Lonnie Hale
Class of 2020 (posthumously)
1935-1972
Lonnie was born in Melville, Utah and moved with his family to Manns Creek, Idaho as a small child. After getting his first pony, and his cowboy hat, he was hooked on the western life style.
Rodeo was his passion. He started riding Bareback horses, Broncs and Bulls. He traveled in Idaho winning many rodeos. Later he joined the PRCA and extended his travel and competition. He was an auctioneering graduate from Billings, Montana, and was a sculptor and artist as well.
He and his brother, Lou Hale, traveled together and worked together for McGregor Triangle construction company during the week. Then on the weekends they would hit the rodeo trail.
Lonnie was also a master bull rope braider and sold bull ropes to many a champion. He could do any size plait the bull rider needed.
Some of his rodeo wins included Weiser, Id. Cambridge, Id. Lakeview, Ore. Red Bluff, Ca. Edmonton, Alberta. And many more. He was a mentor to many young cowboys and admired for his numerous talents.
Lonnie Hale
Class of 2020 (posthumously)
1935-1972
Lonnie was born in Melville, Utah and moved with his family to Manns Creek, Idaho as a small child. After getting his first pony, and his cowboy hat, he was hooked on the western life style.
Rodeo was his passion. He started riding Bareback horses, Broncs and Bulls. He traveled in Idaho winning many rodeos. Later he joined the PRCA and extended his travel and competition. He was an auctioneering graduate from Billings, Montana, and was a sculptor and artist as well.
He and his brother, Lou Hale, traveled together and worked together for McGregor Triangle construction company during the week. Then on the weekends they would hit the rodeo trail.
Lonnie was also a master bull rope braider and sold bull ropes to many a champion. He could do any size plait the bull rider needed.
Some of his rodeo wins included Weiser, Id. Cambridge, Id. Lakeview, Ore. Red Bluff, Ca. Edmonton, Alberta. And many more. He was a mentor to many young cowboys and admired for his numerous talents.
Lonnie Hale
Class of 2020 (posthumously)
1935-1972
Lonnie was born in Melville, Utah and moved with his family to Manns Creek, Idaho as a small child. After getting his first pony, and his cowboy hat, he was hooked on the western life style.
Rodeo was his passion. He started riding Bareback horses, Broncs and Bulls. He traveled in Idaho winning many rodeos. Later he joined the PRCA and extended his travel and competition. He was an auctioneering graduate from Billings, Montana, and was a sculptor and artist as well.
He and his brother, Lou Hale, traveled together and worked together for McGregor Triangle construction company during the week. Then on the weekends they would hit the rodeo trail.
Lonnie was also a master bull rope braider and sold bull ropes to many a champion. He could do any size plait the bull rider needed.
Some of his rodeo wins included Weiser, Id. Cambridge, Id. Lakeview, Ore. Red Bluff, Ca. Edmonton, Alberta. And many more. He was a mentor to many young cowboys and admired for his numerous talents.
Lonnie Hale
Class of 2020 (posthumously)
1935-1972
Lonnie was born in Melville, Utah and moved with his family to Manns Creek, Idaho as a small child. After getting his first pony, and his cowboy hat, he was hooked on the western life style.
Rodeo was his passion. He started riding Bareback horses, Broncs and Bulls. He traveled in Idaho winning many rodeos. Later he joined the PRCA and extended his travel and competition. He was an auctioneering graduate from Billings, Montana, and was a sculptor and artist as well.
He and his brother, Lou Hale, traveled together and worked together for McGregor Triangle construction company during the week. Then on the weekends they would hit the rodeo trail.
Lonnie was also a master bull rope braider and sold bull ropes to many a champion. He could do any size plait the bull rider needed.
Some of his rodeo wins included Weiser, Id. Cambridge, Id. Lakeview, Ore. Red Bluff, Ca. Edmonton, Alberta. And many more. He was a mentor to many young cowboys and admired for his numerous talents.
Lonnie Hale
Class of 2020 (posthumously)
1935-1972
Lonnie was born in Melville, Utah and moved with his family to Manns Creek, Idaho as a small child. After getting his first pony, and his cowboy hat, he was hooked on the western life style.
Rodeo was his passion. He started riding Bareback horses, Broncs and Bulls. He traveled in Idaho winning many rodeos. Later he joined the PRCA and extended his travel and competition. He was an auctioneering graduate from Billings, Montana, and was a sculptor and artist as well.
