Trio of Greats Reflects on Honoring NFR Icons ’24 | National Finals Rodeo | sport

The idea of ​​the Vegas NFR Icons came about in 2022. Las Vegas Events and the PRCA were looking for a way to honor rodeo greats who have competed at the Thomas & Mack Center since 1985.

It would be an annual honor showcasing only the best of the best. So anyone who knew anything about rodeo knew it wouldn’t take long to get to these three: Joe Beaver, Rich Skelton and Speed ​​Williams.

The 2024 Vegas NFR Icons Class was celebrated at a reception Friday afternoon at Thomas & Mack prior to the second round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Friday night saw Skelton and Williams — unparalleled roping teammates — see their banners raised into the T&M rafters, and Beaver will do the same Saturday night.

These three join the inaugural 2022 class of Trevor Brazile, Charmayne James and Ty Murray and the 2023 class of Billy Etbauer and Cody Ohl. Beaver, Skelton and Williams took a few minutes to reflect on the honor.

“The House Joe Built”

Beaver made it to the NFR for the first time in 1985, his rookie season. By the time he finished competing in the 2006 NFR, the cowboy from Victoria, Texas, had five world championships in tie-down roping and three all-around world championships under his belt.

His first reaction to being named a Vegas NFR icon was, for those who know him, classic Joe Beaver.

“It’s time!” he said.

When Beaver first entered the NFR scene, it was also the first year that Thomas & Mack hosted the 10-day rodeo. In 1985, the rookie roper electrified the crowds and won his first tie-down world title.

From that point on, the Thomas & Mack became known to rodeo fans as “The House That Joe Built.”

“For me, Thomas & Mack and I came together. No one knew if the NFR would work at Thomas & Mack. They doubted I could win because I was a newbie. “We proved them both wrong,” Beaver said. “After I left there in 1985, we both knew the NFR belonged to Thomas & Mack, and I belonged there, trying to win world championships.”

Beaver won gold tie-down buckles in 1987, 1988, 1992 and 1993. In 1995, 1996 and 2000 he won the all-around cowboy world championship title.

“I was so lucky. I have won gold buckles in three different decades. “A lot of people can’t say that,” Beaver said. “That’s how much it meant to me. I stayed locked up as long as I could. At 42 years old, I felt like I had given everything I had to give in this area.”

Unsurpassed success

Skelton is from Electra, Texas, and Williams is from Jacksonville, Florida. They have each other to thank for landing in the 2024 class of Vegas NFR Icons. From 1997 to 2004, the team ropers secured the world championship title eight times in a row. With Williams heading the ball and Skelton hacking, the duo were virtually unbeatable.

“At this point we have put all our effort into it. Everything we did, from getting up in the morning to going to bed at night, was about getting better. Our goals were really the same,” Skelton said. “Speed ​​had great horses, and he changed the way leadership was done in this building. He thought outside the box.

“We started making our workouts more difficult than we did in rodeo competition, so when we got to Thomas & Mack it felt easier.”

Williams added: “We were both married but had no children. All we ate, breathed and slept was rappelling and getting the best out of ourselves. We were focused as a team and had no outside interference.”

While talent was certainly key, both admitted there was a lot of luck involved in these eight straight championships.

“Probably five of those titles came from one or two steers. “We had to win the ninth round to have a chance in the tenth round,” Williams said.

“A couple of times we had a chance to get beat and the ball bounced our way,” Skelton said. “God had a big part in it. He watched over us to do good.”

The countless hours of training and traveling around town to compete in thousands of rodeos over the years earned Skelton and Williams NFR icon status.

“You no longer have to rappel what you put in. That’s all we thought about. “Speed ​​thought about it 24 hours a day,” Skelton said.

Williams concluded: “The dream was to win a world title. Getting eight was an incredible experience. But we both put in a lot of work. Rich was a great partner. This is a dream that none of us thought would come true.”

Mutual Admiration Society

As mentioned above, Beaver first reached the Wrangler NFR in 1985. Williams first qualified in 1988 and Skelton in 1990. So these three all competed together – and against each other when Beaver started team roping – in the same rodeo cowboy generation of greatness.

And everyone has great respect for each other. In fact, Williams echoed Beaver’s initial sentiment when he was named a Vegas NFR Icon.

“My only thought is that Joe should have been there earlier. That was the whole saying: The house that Joe built,” Williams said.

Sketon felt the same way.

“For me it’s a given. Joe is a bit like Speed. “Joe did such a great job roping the calves and then got into team roping for a chance to win the all-around championship,” Skelton said. “And then he got to the finals in team roping and kept his main event.

“Joe Beaver is a winner whether he’s playing cards, jumping rope or in business. He’s a winner.”

Beaver and Skelton competed together before their pro days and glamorous trips to the NFR.

“Rich and I grew up in the Texas amateur circuit. And it was hard work. “We took the same path to become NFR icons,” Beaver said, marveling at Skelton and Williams’ eight consecutive world titles.

“I don’t think we’ll see it again. Dynasties are hard.

“It is very special for me to work with Rich and Speed ​​​​as NFR icons. We came down the same path and did what we set out to do.”