Ed Colston

Ed began his judging career in 1978 judging youth, junior high, high school, and college rodeos, but he is most renowned for his judging in the professional rodeo arena. Ed has been a Wrangler judge since 1998 and has served as Judging Director for the UPRA since the merge of the Texas Professional Rodeo Association and the Central Rodeo Association in 1996. Ed has judged the Texas Rodeo Association Finals 4 times, the Louisiana Rodeo Cowboys Association Finals 12 times, the Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association Finals 10 times, and the United Professional Rodeo Association Finals 10 times.

Ed and his wife, Sheri, have been married almost 50 years and have two children, Kyle and Trace. They have four grandchildren, Bailey, Taylor, Johnny, and Kayla, as well as one great grandchild, Collin. Ed and Sheri reside in Kaufman, Texas after spending forty-one years in Carthage, Texas.

UPRA President, Jerry Hill, stated, “We are extremely thankful and grateful for Ed. He worked hard to make the judging division better and while his knowledge and skills have made the sport of rodeo better, they’ve also had a positive impact on many other over the years. Ed makes everyone want to do better and be better. I know he has made the UPRA a better association and I cannot think of a more deserving person to be in the Hall of Fame. On behalf of the Board of Directors and myself, congratulations Ed. Thank you for your friendship, dedication, hard work, and service to the sport of rodeo, it means the world to us!”

Rebecca Frazier

Rebecca Frazier was born on October 12, 1950, in Dallas, Texas, to Vivian and Everett Hail. She grew up in Mesquite, Texas and began riding at eleven, competing in barrels and going to playdays. After becoming a wife and mother, she put her passion on hold.

However, in 1984, she would settle in Wills Point where her love for horses rekindled in a heaven sent horse named Poco. She hit the show ring, riding English and Western Pleasure. Beckie managed to pass her love for horses on to her 3 children, Brian Morris, Amber Morris, and Kim Welch. But it wasn’t until her youngest became involved in rodeo that her true work for the sport began.

In 1990, Beckie helped her friend, Jerry Hill, with the local high school rodeo team. She worked as a secretary, timer, and served on the Board of Directors for the Lone Star High School Rodeo Association for 5 years and the Texas High Schoole Rodeo Association Region 4 for 3 years. From 1992- ‘95, she was also a board member for the Texas Professional Rodeo Association.

In 1996, after consulting with board members from the Central Rodeo Association, the two associations joined forces to form the United Professional Rodeo Association. Beckie is also a Gold Card member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, in which she still works for. Beckie was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboys Hall of Fame in 2019. Beckie continues working with the UPRA and has been blessed to work with great contractors such as, Flying C Rodeo Co., Champion Rodeo Co., Gene Smith Rodeo Co., Hat Brand Rodeo Co., Lancaster/Jones Rodeo Co., United Pro Rodeo Co., and Stace Smith Pro Rodeo Co. Beckie has 5 grandchildren that she is so proud of: Devin Boswell, Myranda Boswell, Ashlyn Williams, Colton Williams, and Cody Morris.

Beckie still lives in Wills Point with her husband Bill, whom she has been married to for 20 years and continues spending most of her time answering the phone for the UPRA and being rodeo secretary for the UPRA and PRCA. She cherishes the friendships she has made along the way and will continue to work in the rodeo industry as long as the Lord allows.

Jerry P. Hill

Jerry P. Hill resides in Wills Point, Texas. He was born in Quitman, Texas to the late Johnny and Mary Hill, and was raised in Mineola, Texas. He worked through high school and studied business at Tyler Junior College.

Jerry got involved in the rodeo industry in 1990, serving as a sponsor and assistant coach for the Wills Point High School Rodeo Association. He served as a president of the Wills Point Riding Club, and was a member of the North American Rodeo Commission. In 1996, while serving as a president and general manager of the Texas Professional Rodeo Association (TPRA 1959), he led directors to merge assets with the Central Rodeo Association (CRA 1956), creating the United Professional Rodeo Association. Jerry was elected as general manager and chief operating officer of the UPRA.

