b"From the BackI would like thank my sponsors: Usher Brand Silver and Saddlery, OF THE BOX SaddleRight Saddle Pads,Omega Fields Supplements, Hassayampa Vetrinary Clinicand Fast Back Ropes.By John SamsillYou can contact me directly at johnsamsillteamroping@gmail.com if you have any questionsor would like to schedule a clinic or a lesson.N ext month on July 16thDoyle was among a pretty small group that would the PRCA will havedo it every time. In my eyes, Doyle was the king at its Pro Rodeo Hall ofthat time. I think his winning the world proves my Fame ceremonies. I wouldpoint.His twenty National Finals appearances also like to congratulate all of thebacks up that he was very consistent at catching even inductees. This is the highestthough he was a bit of a gunslinger. I hear people honor a rodeo cowboy can achieve. It is not won, ittalking about how roping has changed since then is earned. It is earned by being one of the best andand that is very true. Doyle is one of the people who by putting in all the hard work required to reachchanged it. I also hear some guys say that the guys that level of competitor. As soon as I saw who theback then couldnt do what they are doing today. That inductees were for this year I texted my friend Doylemay be true of some guys but Doyle would fit right in Gellerman and congratulated him on being in thisin today's roping world. I think he would dominate year's class. Typical of Doyle, he was very humble andbut of course, I am not only a friend of Doyles I am a told me how he appreciated my reaching out to him.big fan so I am not totally impartial but I think many If you know Doyle then you know just how humbleguys roping today would agree with me.of a guy he is. He is not the kind of guy who will tell you he is being inducted so I would like to take thisOne of my favorite Doyle Gellerman stories chance to brag on my friend. happened at the Tucson rodeo in the mid or early eighties. I was just starting out on my pro career andI have heard the saying that you should Doyle won the world in 1981 alongside WaltDoyle was always one of the guys who I made a pointnever meet your heroes because you will Woodard. Back then they didnt have a Worldto watch when he was up. I have told this story with Champion header and heeler like they do today. Doyle present and his response is let me tell you thebe disappointed. Well I can honestly tell There was only one World Champion so Walt andreal story. It's really the same story but he fills in theyou that Doyle was and still is one of my Doyle made sure that they won it together.It usedblanks and explains what happened. I just tell it like to be back then that there was one risk-taker on theI saw it. So here is my version. I was on foot and Iheroes and I have not been disappointed.team. The other guy, whether he was the header orheard Doyle and Walt being called so I ran to the the heeler, would make sure to catch.That way whenfence to watch. I wasnt the only one with that samebarrier with the steer still in the chute and Walt still it did work out for the risk-taking side of the teamidea so I happened to be standing next to anotherin the box. His horse runs about forty feet out of the they were sure to get paid. Doyle was well known forheader. Well, Doyle rides into the box and he looks tobox and just turns left like he had the steer roped. I throwing lots of rope, reaching as it is called still. It'sbe ready to nod his head to call for the steer. Aboutwas taking all this in and trying to put together what common for headers today to reach but back thenthat time his horse takes the bit and runs through thejust happened and the other young header standing next to me looks me right in the eyes and says Do you think that horse is patterned? I started laughing because his horse worked perfectly even though there was no steer in the arena. If this would have happened to me and probably most guys I would have been so rattled that I dont think I could have recovered from it in time to ride back in and catch the steer. In typical Gellerman fashion though he rode right back in the box and won the round. That was probably forty years ago and I am still impressed by that feat. The thing that I forget to mention but what makes this even more impressive is that when Doyles horse got to the left fence he turned back abruptly and Doyle had to put his arm over the fence. I found out later that he hurt his arm when that happened but it did not affect his concentration or his ability one bit.I have heard the saying that you should never meet your heroes because you will be disappointed. Well I can honestly tell you that Doyle was and still is one of my heroes and I have not been disappointed. I am very proud to call him my friend, World Champion, and now a Hall of Famer. Congratulations my friend on this huge milestone in your career. Until next time Ill see you at the back of the box. ArizonaRealCountry.com June 2023 11"