The New Mexico State University Rodeo Hall of Fame Induction and the DuBois Award ceremonies were held during the annual Aggie Brawl Rodeo Dance at Dickerson's Event Center in Las Cruces on May 3.
The DuBois award is given to the NMSU rodeo athletes who have scored the most National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association points in more than one event during the season. The awards are presented by Frank DuBois, former secretary/director of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. Each winner received a bronze Curtis Fort sculpture.
The DuBois Award for All-Around Cowgirl was given to Bailey Gow of Roseburg, Ore. Gow is a senior majoring in agricultural business. She is the all-around cowgirl and the champion barrel-racer in the Grand Canyon region of the NIRA. She also is ranked third in goat-tying and 10th in breakaway roping regionally.
The All-Around Cowboy award was given to Chance Means of Cliff. Means also is a senior majoring in agricultural business. He is ranked third in the men's all-around for the Grand Canyon region. He also is the champion tie-down roper and champion team roping header for the region.
Those inducted into the NMSU Rodeo Hall of Fame are Don Driggers, of Santa Rosa; Harry Hopson of Roy; and Hamilton "Ham"
Scott of Mertzon, Texas. Inductees are chosen by a committee based upon their rodeo accomplishments and contributions to the NMSU rodeo program.
Driggers was the 1952 national champion steer wrestler. He also competed in calf roping, ribbon roping, wild cow milking and the wild horse race.
Hopson was on the 1949 team that competed at the very first College National Finals Rodeo. He also was on the 1950 and 1951 CNFR teams, and was president of the Aggie Rodeo Association in 1949 and 1950. He competed in bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, steer wrestling and wild cow milking.
Scott, who was given the award posthumously, represented NMSU at the first meeting of the NIRA. He also was on the 1949 team that competed in the first CNFR, and competed in calf roping, ribbon roping, steer wrestling, bareback riding and wild cow milking.