It’s official: Knowles is inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame
By Terry Murry on Saturday, July 15th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News Featured Stories
COLORADO SPRINGS – The Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association has inducted the 2023 class to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. That includes Heppner’s own Butch Knowles.
Here’s what the PRCA wrote about Knowles:
The voice of Butch Knowles is one of the most recognizable in the sport of rodeo.
Knowles has been in the broadcast booth for every National Finals Rodeo dating back to 1988. His dedication to the sport is one of a kind. His longevity and love for rodeo was recognized by the ProRodeo Hall of Fame selection committee as he was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame on Saturday.
“When I got up here (in Colorado Springs) it hit me like a ton of bricks,” said Knowles about the realization he was going into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. “This is just crazy. I kept waiting for them to call me and say they made a mistake we thought you were Butch Myers or something, but they never called. It’s just crazy. It is nothing you ever think about. When you start out, this is the last thing anybody ever thinks will happen. It is so humbling.”
Knowles may be going into the Hall as a rodeo notable, but he’s known for his work inside the arena as well. He qualified for the NFR in saddle bronc riding in 1981, 1983, and 1986-87. He also won the NFR average in 1987. He said being a Hall of Famer is something that never crossed his mind while riding or announcing. “The one thing that stands out and it just happened after they announced my induction is all the people who I haven’t seen for years who have wrote nice notes and congratulated me,” Knowles said. “When it is all wrapped up and done, I don’t think there’s any better lifestyle or people to be around than who we deal with on a daily basis. It is amazing.”
EMG Photo by Stephanie Hutchinson Beard