The United Professional Rodeo Association began with 300 members, 37 rodeos, and a yearly contestant payout of $250,000. Jerry was elected president of the UPRA in 2005 and serves as Chief Operating Officer and President of the UPRA Executive Board of Directors, that he continues to hold in 2021.

In 1999, Jerry, along with representatives of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the International Professional Rodeo Association and others met in Colorado Springs and created the first Rodeo Industry “Code of Practice for Animal Welfare.” These animal welfare rules are still used today from youth rodeo to pro rodeos.

In 2014, under the direction of the officers and directors, he helped merge the assets of the Texas Cowboy Rodeo Association (1987) with the UPRA, bringing additional rodeos and contestants to the UPRA.

Jerry has worked over 30 years to better the sport of rodeo and over 25 of those years are with the UPRA. Today the association has grown into the one of the biggest and most respected rodeo associations in the country with at times over 1,600 members, over 280 rodeos, and a yearly payout to contestants of over 5 million dollars.

Wing Rodeo Company

Jerald Smith was born August 9, 1932 to Nora and Oscar Smith in Cuthand, Texas, a small community in Red River County in far Northeast Texas, near Bogata where his wife and family still reside.

Jerald Smith worked for various contractors in the rodeo business. In 1969 he and Joan bought the Wing Rodeo Company from a south Texas rancher, Sloan Williams. Since that time it has been contracting rodeos across Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma in various amateur and professional associations.

One of the early bull riding (only) events was produced by Wing Rodeo Company. This was held in Ardmore, Oklahoma in 1967. For many years they provided livestock for the famous Texas Prison Rodeo held in Huntsville, Texas. For over 33 years, the Smith family has been hosting the renowned Bucking Bull and Horse Sale. Buyers and sellers come from across the United States knowing the top livestock will be available.

Over the years, Wing Rodeo Company has received numerous awards, including 35 different stock producer awards; these coming from the Cowboys Regional Rodeo Association, United Professional Rodeo Association, Arkansas Rodeo Association, and the International Rodeo Association.

Working with thousands of animals over 63 years in the rodeo business, there are a few animals that stand out, bareback horse +7- Instant Blowout, a colt they raised and who won every bareback title he was nominated for, saddle bronc horse #40- Strawberry Hill, a spoiled cutting horse that bucked for 15 plus years, and bucking bull #4 K-Bob (named after the K-Bob Restaurant that was in Sulphur Springs, TX) who was featured in many short-go’s and challenges all over the country. All of these animals and many more were retired on the ranch in Bogata, Texas.

Today, generations of the Smith family are actively involved with the rodeo productions of the Wing Rodeo Company with many different rodeo associations.

Mike Bacon

Mike is the youngest of 6 boys in a family of 10, who has lived in Boswell, Oklahoma all his life. He has been a roper since he was a youngster and at 50, he still ropes. He is not competing at this time. Mike has been with the UPRA for 33 years. He is now training team roping horses.

His awards include saddles, trailers, and buckles. Mike’s favorite moment in the UPRA was earning $22,800, which was the record in heeling in one year, and was beaten later when he started heading with Joseph Harrison and they beat the record 4 times in a row.

Mike’s dad was a rancher, cowboy, and roper along with his brothers. His mom took everyone in, not only in their home but into her heart, she was the rock of the family.

The Boswell rodeo was one of his favorites. His brother, Kent, is 59 and is special needs. Will Cook would let Mike provide a steer for him and Kent to rope. The audience really enjoyed watching Kent rope. They did this for 10 years. Boswell would be the most high pressured rodeo for Mike, because if he missed he would hear about it, not just from Kent, but also from the locals during the year.

Mike’s girlfriend, Holly, also ropes and barrel races. His daughter, Endie is 12 and barrel races as well. Mike is trying to get her into roping.

He says, “ Having bad times, makes you appreciate the good times.”