PBR partners with OKC's National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for its Hall of Fame
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Going to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum was considered a vacation for a young Matt West, who grew up in Delaware in the northeast corner of the state.
“Everything about this museum was so big,” West said. “It was so cowboy. For me, it was everything I ever wanted to be.”
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West went on to become the voice of Professional Bull Riders, and on Thursday morning his job brought him back to the museum he loved as a kid. West served as emcee for the unveiling of the PBR’s Heroes & Legends Hall of Fame inside of Oklahoma City’s National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Formed in 1992, the PBR didn’t have a physical hall of fame until now.
After considering a few locations, and even a standalone museum, PBR CEO Sean Gleason approached the OKC museum with an idea.
“I don’t think we want our own (hall of fame),” Gleason said. “I think we want to be part of this.”
Among the items on display is the $1,000 check world champion bull rider Michael Gaffney wrote in 1992 as one of the 20 founding members of the PBR.
“That check is the Day 1 of everything that we have now,” West said.
There’s a case dedicated to honorary Oklahoman Lane Frost, who was killed in a bull riding accident three years before the PBR was formed.
The PBR exhibit, which is in the former American rodeo gallery, also includes interactive technology. Using a touch screen, visitors can pull up videos of legendary rides or learn about the PBR’s “heroes and legends” inductees.
It’s a museum within a museum.
“We are reimagining rodeo storytelling and our western sports storytelling,” said Jeff Ewing, executive vice president and chief development officer of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. “PBR is one facet of the overall renovation. We will highlight the story of rodeo from its origins to today… You can’t tell that story without having the PBR.”
The conversations between the two organizations about forming a partnership started seven years ago.
“For anybody that appreciates the Western lifestyle or has an interest in history or heritage, this is Disneyland,” Gleason said of why the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum was a good fit. “Our roots run really deep here in the state of Oklahoma. We’ve had events here since the beginning of the PBR.”
Paycom Center will host PBR’s team event, which will include the Oklahoma Wildcatters, from July 31 through August 2. This is Year 5 of the teams format.
West will be on the television broadcast.
His role in the proceedings Thursday was a “full circle moment” for West.
“Today is a historic day for us,” he said on behalf of the PBR, “to be able to put these artifacts and names in a place where they get the respect and prestige they deserve.”
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: PBR partners with OKC's National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for its Hall of Fame