2006

Airwolf - Animal
Inducted - October 28, 2006

Airwolf

Franklin Rodeo’s Air Wolf is one of the most well known bronc’s in Canada and the USA in the last several years. He was born in the spring of 1994 on the Franklin ranch at Bonnyville Alberta.  This 1100 pound grey gelding would perhaps be considered one of the best two event horses in the world.

Airwolf started out as a bareback horse, being named third best bareback horse of the world and NFR in 1992. In 1993, Air wolf was named Canadian and World bareback horse of the year. In 1995 he was switched to the saddle bronc riding and was named the best Saddle bronc at Calgary Stampede and the third best bronc at the NFR.

Glen O’Neill tied the world record with a 95 point ride on the grey gelding at Innisfail in 1996. The following year Air Wolf was voted second best saddle bronc of the world and top bronc of the Alberta Pro rodeo circuit.

In 1999, Air Wolf once again was named the best saddle bronc at the NFR, top horse of the Calgary Stampede, and the Canadian Saddle bronc of the year. It was at that finals that Air Wolf spoiled Dan Mortinson’s bid for a sixth World title, being the only horse to throw him during the ten performances.

At the 2001 Canadian finals he packed Rod Warren to his first Canadian bronc riding championship.

During the 2003 NFR at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas the great horse performed for the last time and on the eve of his retirement, Air Wolf was named saddle bronc horse of the NFR for a second and final time.

After his last trip to Vegas he was returned to the Franklin ranch at Bonnyville, to live out his days in retirement, never to be bucked again.

Bruce Flewelling - Builder
Inducted - October 28, 2006

Bruce Flewelling

Bruce Flewelling’s love of the sport has been witnessed for over forty years. A contractor and pick-up man, he has always been a willing volunteer in every aspect of rodeo, whether it be helping a barrel racer in the arena, helping a new pick-up man get the hang of things, letting a young cowboy know what rein to use on a horse or how the horse was likely to buck. He always packed a good horse for the flagman to ride and had an extra pick-up horse if needed.

Flewelling has been active at the high school rodeo level, helping out rodeo’s youth and has always been willing to give his time and talents to help a young cowboy get that “first horse” under their belt to help build their confidence.

A horse trader at heart, Bruce is always on the lookout for a “good prospect” and at the stock contractor level, some of the best stock to wear the Flewelling brand has included American Trip, British Block, Mr. Burke, Red Sky, Cheadle to name a few.


He has worked as a pick-up man for a number of contractors, including Cockx and Hook Rodeo, Northcott Rodeo, Big Country Rodeo, Vold Rodeo and Big Stone Rodeo. He also handled pick-up chores at the Calgary Stampede for 15 years and at the CFR four times.

Flewelling, held a sub-contractor card for over 20 years, helping round out the stock for several different outfits in the CPRA.

During his years as a competitor, Flewelling won the Canadian cow milking championship seven times, the Alberta Circuit cow milking championship seven times, and was a two-time Calgary Stampede cow milking champion.

Bruce Flewelling passed away on April 10, 2016. A memorial was held at Strathmore Rodeo Grounds on May 16, 2016 for the cowboy who was , posthumously named 2016 CPRA Cowboy of the Year.

Dick Havens - Contestant
Inducted - October 28, 2006

dick havens - Contestant

Dick joined the Cowboys’ Protective Association in 1949 and started competition in the cow riding and bareback riding events. His first winnings were at the local Dogpound Stampede where he won $10.00 in the cow riding and at the Morley Stampede where he pocketed $102 in the bareback riding. The following year he began to enter the tie down roping and by 1952 was placing in the steer decorating.

In 1955 Havens name first appeared in the year end standings, fifth place, in the Bareback riding. Four years later, in 1959 he was the Canadian Bareback champion . He was fourth and fifth in the standings in 1961 and 62.

There were only two cowboys that qualified for the Canadian All-Around Championship in 1961 with Dick winning by a wide margin. He was third in the All-Around standings in 1962.

In 1959 he won the Bareback riding at the Calgary Stampede and was the All-Around Champion in 1962.

Dick served as a director on the CPA board in 1957 and 58 and was president in 1960-61, then served two terms as vice-president.

He competed for approximately 20 years in the Bareback riding and two timed events, his last winnings were in Montreal, Quebec during Expo ‘67. After retiring from active competition he devoted his time to helping young cowboys get started in rodeo.

In 1985 he became a CPRA Life Member, and in 1996 was honoured as a “Pioneer of Rodeo” by the Calgary Stampede.

Dick was born and raised in Madden, where he and his wife Clara farmed and ranched until retirement. An avid golfer he and Clara enjoy much of the winter in Arizona.

Wilf Hyland - Contestant
Inducted - October 28, 2006

WilF Hyland

Wilf Hyland , was born in Quesnel, BC on October 2, 1954 to parents, Jack and Rosa Hyland and spent his early years on acreages at Langley and Port Kells, BC. Being the younger brother to Hall of Famer Mel Hyland he grew up living with rodeo.

He rode a steer in Cloverdale’s little britches rodeo when he was six years old, and that same year, he entered the boys steer riding at Calgary.

In 1974 Wilf started competing in the Novice Saddle Bronc competition and qualified for the CFR in the novice event. In 1975 he turned professional and began to compete full time.

Hyland won his first Canadian Saddle Bronc Championship the following year (1976) and also qualified for the NFR. He ended up third in the 1977 Canadian standings and in 1978, qualified for both the CFR and NFR, finishing second in the Canadian standings and third in the NFR sudden-death format in Oklahoma City.

