Hall of Fame


The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring and celebrating women, past and present, whose lives exemplify the courage, resilience, and independence that helped shape the American West, and fosters an appreciation of the ideals and spirit of self-reliance they inspire. It is the legacy of legends.

The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to preserve the history and impact of western women living roughly from the mid-1800s to the present -- the pioneers and trailblazers, the artists and writers, the entertainers, the ranchers and rodeo cowgirls. Today, there are 186 amazing women who have been inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame since 1975.

Make plans to be in Fort Worth, October 9-10, for the 33rd Annual Induction Luncheon and Ceremony and the 4th Annual Heart of the West Art Exhibition and Sale.

Join us as we honor our 2008 National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Inductees and celebrate the spirit of the West through the featured artwork from 39 of the best female Western artists in the nation today.

2008 National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame Inductees
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is proud to announce the 2008 Hall of Fame inductees. They will be honored during the 33rd Annual Induction Luncheon Ceremony on Friday, October 9, 2008 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

The 2008 Inductees are as follows:

Audrey O'Brien Griffin
Audrey O'Brien Griffin lives the cowgirl life with tenacity, generosity and passion. Before raising her family, Griffin was a member of the famous Flying Valkyries, a Roman Riding group in the 1950s and also worked in a wild-west show that traveled to Belgium. After her children were grown, her love for equestrian sports remained and she started team penning, sorting and excelling in overall horsemanship. Her competitive spirit remains strong today as she continues to promote the Western lifestyle.

Prairie Rose Henderson (ca. 1880-1939)
Prairie Rose made a name for herself during the golden age of rodeo as a champion bronc rider. She became a fierce relay racer, dazzling the crowds not only with her daring feats in the arena but also with her fashion sense and flair for beautiful and inventive performance costumes.

Velma B. Johnston
"Wild Horse Annie"
(1912-1977)
Velma B. Johnston was a tireless pioneer in establishing legislation for the protection of wild horses and burros across the United States. Her efforts were instrumental in getting the 1971 Wild Horse and Burro Act passed through Congress which requires the protection, management, and control of wild free-roaming horses and burros on public lands.

Wilma Powell
Wilma Powell comes from a long lineage of ranchers. Carrying on her family's ranching tradition, she is active in community development and preservation of western heritage in the Texas Panhandle and northern New Mexico. Powell supports educating future ranchers in FFA and 4H clubs and is a living example of a way of life that has largely disappeared from today's American landscape.

Beverly Sparrowk
A champion barrel racer during the 1960s, Beverly Sparrowk became a leading cattle rancher and conservationist. She was director of the Girl's Rodeo Association in 1972 and was the first female president of the Foundation Beefmaster Association. She won the Chuck Yeager Award from the National Fish and Wildlife Association and continues to be recognized as a top cattle rancher.

PURCHASE TICKETS
To speak with someone about table reservations or to purchase individual tickets to the Induction Luncheon and Ceremony, contact Wendy Morton at 817-509-8664 or wendy@cowgirl.net.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
For information on sponsorships, contact Stephanie Melchert-Smith, Director of Development, at 817-509-8665 or stephanie@cowgirl.net. Don't miss your opportunity to witness history in the making!

4th Annual Heart of the West Art Exhibition and Sale
Exhibition:
October 4-26, 2008
Reception and Sale:
Friday, October 10
beginning at 6pm at the museum.

Heart of the West Art Sale and Reception tickets are $60.00 per person, for questions and to purchase tickets, contact Jennifer Siegel at 817-509-8960 or jsiegel@cowgirl.net

For more information regarding the Art Exhibition and the Artists, please contact Tricia Taylor Dixon, Curator, at 817-509-8989 or tricia@cowgirl.net.

For information on Sponsorships, contact Stephanie Melchert-Smith, Director of Development, at 817-509-8665 or stephanie@cowgirl.net.