Larry Bramhall

Larry was a member of the Central Rodeo Association, in 1992 he became the roping director and held this position for 9 years, and was the Paris Rodeo Club President for over 10 years. Larry said the CRA Board of Directors took care of the association’s business and kept everything on the up and up. The group stood behind the association they believed in.

Larry Calf roped and team roped, and in 1989 he won the title of All Around Champion at the CRA membership rodeo. In 1992, he was fortunate to win both the All Around and Calf Roping Champion titles.

Larry had a so who rodeoed in the Texas High School Rodeo Association and 2 daughters, one of which held the Paris Rodeo Queen title. His wife helped support him and their children on the rodeo road. He loves that his family is horse and rodeo oriented!

Will Cook

Will, owner of the Flying C Rodeo Company, has been a stock contractor since 1980. He came to his first finals for the Central Rodeo Association in 1983. Being a stock contractor is a tough road to make a living on but Will loves every minute of it. He used to ride bucking horses back in the day, which lead him to becoming a stock contractor.

Will and his wife, Karen, have 2 boys, Todd and Casey, who have been raised on the road road. Karen had always been involved in the rodeo company full-time until the last 6 years, and Todd and Casey took over the operation when Will became ill. Will and Karen have been married for 43 years, and she has been by his side through thick and thin. Will said, “She is my rock and the family’s rock.”

Will likes to keep an open mind and looking ahead to the future. In doing this, it helps to make things better for the committees, contestants, the association, and the producers. So he believes that everyone need to be open minded for the whole picture to work.

Will does put on some PRCA rodeos, but has never let that hinder what he does for the UPRA. He is 100% for the UPRA. When he became ill, he had doubts about the time he had invested in rodeo. He thought, “What if I had invested time in something else, where would I be today?” However, he saw the benefits. Never in his life did he realize how many friends he had. He has loved seeing his friends from 15-20 years ago, to current friends, people from the cattle business, rodeo friends, to boys he had helped along the way. A steer wrestler friend he helped put on a benefit for him. When he shook Will’s hand he gave him a slip of paper and “paid it forward.” Will said, “it’s a shame a person has to get sick to learn thing!”

A third generation is up and coming. Cane, his grandson, is Papaw’s buddy, and Denim, Cane’s brother, is following close behind. Will tells his family and friends, “if you are smiling, you are winning!”

James Heflin

James joined the CRA in 1969. Then, the main objective of the CRA was to organize the association for the working people, and to have a paying system. In the early ‘70s he became a director, and later was elected president. He held the position as president until 2006, going him a total of 35 years of service on the board.

James rode bulls for a short period of time, and then began team roping with his brother, Jerry. In 1977, they won the 1st go-round at the CRA Finals in Grand Saline, TX, and in 1994, they won the fastest time of the finals. They placed in Caddo, places twice in Mineola, won 1st and 2nd in Grandbury, and won 1st and 4th in Mt. Pleasant. He was also a member of the Texas Rodeo Association and qualified for their finals.

Over the years he enjoyed traveling to rodeo and meeting people from Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, and Texas.

James comes from a large family and has one daughter. His favorite quote is, “be honest and fair in whatever you do!”

Jerry Heflin

The CRA started in 1956. It was up and running for a short time into the ‘60s. This is when the next group of leaders came along. Jerry Heflin was one of those men and was appointed Vice President. When the new board was fired, Jerry was handed $1,900 and a past board box. A couple of weeks later, the new board started looking into the current books and they were finally able to get everything back on track. Jerry wanted to make sure all their ducks were in a row.

Jerry rode a few bareback horses, competed in ribbon roping, calf roping, team roping, and rode bulls. Once, Jerry was at theGrand Saline rodeo as was basically forced to be a judge. He received some guidance after walking up behind a calf ropers horse and was chewed out for doing so. He told the guy, “I have been put in a position and need some help.” Then the calf roper taught him how to judge the calf roping event.

Bill Wade was real involved with the CRA. After having their first final with saddles and buckles to give to the winners, they started to pick up more producers. Jerry, Bill, and the other directors, ran the CRA over 20 years. When the CRA became part for the UPRA, they had at least 700 members.

In 1983, at the CRA Finals, Jerry and his brother, James, won the team roping. Jerry is a Vietnam veteran who still enjoys watching a good rodeo.

He would like you to always remember, “right is right, wrong is wrong, and don’t buy wrong.”

Walter “Punk” Helm

Before the Cooper Lake State Park debates caught Punk’s attention, he found time to lend a hand to a civic proposition. Working in sync with locals Lowell Cable and Billy Harry, he was instrumental in the development of the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.

It was the late 1970’s, Charles, his son explained, and Hopkins County was in need of a facility for the cattle partnership between the school district and the county ensued. Further help came from the citizens of Hopkins County, who raised enough money to get a grant to build this convention center.

