This award is named in honor the the late Harley Tucker, who was a rodeo producer from Joseph who helped found Chief Joseph Days in 1946. He also provided stock for all four of the rodeos that sponsor this series.
From the beginning, it was in hopes of attracting more contestants to the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show in Union, the St. Paul Rodeo in St. Paul, the Elgin Stampede in Elgin, and Chief Joseph Days in Joseph.
The Harley Tucker Rodeo Series Award, formerly known as the Harley Tucker Memorial Award, was first started in 1970.
With the new sponsors, Farm Supply from Enterprise, plus the grandchildren of the late Harley Tucker, and the four rodeos adding additional monies, the award has doubled and the winner of the series will receive a check of $3,000 and a silver belt buckle. In addition, there is an accumulative fund which is at $6,000 and goes up $1,000n each year to the contestant winning the award three times. Tony Curtis of Dayton, WA, is the only competitor still competing with two legs on the award.
Recognized at the Saturday performance of Chief Joseph Days with a silver & gold buckle and $3,000, this award goes to the cowboy or cowgirl scoring the most points having entered all four rodeos at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show in Union, St. Paul Rodeo in St. Paul, the Elgin Stampede in Elgin, and Chief Joseph Days in Joseph.
If the award is earned three times, the contestant receives an accumulating purse. Cowgirls are eligible to win the Harley Tucker Rodeo Series Award since women’s barrel racing, as well as team roping, have been added to the list of qualifying events.
Previous three-time winners are Butch Knowles of Heppner, earning $5,100, Rocky Steagall of Irrigon took home $3,100, and Brad Goodrich of Hermiston, winning $10,500.
Harley Tucker was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1977, the Pendleton Round-Up Hall of Fame in 1980, and the St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1999.
Bonnie Tucker Blankinship was inducted into the “Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame in 2008.
EACH OF THE FOUR RODEOS ADDS AN ADDITIONAL $500.00 EACH.
Past Harley Tucker Rodeo Series Award Winners
1970… Buzz Peth………………. Bow, IA
1971… Buzz Seely………………. Roosevelt, WA
1972… Jim Steen……………….. Joseph, OR
1973… Buzz Seely………………. Roosevelt, WA
1974… Clyde Longfellow……… Kendric, ID
1975… Doug Brown……………..Silverton, OR
1976… Butch Knowles………. Pendleton, OR
1977… Bob Koch…………………. Aurora, OR
1978… Butch Knowles………. Pendleton, OR
1979… Clay Finley……………….. Mt. Vernon, OR
1980… Bill Nelson……………….. Baker, OR
1981… Bill Nelson………………… Baker, OR
1982…Butch Knowles………. Pendleton, OR
1983… Joe Ruda…………………… Baker, OR
1984… Johnny Sloan…………….. Ellensburg, WA
1985… Dave Cannon……………… Echo, OR
1986… Rocky Steagall………….. Irrigon, OR
1987… Jed McKinley…………….. Moscow, ID
1988… Dave Cannon ……………..Echo, OR
1989…Rocky Steagall ………… Irrigon, OR
1990… Rocky Steagall ………… Irrigon, OR
1991… Mike Fuller………………… Clarkston, WA
1992… Mike Hammer …………… Kennewick, WA
1993… Jason Jackson…………… Nespelem, WA
1994… Sean Culver ………………. Grandview, WA
1995… Greg Oules………………… Chelan, WA
1996… Tony Currin………………. Dayton, WA
1997… Toby Adams……………… Red Bluff, CA
1998… Brad Goodrich……… Hermiston, OR
1999… Shawn Greenfield……… Pasco, WA
2000… Jeff Coelho……………… Long Creek, OR
2001… Brad Gleason…………… Touchet, WA
2002… Tony Currin……………. Dayton, WA
2003… Cindy Woods………….. Newberg, OR
2004… Kayle Gray…………….. Goldendale, WA
2005… Trevor Knowles……… Mt. Vernon, WA
2006… Ben Londo……………. Milton-Freewater, OR
2007…Brad Goodrich……… Hermiston, OR
2008… Brad Goodrich…….. Hermiston, OR
2009… Shane Crossley………. Hermiston, OR
Jason Stewart…………………… Royal City, WA
2010… Shawn Morehead…… Bruneau, ID
2012… Pamela Capper……. Cheney, WA
2013… George Gillespie IV… Placerville, CA
2014… Max Philippini……. Battle Mountain, NV
2015… Ryan MacKenzie… Homedale, ID
2016… Ryan Opie……… Crane, OR
2017… Jesse Brown….. Baker City, OR
2018… Roger Nonella…. Redmond, OR
2019 …George Gillespie….. IV, Placerville, CA
2020… N/A
2021… Kade Bruno….. Challis, ID
2022… Caleb McMillan