ProRodeo Hall of Famer

Jet, Sept 13, 2004

PRORODEO HALL OF FAMER: Fred Whitfield, one of the greatest tie-down ropers in ProRodeo history, was recently inducted into the ProRodeo Hall Fame during the Hall's 25th anniversary gala in Colorado Springs, CO. Whitfield of Hockley, TX, who is still active, won seven world titles, including six in tie-down roping and one in the all-around during his storied career.

He is the first African-American cowboy in PRCA history to win an all-around title and only the second to win a world title. "This is overwhelming," stud Whitfield, who is the third cowboy in history to surpass the $2 million mark in career earnings (JET, July 7, 2003). "Doing it the way I did and coming from where I come from, overcoming a lot of stuff, it's quite an achievement. I'm really, truly honored."