He and his brother, Lou Hale, traveled together and worked together for McGregor Triangle construction company during the week. Then on the weekends they would hit the rodeo trail.
Lonnie was also a master bull rope braider and sold bull ropes to many a champion. He could do any size plait the bull rider needed.
Some of his rodeo wins included Weiser, Id. Cambridge, Id. Lakeview, Ore. Red Bluff, Ca. Edmonton, Alberta. And many more. He was a mentor to many young cowboys and admired for his numerous talents.
Cody Bequeath
Class of 2018
The cowboy lifestyle was in my DNA before I was ever a thought in my parents’ heads. Those who know the Bequeath family know this for a fact. I started traveling to rodeos with my dad before I can remember. There’s a “rodeo family” joke that my dad’s traveling partners changed my diapers more than he did.
Whether we were flying or driving, dad took me with him as much he could. After dabbling in a little mutton busting, I got my first calf at the age of four in Shoshone, Idaho. Once, my calf-riding debut was a crowd-pleaser, stock contractors would run in a break-away calf for me to ride to kick off the fan favorite event, bull riding.
Eventually I graduated from calves to steers where I was successful as well, winning a handful of championships, but I couldn’t wait to get into the big leagues and start riding bulls. I was finally able to get on my first bull in eight grade; I still remember it like it was yesterday. Throughout my youth I was also very involved and accomplished in sports. Unfortunately when I reach high school, the coaching staff forced me to choose between rodeo and sports, probably one of the easiest decisions I ever had to make.
I went on to win the bull riding district two High School Rodeo Championship titles in 1994 and 1996, qualifying for the National High School Rodeo Finals in ’94. In an effort to accumulate high school rodeo all around points, I also competed in team roping and saddle bronc events. I won second in District Two Saddle Bronc in 1996; qualified for State in saddle bronc in ’96, and team roping in ’94 and ’96.
After graduating high school, I attended college at Treasure Valley Community College on a full ride rodeo scholarship. During the three years I attended college, I won the Northwest Region Bull Riding Championship title each year (’97, ’98, ’99) qualifying for the College National Finals all three years. As a freshman, I went into the finals sitting as the number one bull rider in the nation. I ended up finishing my freshman year tenth in the nation, 5th in 1998, and 4th in 1999. During my college rodeo career, I also won the ICA Bull Riding Champion title in 1998, and ICA Reserve Bull Riding Champion in 1999. In between rodeos and school, I put together steer riding schools for youth.
After college, I continued to follow my dream, filling my PRCA permit by winning the Benny Binion’s bucking sale in Las Vegas, NV during the NFR. In 2000 I purchased my PRCA card and won over-all Rookie of the Year in Columbia River Circuit. That same year I qualified for Columbia River Circuit Finals, winning 4th. During 2001, I was sitting 4th in PRCA standings when I severely broke my leg and couldn’t compete in the Fourth of July Run. I had to sit out the rest of the year. I made my 2002 comeback with a win at the first PRCA rodeo of the season in Brawley, CA. I was sitting 7th in the 2002 PRCA world standings when I sustained a knee injury, tearing my ACL, MCL and meniscus, while in Glenn Rose, TX. I was out six months.
After multiple injuries and setbacks, I decided to compete closer to home in local ICA, PRCA Circuit rodeos, and PBR events, qualifying for the Wilderness Circuit Finals among other minor winnings. In 2007 I decided to end my bull riding career after winning the ICA Reserve Bull Riding Champion again. I wanted to leave the sport on a good note, as age was catching up with me. During all the years I competed in the ICA, I won bull riding championships at least once at every sanctioned rodeo, sometimes multiple times. The one accomplishment I hold closest to my heart is the fact my dad and I are the only father/son duo to both win ICA Championships in a rough stock event.
Although I was no longer riding bulls, I still craved the sport and wanted to be around it as much as possible. With that said, I obtained my judging card, judging ICA rodeos and open bull ridings. I was also the bull riding coach at TVCC and bull riding director for the ICA for some time. After retiring from bull riding, I also started working for the city of Middleton, Idaho where I recently celebrated my 10-year anniversary (2017) as Head of Parks Department and Water Operator for Public Works Department. I currently live with my girlfriend in New Plymouth, Idaho where we purchased 5 acres. Our hope is to put together a horse facility so I can get back to team roping. It is now more apparent than ever how near and dear my immediate family is to me, especially my dad…my best friend… Just being nominated for the Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame alongside my dad is a blessing in itself.