The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame held an induction ceremony for its 2017 honorees on Thursday in the Historic Stockyards of Fort Worth, TX. This year's honorees include Ricky Bolin, Pete Bonds, Bill Casner, Dr. Jim Heird, and the 2017 Rick Smith Spirit of Texas Award recipient Pat Green.

Ricky Bolin only ever wanted to a cowboy and growing up in Mesquite, Texas, made that easy. Entering the weekly rodeo, he was willing to get on anything that bucked, earning his PRCA card by age 15. Bolin is a four-time NFR qualifier, having made his first appearance at 19. He also qualified 11 times for the Texas Circuit Finals, winning the bull riding championship in 1988. Since hanging up his bull rope in 1989, Ricky has worked for HatCo. Inc. (makers of Stetson, Resistol and Charlie-One-Horse Hats). He was twice named Salesman of the Year, also winning the prestigious Western Image Award, and Cavenders Boot City Salesman of the Year Award. Currently, Bolin is the General Manager for HatCo.

Based in Saginaw at the western edge of Fort Worth, Bonds Ranch was started in 1933 by P.R. (Bob) Bonds when he purchased 5,000 acres of the Mary Hicks Ranch in Hicks, TX, and ran 400 head of Hereford cow-calf pairs. Today, they raise cow-calf pairs, run stocker cattle and have a feedlot where they finish cattle. The family operation is headed by Pete Bonds and his wife, Jo, and daughters Missy, Bonnie and April at his side. Bonds is active in all segments of the live cattle industry. He runs cattle as far south as Veracruz, Mexico, and as far north as Alberta, Canada -- and pretty much everywhere between, including in 26 Texas counties. The former TSCRA president says the stocker segment is his favorite. Bonds has been presented with Beef magazine's National Stocker Award and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's (NCBA) Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in Nashville for his efforts in this critical part of the industry.

Growing up in El Paso TX, Bill Casner fell in love with horses at an early age. His first job was galloping horses at Sunland Park. He attended Tarleton State University receiving a degree in biology. Known in the industry as a "Horseman's horseman," Casner's focus is always on the animal. Whether it be a rodeo and roping competition or training a horse for a Grade 1 race, his focus remains on the stock. His lifelong devotion to thoroughbred racing has shown brightly in his venture with partner Kenny Troutt in WinStar Farm and his individual operation, Casner Racing. He has had a hand in the success of many horse racing greats, including Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and Belmont winner Drosselmeyer, but he is probably best known for the care and rehabilitation of "Well Armed" winner of the World's Richest Race, the Dubai Classic. Casner is past chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and a founding director of the Race for Education and Kentucky Equine Education Program (KEEP). Casner and his wife of 40 years, Susan, enjoy keeping their rope horses and young race horses at their ranch in Flower Mound, TX.

Current second vice president of the AQHA Dr. Jim Heird is a former AQHA director for Texas and Colorado. He has also served as chairman of the judges committee, shows committee, international committee, show council, and the animal welfare commission. He is the former extension horse specialist at North Carolina State University, a former instructor/professor at Texas Tech University and has held various dean/director positions at Colorado State University in the colleges of agricultural sciences and business and equine sciences program. Currently, he is the executive professor and coordinator of equine initiative at Texas A&M University, where he also holds the Dr. Glenn Blodgett Equine Chair. An AQHA judge from 1977 to 2015, he has judged AQHA World Championship shows, multiple international championships and National Reining Horse Association futurities.

2017 Rick Smith Spirit of Texas Award Pat Green: One of the first artists to record for Smith Music Group's Live at Billy Bob's Texas series, Pat Green is synonymous with the Texas/Red Dirt movement. After rising through the Texas college town and dancehall scene years ago, Green earned himself major-lable support in Nashville and became the poster child of Texas music for a whole generation of fans. His list of achievements includes over two million albums sold, three Grammy nominations and a sold out Houston Astrodome. The native Texan has sold out the historic Billy Bob's Texas an astounding 15 times. Now, after a three-year recharge, Green is back with his new independent album "Home."  His first set of originals in several years directly speaks to the hardcore fans that have been with him since the beginning. To date the album has been streamed over four million times. In addition to his music, Green is extremely hands on with in his philanthropic efforts which included "Don't Mess with Texas" campaigns and the Pat Green Foundation.



Congratulations to all of this year's honorees. They each have a booth at the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame that is worth a visit. For more information on visiting the Hall click here.

-Information Courtesy of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame 

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