Rodeo News: Bronze Bust of ProRodeo Hall of Famer Hadley Barrett Unveiled
A citation bust of North Platte, Nebraska native and ProRodeo Hall of Fame host Hadley Barrett was unveiled on April 30 at the Wild West Arena in North Platte.
The bust will greet rodeo fans as they enter the grandstands at the Wild West Arena. Barrett starred in some of the biggest ProRodeos across the country, including the National Trials Rodeo four times and as the television host of the Trials 22 times. On March 2, 2017, Barrett passed away at the age of 87, less than a week after announcing the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.
Barrett started her son-in-law, Randy Corley, in the rodeo advertising business in North Platte. The two advertised several rodeos, including the Buffalo Bill Rodeo, which Barrett started in 1965, and Corley in 1980.
Hadley took me under his cult, Corley said. He has not tried to tell me how to announce a rodeo, but he told me the lanes. He was one of the best instructors a person could have. He was so good. There’s no rodeo that he and I worked on together. What a time I have a real void in my heart for who Hadley Barrett was.
The sculptor in Barrett’s citation is Jake Hebbert, born and raised in the Sandhills of Nebraska, near Hyannis.
Buffalo Bill Rodeo will be June 15-18 at the Wild West Arena in North Platte, Nebraska. Performances start at 8 p.m. (CT) nocturnal. Tickets are on sale at NebraskalandDays.com and range from $10 to $23.
For more information, visit the website or call the office at 308.532.7939.
In print, from the left, are Randy Corley, Michelle Corley, Brittany Ballard holding her son (and Hadley’s great-granddaughter) Hadley Ann; Kim Jurgens; Wyatt Barrett and Trent Barrett.