1997
Moon Rocket #231 - Animal
Inducted - July 7, 1997
Moon Rocket
When the Calgary Stampede acquired this Bay Gelding from the late Tucky Wills of Taber in 1975 they never expected how many honors this bareback horse would collect.
He was selected to go to the Canadian Finals Rodeo nine times and the National Finals Rodeo eight times.
In 1975, his first trip to the Canadian Finals Rodeo, Moon Rocket was out twice with both contestants winning first in their go-round. Later that year at the National Finals Rodeo, the two contestants who drew him also won first money. The following year in 1976, he was not ridden at the National Finals Rodeo.
In 1976 Moon Rocket was named the best bareback horse at Calgary, the top bareback horse in Canada and also World Champion. He was named the best bareback horse at Calgary again in 1981.
During his fifteen year career with Calgary he bucked off or disqualified 51 riders and took 53 cowboys to the pay window, twenty of them winning first money.
Moon Rocket died of a heart attack in November of 1989 and is buried on the Stampede Ranch at Hanna.
Jerri Duce - Contestant
Inducted - November 8, 1997
Jerri Duce
Jerri Duce, born in Claresholm, Alberta in December 1951, is the daughter of Frank and Rose Duce.
Her first Canadian Championship in the Barrel Racing Event was at the tender age of twelve. She went on to win the women's event a total of nine times, on three different horses. She was the first Canadian to qualify for the NFR in 1973 and qualified in 1976 and 77.
Jerri started trick riding with her sister Joy when she was nine years old, they were originally named "Sister Act" which was changed to the more recognizable title of "The Flying Duces". They performed North America-wide, including the World's Fair, Expo 1967 in Montreal, Quebec. State Fair Rodeos in Louisville, Kentucky; Indianapolis, Indiana, Rochester, Minnesota, Fort Worth, Texas, also the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California and Madison Square Gardens in New York. They also performed abroad in England and Scotland in 1981, Bermuda in 1988 and Japan in 1991.
Jerri was Miss Rodeo Canada in 1975. She went on to be a rodeo queen judge for Miss World Rodeo in 1981, in Australia.
During her rodeo career, she won a total of 16 trophy saddles, numerous buckles, horse trailers, six bronzes and four commemorative Winchester trophy rifles.
Jerri lives near Okotoks, AB., where she trains horses and works in the film industry as a "wrangler" and a "stunt person."
Bob Robinson - Contestant
Inducted - November 8, 1997
Bob Robinson
The son of Sykes Robinson, also inducted into the Canadian Rodeo Hall of Fame, Bob was born in Calgary, Alberta on September 13, 1931.
His first attempt at riding steers was in 1939, when he was eight years old, and was not very successful, but by 1950, to the dismay of his parents, he quit high school to enter the bull riding in Denver, Colorado, and the die was cast. He was soon competing in all
three events, Saddle Bronc, Bareback, Bull Riding, and later added Steer Decorating and Steer Wrestling to his repertoire.
His first big win was in 1953, when he won the All Around Championship at the Edmonton Spring Rodeo.
By January of 1955 Bob was competing full time as a professional. The following year was a banner year for Bob, he won: the Saddle Bronc Riding at the Calgary Stampede and the Canadian Saddle Bronc Riding Championship. In 1962, he was the first Canadian to win a major event, Bull Riding, at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City, however in 1963, he was sixteen dollars short of qualifying for his second NFR in the same event. In 1964 he qualified for his second NFR while attending college , where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio and Television Broadcasting, with a minor degree in Marketing.
Bob was elected President of the Canadian Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1973 and his greatest achievement came in 1974 when he and the Board of Directors formed the Canadian Finals Rodeo.
He was again elected President in 1980 when the CRCA was re-organized to the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, representing an equal Board of contestants, stock contractors and committee men.
Since retiring from professional Rodeo in 1969, Bob has been involved in marketing western wear and in 1983, at the age of 52, he took up Team Roping. In 1995 he was elected President of the Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo. Bob is still traveling much of the time with his work and team roping. He is "enjoying life to the fullest" with his wife, Peggy.