Kelly Timberman pays tribute to Chris LeDoux at Casper, WY-rodeo

For Kelly Timberman, there was a special thrill to sharing the bareback riding championship at A Tribute to Chris LeDoux Rodeo in Casper, WY, that goes back to his childhood, to memories of his early years as a professional and to long trips on asphalt roads.

Timberman’s dad rodeoed with LeDoux, the 1976 world champion bareback rider who was also an accomplished country singer and songwriter. LeDoux performed at some of Timberman’s early rodeos and quite often on his truck’s tape deck.

“Chris LeDoux exemplified everything rodeo is about,” Timberman told the Casper Star-Tribune. “He epitomized how you want to ride bareback. And there was a lot of truth to his songs. We used to listen to them all the time on the road.

“Chris LeDoux was the most successful cowboy I can think of.”

In Timberman’s mind, there was no more fitting tribute to LeDoux, who died five years ago from a rare form of liver cancer, than to perform at his best in his hometown rodeo. Timberman had an 86-point ride on Triple V Rodeo’s Indian Summer to match the 86 that Casey Colletti of Pueblo, CO, had on Triple V’s Double Shot.

“Having this rodeo in my hometown is great,” Timberman said. “I’ll tell you what, it doesn’t get much better than this.”

The other champions at Casper were steer wrestler Dru Melvin (4.0 seconds), team ropers Garrett Tonozzi and Hank Bounds (4.9 seconds), saddle bronc rider Cole Elshere (82 points), tie-down ropers Jayce Johnson and Trevor Thiel (8.1 seconds each), bull rider Clayton Savage (83 points) and barrel racer Jane Melby (14.86 seconds).

For Kelly Timberman, there was a special thrill to sharing the bareback riding championship at A Tribute to Chris LeDoux Rodeo in Casper, WY, that goes back to his childhood, to memories of his early years as a professional and to long trips on asphalt roads.

Timberman’s dad rodeoed with LeDoux, the 1976 world champion bareback rider who was also an accomplished country singer and songwriter. LeDoux performed at some of Timberman’s early rodeos and quite often on his truck’s tape deck.

“Chris LeDoux exemplified everything rodeo is about,” Timberman told the Casper Star-Tribune. “He epitomized how you want to ride bareback. And there was a lot of truth to his songs. We used to listen to them all the time on the road.

“Chris LeDoux was the most successful cowboy I can think of.”

In Timberman’s mind, there was no more fitting tribute to LeDoux, who died five years ago from a rare form of liver cancer, than to perform at his best in his hometown rodeo. Timberman had an 86-point ride on Triple V Rodeo’s Indian Summer to match the 86 that Casey Colletti of Pueblo, CO, had on Triple V’s Double Shot.

“Having this rodeo in my hometown is great,” Timberman said. “I’ll tell you what, it doesn’t get much better than this.”

The other champions at Casper were steer wrestler Dru Melvin (4.0 seconds), team ropers Garrett Tonozzi and Hank Bounds (4.9 seconds), saddle bronc rider Cole Elshere (82 points), tie-down ropers Jayce Johnson and Trevor Thiel (8.1 seconds each), bull rider Clayton Savage (83 points) and barrel racer Jane Melby (14.86 seconds).