| On June 29, 1956, the Articles of Association were made for the Coleman
FFA Junior Championship Rodeo Association. On this same day, the
association incorporated with 10 directors. They included Zeno Hemphil,
Charles R. Taylor, Weldon Davis, M. B. Casey, C. W. Hemphill Jr., Bates
Baulch, W. R. Hickman Jr., Paul Cannon, Charles Hunter and Frank Gillespie.
The first adult president for the association was Zeno Hemphill, with Charles
R. Taylor as Vice-President, and Weldon Davis as Secretary - Treasurer.
In 1956, the Coleman FFA Junior Championship Rodeo, Inc. passed a motion
giving a $500.00 scholarship to a Coleman youth which was applied to a
two year state supported college or university. With the association
being a non-profit organization, the sole purpose of the annual rodeo was
to provide this scholarship to an area youth and promote interest for the
youth of Coleman. In 1958, the American Junior Rodeo finals were
held in Coleman. This was quite an event for the community of Coleman.
In 1963, the Coleman FFA Junior Championship Rodeo was dissolved and
a new organizational name emerged as the Coleman County Junior Rodeo Association.
This enabled any Coleman County youth under 19 years of age to be a member
and also enabled any Coleman County High School senior to be eligible for
the scholarship. In 1983, the articles were amended again to enable
any youth attending a Coleman County school to be eligible for the scholarship
which now amounts to $800.00. This scholarship is to be used at the
college or university of the recipient’s choice. In 1983, the association
gave two trophy saddles for awards to the High Point Boy and Girl at the
Jr. Rodeo in August of each year.
The Coleman County Junior Rodeo Association is one of few community
organizations for the youth of Coleman County, and with the support of
the area merchants and individuals, the organization will continue to offer
the best Junior Rodeo in the state of Texas. |