In 1980 he won his second Canadian Saddle Bronc title, and once again qualified for both the CFR and NFR in 1981.

Over his career he also competed in Bareback, Tie-Down Roping, and Cow Milking.  Hyland also served as a Saddle Bronc Riding Director on the CPRA’s board at one time.

Wilf had an uncanny ability to remember stock and scores.  He was not only talented in the rodeo area, he is a skilled singer and guitar player as well. After retiring from rodeo, Hyland spent time working in the Alaskan oilfield. He now lives in Arizona.

Emery LaGrandeur - Contestant
Inducted – October 28, 2006

Emery LaGrandeur

Emery LaGrandeur was the older brother of 1991 Hall inductee, Peter LeGrandeur. Born near Pendleton, Oregon in 1881, LaGrandeur’s family moved to the Pincher Creek, Alta. region in 1882, where they farmed and ranched.

Emery won the World Saddle bronc Riding Championship three times; Winnipeg, 1913; New York, 1914 and again in New York in 1916. In 1917 he was crowned Canadian Champion at Medicine Hat and took the title again in 1919 in Saskatoon.

He won numerous other rodeos, including the Northwest Bronc Championships at Gleichen, Alberta in 1914, 1915 and 1916 with his last rodeo being another championship in 1922 at Gleichen, Alberta.

In 1913, LaGrandeur was proclaimed to be “the greatest rider in the world” in a article written by Guy Weadick. He stated that LaGrandeur had ridden a horse named Red Wing without halter or shank–with both hands in the air–until the horse broke during an exhibition match in Winnipeg. Red Wing had killed Joe LaMarr, a friend of LeGrandeur’s, the previous year.

Mr. A. P. Day, Sr. of Medicine Hat, Alberta, one of the top rodeo men of the First World War era stated that Fox was the best bucking horse he ever knew and Emery LaGrandeur was the best rider. He noted that Emery rode Fox five times when Fox was at his best.

After his years as a competitor, LaGrandeur served as a rodeo judge at the Calgary Stampede from 1926 until his death in 1934 at the age of 53. 

Daryl Mills - Contestant
Inducted - October 28, 2006

Daryl Mills

In 1990, his first year as a Pro, Daryl Mills from Pink Mountain, British Columbia took the Pro Rodeo world by storm, winning the Rookie of the Year Award and the Canadian Bull Riding Championship. He did not compete the next year due to injuries but came back in 1992 to win a second Canadian Bull Riding Championship.

Daryl qualified for the Canadian Finals again in 1993 and rode the first five bulls but was thrown off the last one. In his three trips to the finals he has set a record for the most consecutive bulls ridden, a total of 17, placing on all but three. He considers this as one of his greatest personal achievements.

In 1993 Mills was the aggregate winner at the National Finals in Las Vegas and set a record for the most money won ($74,112) in the bull riding event. The following year, 1994, he won the title “World Champion Bull Rider”

Before turning Pro, Daryl won the B.C. High School Rodeo bull riding and bareback riding championship in 1987 and was the FCA and Northwest Rodeo bull riding champion in 1989.

He considers his most memorable event was making a qualified ride on “Chainsaw” in Australia in 1990. A founding member and part owner of the PBR, Daryl was inducted into the PBR “Ring of Honor” in 2002 .

Mills once said during an interview, “Rodeo has meant not only a way of life, but an opportunity to travel and meet people of similar interests. Rodeo is a sport requiring a great talent with little pay. The challenge, competition and buckles make it all worthwhile”. 

Larry Robinson - Contestant
Inducted - October 28, 2006

Larry Robinson

Larry Robinson started roping calves when he was 12 years old, competing at the Little Britches rodeo in High River. Five years later, in 1974, he claimed the Alberta high school roping title. He took out his Pro card the following year and in the next twenty years qualified for the Canadian Finals eighteen times and the National finals seven times.

At age 17 in his first appearance at the CFR, Larry roped against his father. He was the youngest qualifier and Edgar was the eldest. They did this again in 1979.

He won six Canadian tie-down roping titles over the course of his career (1981, 82 ,84,85, 1992 and 93) and finished second in 1983 and 86.In 1986, Robinson was the Calgary Stampede’s $50,000 bonus winner.

Robinson still holds the record for most points over 6 performances at the Canadian Finals with 190 in 1964.

He made the NFR seven times (1977, 79, 1981,82 and 1984,85,86), winning more money than any other contestant in 1984, finishing third in the world standings . He led the worlds standings through much of 1985, and came within a broken barrier of winning the world title, winding up in fourth in the final standings.

In 1986 Larry received Alberta Achievement Award in the “Performance Category”. He has also received the Commemorative metal for the 125th anniversary of Canadian Federation. This medal was in recognition of significant contribution to compatriots, community and country. In 1993 his name was placed on the wall of honour recognizing Central Alberta Athletes achievements, in the Kurt Browning Arena in Caroline, Alberta. In 1997 he received the prestigious C.N.Woodward “Cowboy of the Year Award”.

During his career, three of Robinson’s horses were named ” Rope Horse of the Year” Lucky, Fred and Duffer won the title a combined six times.

Robinson continues to hold annual tie-down roping schools, and many of today’s top ropers are graduates from his program.

Robinson, and his wife, Darlene, have two sons, Kirk & Ben both are calf ropers too.  The Robinson’s also have two daughters, Maria and Renee.