The Fort Hays State University Rodeo inducted its third class into the 2025 FHSU Rodeo Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 19, at the Schenk Building at the Ellis County Fairgrounds. The inductees included FHSU alumni who were former rodeo team members or campus leaders who supported the program.
The first group of inductees consisted of the 1974 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) Team. The women’s team, including Colette Graves, Kathy Geier, and Cindy Elam, finished second nationally that season. The men’s team, featuring Bronc Rumford, Jerry Beagley, Lyle Sankey, Donnie Simpson, Steve Fenster, and Stan Schmidt, placed sixth.
Other honorees included Dr. Ed Hammond, FHSU President Emeritus, and Kevin Rich, a professional rodeo bullfighter. The ceremony marked the first time in 50 years that members of the 1974 team reunited since the finals in Bozeman, Montana.
Beagley, now the owner of Jerry Beagley Braiding Co. Inc., specializes in rodeo and horse braiding products. Sankey and Geier also celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, having met at a rodeo in 1975. Lyle Sankey, a regional champion in saddle bronc riding, is one of only four men to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in all three rough riding events.
Dr. Hammond was credited with saving the rodeo program during his presidency and fostering its growth. Rumford, a three-time CNFR qualifier, later coached FHSU Rodeo for 15 years.
