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Frank Rhoades, April 2, 1934-July 9, 2014

by ProRodeo.com | Jul 09, 2014
Frank Rhoades

Frank Rhoades, a PRCA Gold Card Member who qualified for the bareback riding competition at the first National Finals Rodeo in 1959, died July 9 in an intensive care unit in Texarkana, Texas. He was 80.

A 2001 inductee into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Rhoades was known primarily in the rodeo world for his success as a bareback rider, but also competed as a bull rider and steer wrestler, competing out of Texas and Oklahoma.

Rhoades was born in Dallas and competed in his first junior rodeo competition there at 11 years old, so he was sort of the hometown favorite when he competed in the inaugural NFR at the Dallas State Fairgrounds.

He qualified with what turned out to be the best season of his career, earning checks in 28 rodeos that year, including a shared win (with Bernis Johnson) in Memphis, Tenn. Rhoades then capped his year by winning Round 4 and Round 5 en route to a sixth-place finish in the NFR average.

Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. July 13 at Redland Methodist Church (east of Rhoades’ hometown of Idabel, Okla.). There will be an evening visitation on July 11 at the White Funeral Home in Idabel.

Courtesy of PRCA

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