OklahomaHorses Magazine July 2023

July / August 2023 • OklahomaHorses 23 to “soak up the knowledge from the greats,” qualified for the NFR 13 times and won the championship in 1971. Ote Berry moved to Checotah in 1987 after claiming his first world title, then added three more, in 1990, 1991, and 1995. He qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 14 times. An- other close friend, Teddy Johnson, also of Checotah, won the championship in 2003. The first National Finals Rodeo, popular- ly called the Super Bowl of rodeo, was held in Dallas in 1959 and continued there until 1961. Los Angeles hosted the competition from 1962 through 1964, losing the host bid to Oklahoma City in 1965, with its first event drawing more than 47,000 fans. Las Vegas, Nevada, won the bid for the event and began to host in 1985. It now brings in more than 170,000 fans during the 10-day run. In 2001, Wrangler became the first title sponsor of the NFR, with contracts set until 2024. Other rodeo associations have also show- cased the Checotah steer-wrestling legacy. The Cowboys Regional Rodeo Association crowned Checotah cowboy Kenneth Prater in 1985, 1986–1990, 1993, 1995, and 1996. Prater also claimed the champion- ship of the Central Rodeo Association in 1995 and the United Professional Rodeo Association in 1998. Baby Doll Combs andWillard Combs are a prizewinning team. Photo courtesy of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Hall of Fame. The Duvall clan of cowboys maintains a prizewinning streak in steer wrestling — Spud (left), Taggert, Treagan, Roy, Bill, Riley, Cruze, and Sam. Photo by Jenny Duvall.