Meanwhile, Punk, Lowell, and Billy concentrated on building a quality facility that would be suitable for decades, while using as few tax dollars as possible. “I think they had planned on building that auditorium and it was only going to be a 600 seat auditorium. My dad and the other two decided they needed to build it much bigger,” said Charles. However, they didn’t have enough money to build it any larger. Never the less, they had a plan. They decided to put the chairs, curtains, battens and everything else in later, so it became a 1,500 seat auditorium.

The same happened in the development of the indoor rodeo arena located within the complex. “They didn’t have the money. If you made it big enough for all the seating, you only had enough (money) for some permanent seats. So, I remember for big events we just had to rent all of the bleachers,” by that time Charles had also become active in the completion of the center. He said that a bond founded by hotel taxes was later used to buy chairs, curtains, battens, and other items for the auditorium. Folding bleachers were purchased for the arena from a school in Hawaii and they were used until permanent seating was bought with $1 million in federal funding that Congressman Chapman secured. That federal money also funded an addition to the center’s exhibit hall and arena area.

Finally opened in 1979, the Civic Center was soon recognized as an achievement. It became the site for two large rodeos annually, numerous livestock shows, and concert performances by some of the day’s hottest acts. It emerged as ideally suited for school fundraisers, a showplace for special outings of local residents and a regionally renowned events venue that drew hundreds of visitors to the area time and time again.

The citizens had Punk labeled even back then as a citizen of the times and a spark plug for community growth and improvement.

Charles wrote this about his dad, “if he had one message for people today, it would be this, give your heart and soul to the things you believe in, and be persistent. You can make a difference. Don’t ever think otherwise.”

Karen Little

Rodeo has been a part of Karen Little’s life since before she was born. Her mom and dad both rodeoed in college. Karen said her sister was born, the next year her mom won the NIRA Championship Goat Tying, and had Karen the year after. So you could say she was born rodeoing.

Karen was raised on a small farm and ranch in Aspermont, Texas. Her and her sister went to AJRA and high school rodeos as kids. Karen graduated high school and attended Howard County Junior College her freshman year and then went to Texas Tech University. After that, she obtained her Masters Degree in Nursing from West Texas A&M University. Karen I now a Family Nurse Practitioner. Her home and work have been in San Saba, Texas since 1998. She is married to Cody Little and they have 4 children, Nathan Little, Sarah Little, Asher Little, and their adopted son Gary Gant.

Before moving to San Saba, she mainly participated in TCRA, New Mexico rodeos, and qualified for he NARC Finals for 4 years. After moving to San Saba, Karen was closer to CPRA and UPRA rodeos. In 2011, her barrel horse was running good, so she stopped roping calves and tried to go to WPRA rodeos. She had a lot of success at first, sitting 7th in the standings. When she started out for the Fourth of July run, her horse tore a tendon in her right leg. So instead of going to Las Vegas, they came home.

Cody has always roped calves and trained horses, mainly calf horses and started colts. He had several several customers wanting him to start team roping horses, so him and Karen have been mostly team roping since then. Cody recently trained Karen’s barrel horse to rope calves and they have started to rope calves again.

Karen said she had fun looking at old standings to help put this together. It is an amazing time in rodeo, the changes in rodeo are awesome. Rodeo has been great to her and all of her family, and says, “she can’t imagine what life would have been like without it.” Karen would like to say, “I have been blessed to have won as much as I have, but all the saddles, trucks, trailers, and money aren’t as important as the friends I’ve made and all the great times shared going down the road. My advice to others is don’t get so caught up in winning and losing that you don’t enjoy every minute of competition and all the great people. There isn’t one championship that I wouldn’t trade for the great friends I’ve made. My favorite win wasn’t even 1st place. Cody and I won 5th at the #9 roping at the World Series Finals in Las Vegas in 2015. It is my favorite because we did it together, and also maybe because it paid $97,000.”

Karen’s Accomplishments:

  • National High School Champion Goat Tier

  • NIRA Champion Breakaway Roper

  • Southwest Region Champion Breakaway Roper and Goat Tier 2 times

  • Southwest Region All Around 3 times and Runner-Up once

  • NARC Champion Breakaway Roper 2 times

  • NARC All Around Champion 2 times

  • TCRA Champion Breakaway Roper 6 times

  • TCRA Champion Barrel Racer 3 times

  • TCRA All Around Champion 3 times

  • CPRA Champion Breakaway Roper in 2000

  • CPRA Champion Barrel Racer in 2011

  • CPRA All Around Champion 5 times

  • UPRA Champion Breakaway Roper in 2000

  • UPRA Champion Barrel Racer in 2011

  • UPRA All Around Champion 4 times

  • 2008 Booger Barter’s 1D Champion Truck

R.H. Moss

Robert Howell Moss, better known as RH, was born on September 22, 1929 in McCamey, Texas. It was in 1956 that he and 15-20 cowboys founded the Central Rodeo Association, now known as the United Professional Rodeo Association. RH was a charter member of the CRA, along with Glenn Raney, and a few others.

