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V5I50 Press Release
FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY RODEO ANNOUNCES THE 2025 HALL OF FAME CLASS
Individuals of interest:
Colette Baier Graves, Ponca City, OK, (Hometown: Hardtner, KS)
Lyle Sankey, Branson, Mo, (Hometown: Rose Hill, KS)
Kathy Geier Sankey, Branson, MO, (Hometown: Larned, KS)
Bronc Rumford, Abbyville, KS
Jerry Beagley, Durant,OK (Hometown: Medicine Lodge, KS)
Stan Schmidt, Glasco. KS
Donnie Simpson, Leawood, KS, (Hometown: Haysville, KS)
Steve Fenster, Healy, KS, (Hometown: Haysville, KS)
Cindy Elam Zimmerman, Weatherford, TX, (Brookville, KS) Dr. Ed Hammond, Hays, KS
Kevin Rich, Stillwater, OK, Windsor, CO (Hometown: Bucklin, KS)
April 2025, Hays, Kansas: Fort Hays State University Rodeo announces the following inductees into the FHSU Rodeo Hall of Fame. This prestigious group of individuals will be honored at the Annual Fort Hays State University Rodeo on April 19th, 2025.
FHSU 1974 College National Finals Rodeo Team – In the 1974 Central Plains Region, FHSU won both the Women’s and the Men’s team titles and finished their regular season with the 3rd highest point total in the nation! Nine team members qualified for the College National Finals. The FHSU Women’s Team of Colette Graves Baier, Kathy Geier Sankey, and Cindy Elam Zimmerman, placed 2nd overall.
Colette placed second in barrel racing. FHSU’s Men’s Team was Jerry Beagley, Steve Fenster, Bronc Rumford, Lyle Sankey, Stan Schmidt, and Donnie Simpson. Three men placed in individual events. In the Men’s All-Around standings, Jerry Beagley placed 4th, and Bronc Rumford placed 5th, separated by only six points.
Kevin Rich, Stillwater OK/Windsor CO – In the late 1980s, Kevin Rich was a valued member of the FHSU Rodeo Team and Club, competing in bull riding and serving as President in 1988. He was also the bullfighter and comedy act at the FHSU rodeos. Kevin was the 1989 Central Plains Region Reserve Champion Bull Rider, qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo. He also competed in freestyle bullfighting at the last-minute request of CNFR Stock Contractor Harry Vold. After college, Kevin worked as a PRCA barrel man/clown and bullfighter. Following retirement from fighting bulls, he became a stock contractor of fighting bulls. Last year, Kevin was inducted into the Original Wrangler Bullfights Hall of Fame.
Dr. Ed Hammond, Hays, KS – Dr. Hammond, FHSU’s longest-serving President of 27 years (1987 to 2014), was a strong supporter of the Rodeo Team and Club due to their long history with the university. He collaborated with long-time rodeo coach Dr. Garry Brower to create a new strategy for building the rodeo and agriculture programs. FHSU invested in Bronc Rumford as the Rodeo coach and hired a half-time assistant coach who also recruited for the ag department. Their efforts were successful, resulting in growth for each of the programs. Dr. Hammond became perhaps the only college president to own a bucking bull, which was used for team practice.
The 2025 Hall of Fame class will be inducted at 2 PM April 19th during a ceremony at the Schenk Building, Ellis County Fairgrounds in Hays, KS. They will also be introduced at the rodeo that evening. The public is invited to attend the Saturday afternoon ceremony and stay for the rodeo at 7 PM.
For more information, or to RSVP for the ceremony, please email the FHSU Rodeo advisory board at FHSUrab@gmail.com
