It was a happy homecoming for eight-time World Champion Team Roper Rich Skelton at the rodeo in Wichita Falls, Texas last weekend. And as rodeo fate would have it, it was a two-time world champion steer wrestler who made it happen. Come to find out, 2013 and ’15 World Champion Bulldogger Hunter Cure is the Wichita County Mounted Patrol Rodeo president now. And Cure—who, like Skelton, comes from the Pump Jack Capital of Texas in the tiny town of Electra—led the charge in righting something he saw as an old wrong.
In front of family and friends who watched him grow into the living legend he is, Rich was recognized in that Wichita County Mounted Patrol Arena as this year’s Local Legend. He insisted he and Rhonda take a backseat to his dad and his wife, Keith and Faye Skelton, as they received a warm welcome from the hometown crowd at the rodeo that’s been both PRCA and UPRA over the years.
“Wichita Falls is right down the road from where I grew up in Electra, so this was a very meaningful honor for me,” Rich said. “I have pictures of me heading steers at jackpots in this arena when I was a little kid. It was good to be home, and pretty cool of Hunter to go out of his way to help get this done.
“This arena is where it all started for me. No matter where life takes you, there’s something special about being recognized back home by the people and community that helped raise you. I enjoyed getting to spend the evening with Rhonda, my dad and Faye. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that moments like these are even more meaningful when you can share them with family. It was a great evening, and I’m honored and grateful for the recognition.”
It was eating on cure that the metal sign with the names of all the Wichita County world champs was missing such an important one.
“This was always my hometown rodeo, and it’s where I filled my permit,” said Hunter, who has a lot of day jobs now, including serving as a construction manager on commercial buildings, running cattle and chasing his kids to sporting events far and wide. “My rodeo ties all started here. I’m trying to get this rodeo and this facility back on their feet, and we’re gaining ground.
“This honor for Rich was long overdue. This sign needed to be overhauled to include him and fix that major omission. Rich is a rightful Local Legend in Wichita County, and we had to get his name on this sign. It’d been too long, and there’s no time like the present.”
The native sons sign at the Wichita County Mounted Patrol Arena now proudly includes 1964 World Champion Steer Wrestler CR Boucher; 1976 World Champion Steer Wrestler Rick Bradley; 1997-2004 World Champion Team Roper Rich Skelton; 1999 World Champion Steer Wrestler Mickey Gee; and 2013 and 2015 World Champion Steer Wrestler Hunter Cure.
Thank you, Hunter, and congratulations, Rich! Not only on this Local Legend honor in your old stomping grounds, but on setting the 5.4-second pace behind Laramie Allen at the Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Frontier Days & PRCA Rodeo in Weatherford, too!!