His rodeo career started with a borrowed horse, borrowed truck and trailer, and borrowed entry fees. Fellow ropers nicknamed RH “Mighty Mouse” due to his small stature and competitive try. Rodeos and ropings were his lifestyle during the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s.

RH, though working a full time job during the week, would be found with his wife, Willie Mae, and family in tow at some rodeo over the long weekend. He won the CRA in 1958 and was runner-up 5 times. His son, Bob Moss, won the calf roping in 1978, exactly 20 years later. RH’s grandson, Wesley Moss, won the heeling in 2012 and 2014. His granddaughter, Cambra Blessing Smith, won the Rookie Barrel Racer in 2000. His son-in-law, Bubba Blessing, a steer wrestler, and his daughter, Sharon, made the finals for several years in the 1980’s.

Today, with the support of his children, Dianna, Sharon, Deborah, and Bob, and his grandchildren, his love of the sport continues while living on his ranch in Decatur, Texas.

Glenn Raney

Glenn Raney was born on November 17, 1930 in Rowlett, Texas. He passed on August 24, 2007 at their ranch in Real County. Glenn farmed and ranched in Rowlett his entire life. He was married to Gazelle Raney for 50 years. She was his biggest supporter. He had two children, Brad Raney and Glenda Raney Ivy, and a grandson, Taylor Rea Raney.

Glenn really enjoyed the sport of rodeo. When he decided to learn to rope he went and lived with Slim Whaley in Oklahoma. He said that Slim taught him everything about roping and horse training. They got up every morning at 4:00 am and started saddling, and unsaddled after dark. There were many stories he liked to tell about living with Slim.

Glenn was one of the charter members of the Central Rodeo Association and a director for many years. He was very proud of the association hey started. In 1957, Glenn was the Calf Roping and All Around Champion. He rode the Billy Cook saddles he received for many years on his good horse, Ole Joe.

Glenn went to many rodeos and ropings until he passed away. He was a Gold Card member of the PRCA, a member of several calf roping associations, team roping associations, and the Texas Senior Pro Rodeo Association. He loved to rope and he passed on his knowledge to his kids and many others who wanted to learn to rope. He really enjoyed helping young people. There were many nights he would come in from the field, tired and dirty, turn on the roping pen lights, and stay out until everyone “got it right.” The roping pen lights were on a lot at their house. Everyone knew they were welcomed to join. Gazelle cooked a lot of hot meals, pitchers of tea, and pots of coffee when those lights were on.

His son, Brad, accomplished a lot in the CRA and PRCA. Brad was also the first person to win 4 All Around Championships in a row in the CRA. Glenn was incredibly proud of Brad’s roping. Glenn’s accomplishments were abundant in and out of rodeo. He won many buckles, saddles, and championships. He placed at all the major buildings, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Cheyenne, just to name a few. However, the only thing he truly cherished was the friendships he made through rodeo. He had great friends and he was a good friend to many people.

Gene Smith

Gene Smith was born on May 16, 1937 in Rockford, Texas. He was one of 7 children, 4 boys and 3 girls. At the age of 17 he started riding bulls. He was 19 or 20 when he decided he was too big and he picked up bull dogging. He learned at a practice pen in between Bogota and Clarksville, Texas. Gene’s dad bought 1 steer and they only had 2 horses. Gene and his brother would take turns dogging and hazing the steer. They rodeoed together for a while. In 1970, he judged the bull dogging in Oklahoma City which was a RCA rodeo, that is now the PRCA. After his brother, Glenn steer wrestled with the Duvalls. His last bulldogging was with Sam, named after Sam Duvall.

in 1984, Gene bought out Curtis Malone and became a stock contractor. He carried bulldogging horses for people to use, and had a saddle bronc horse, High Pockets, who was Saddle Bronc Horse of the World. In 1998, he went to the El Paso TSPRA Finals.

Gene has 2 daughters, Rachel Ward and Kim Hately, 4 grandkids, and 2 great grandkids. His wife, Cecilia, passed away in 2012, they were married for 52 years. She supported him and the family.

Gene is a quiet person with a love for the sport of rodeo.

Bill Wade

Bill was a director in the CRA for several years, working alongside several others who had a vision for a rodeo association. He started to rodeo in 1951. His first bull dogging horse was a mare named Cricket, after Cricket he had a horse named Hero, who was his favorite. They were afraid to ride him to the end of the arena so they would jump off. At times, Hero would run laps to avoid being caught by the hazer. Bill would just go kneel in the arena and whistle, and Hero would come to him. He loved it when his daughter, Sheila, hazed for him.

Bill also rode bareback horses and occasionally participated in bull riding.

Bill rodeoed for many years before he passed away on February 14, 2016.

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