National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum 2017 Inductee; and, Scott's two most cherished awards, Dad of the Year and Father of the Year.
Will Arthur "Artie" Morris is the son of Elijah, Jr., and Anna (Hunt) Morris, born September 26, 1933. Artie grew up in Temple, Texas, wanting to be a country singer and it was Hank Williams who inspired his passion. Upon graduation from high school and a stint in college, Artie auditioned for the popular radio show "Stars of Tomorrow" in Dallas, Texas, aired over KRLD, and was subsequently chosen as a regular on the Big D Jamboree. He went on to appear on the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Louisiana, and The Saturday Night Jamboree in Houston, Texas. One of the pioneer Black country music singers in the 50's Artie Morris went to Nashville in 1955, a decade before Charley Pride became the first black superstar of country music. Doors opened for him when record executives heard his tapes but closed just as quickly when he showed up in person. Though he encountered resistance, Artie stuck to his guns and insisted on performing the music that spoke to his soul, the music of the American heartland. He left Texas for California and stayed there 30 years, working as a television host and producer of "Continental Country". Bands and solo artist were interviewed by Artie and the popular show was taped during a live audience. The show won the Renaissance Award given by Continental Cable.
Artie's real dream came true when he signed a recording contract with Vic Adkin's Adkrop Records. He toured with his band making personal appearances throughout the United States becoming a successful country & western recording artist. Over the years Artie has done many interviews where he has shared his early experiences trying to break into the country & western music scene. Record executives told Artie they were afraid "blacks won't buy it because it's country and country won't buy it because you're black," he said of one record executive in a 2001 interview. Things weren't any better at home. "Even in Temple, you go into a club, one club had two stages and two bands," he said. "One stage was where the white musicians played, and the other side was where the blacks played, and they couldn't play on the same stage together.", His landmark 2001 CD, Goodbye Old Paint includes the title track, a Western classic that is important in Artie's own family history. His ancestor, (great-great-grandfather Charley Willis), is credited with preserving the song and inserting it into American culture. The CD also includes such classic Western tunes as Streets of Laredo, Red River Valley, and O Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie. Artie tried to put himself in the mindset of his great-grandfather, on a 2,000-mile trail drive up the Chisholm Trail. "I always wanted to be a cowboy, but I was afraid of cows, so I thought it was best to sing about it," he says. Artie Morris has also assisted scholars with their chapters on his ancestor's contribution to cowboy music history for the books Black Cowboys of Texas (Texas A&M University Press, 2004) and Black Cowboys in the American West: On the Range, on the Stage, Behind the Badge. Artie and his wife Lorie (Baker) Morris reside in Lakewood, California. His adult children include Andrea Merrill, Danye Morris, and Christopher Morris. 2018 Hall of Fame Inductee Will Arthur "Artie" Morris inducted into the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum on July 28, 2018, passed from this life on December 26, 2021. He will be honorably remembered and dearly missed by many.