Cowboy Hall of Fame to induct five

The Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame will honor five legendary Kansas cowboys for their contributions to western heritage this weekend.
    The Cowboy Hall of Fame was developed by Boot Hill Museum to preserve and honor the life of the Kansas cowboy. Each year since 2003, Boot Hill Museum has celebrated the Hall of Fame with a new class of inductees.
    Kim Goodnight was on the board of directors at Boot Hill Museum when the hall of fame was created.
    "It just seemed logical that Dodge City would have such a venue and there was nothing like it anywhere in Kansas," Goodnight said.
    A committee of people knowledgeable in the field of western heritage  oversees the nomination process, from guidelines to nomination forms to choosing each year's nominees.
    "One of the nominees from a couple of years ago said during the ceremony 'The very best thing about receiving this award is that I'm still alive to receive it.' I think that about sums it up," Goodnight said.
    The induction ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday at Boot Hill Museum. For more information on the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame please visit www.boothill.org or contact Boot Hill Museum at 620-227-8188.
    Here are the five inductees for 2009:

Working Cowboy
Bill Barnes
“I know every cow trail that is out here.”
   
    On November 21, 1949 Bill Barnes was born to Joe and Helen Barnes in Morton County. He rode along side of his father, a range rider, on 108,000 acres of government land in Morton County.
    In 1968, Bill followed in his father’s footsteps when he was hired as a range rider for the Morton County Grazing Association. In the 1970’s he was promoted to Association Manager. In this capacity, he takes care of not only the land but around 5,200 head of cattle each season.
    For his hard work, Barnes has received a 75th Anniversary Chief Award for outstanding service to the Cimarron National Grasslands. He married Myrna Caffee at her home in Elkhart on June 24, 1985, adding two stepsons, Brian and Todd Elsen, to his family. Bill has two children from an earlier marriage, Troy and Madonna.
    As a faithful family man, he is adored by three grandchildren and six step grandchildren. Dedicated to the welfare of youngsters, Barnes has been honored by St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital with a Volunteer Award. This is for his time spent cooking for the Eighty-one Corrals Camp Out held preceding the St. Jude’s Trail Ride.
    Bill enjoys demonstrating his Dutch oven cooking programs at the Morton County Museum and cooks for the Trail Ride held in conjunction with the annual Pioneer Days celebration. He is often seen driving people to special occasions in his horse-drawn buggy.        
    Bill is indeed a true Southwestern Kansas Cowboy as he continues to work on the ranch with his unmistakable smile, gentle demeanor and generous spirit.

Cowboy Entertainer
H. Russell Moss

“I could put any kind of trick on a horse.”

    Russell Moss was born on December 4, 1911 to Joseph Thomas and Susan Jane Moss on a ranch near Mount Moriah, Missouri where his father was a foreman. Russell worked with saddles since the age of eight. As a young man, Russell learned the art of saddle making from the legendary Monroe Veach of Trenton, Missouri. In 1930, he married Sylvia Mae McCollum.
    Making their home in Trenton, Missouri, they had one child, Juanita (Robson). He was a charter member of the Wyandotte County Mounted Sheriff’s Posse, and a rider and trainer with Ray Knapp and his Roughriders.    
    During his time with them he established a riding group, Russell’s Juvenile Riders, in Raytown, Missouri. 1945 he opened Moss Saddle Shop in Kansas City. Later he moved his shop to Chanute where Sylvia drew designs and hand tooled leather.
    In 1950 former actor, Reb Russell, helped him move his shop to Coffeyville. In 1961, he moved the saddle shop back to Kansas City. Russell did trick riding as well as saddle making and was good enough to be offered work out in California, which he turned down.
    Russell and Sylvia had six grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. After Sylvia passed away in 1963, Russell married his second wife, Genevieve, in the early 1970’s. She died a couple of years before Russell who passed on November 19, 2007.

Cowboy Historian
Harold Dawley

“This building is my life now.”

    Harold Dawley was born to Lloyd and Nettie Dawley on their family farm north of Spearville in rural Ford County on February 19, 1923. After his family moved to Ford, he worked for many area farmers, graduating from Ford High School in 1942. Harold served his country in World War II in the Armored Infantry and was seriously wounded in northern France.
    In the 1950’s Harold started collecting horse bits and bridles. For decades he attended every farm sale in the area looking for items to add to his collection. Over the years his assortment has grown to one of the finest and largest collections of bits and bridles. To house these items, Harold built an addition to his residence which was known as the Bits and Bridle Museum.
    Harold’s research and vast knowledge are a major source of information for the Encyclopedia of Bits and Bridles. As a member of the National Bit, Spur and Saddle Collector’s Association, he has been honored with a Life Time Achievement Award.
    Harold is friendly and very likeable, and interested in all things western. Harold has been a real cowboy all his life, but made a living from the Kansas Highway Maintenance Department, retiring from them in 1988. He currently lives in the Wichita, Kansas area.

Rancher/Cattleman
Duane Walker

“Breeding quarter horses is a long-term deal”

    Duane Walker was born December 18, 1935 in Brookville, Ellsworth County to Ray and Evelyn Walker. He graduated at the top of his class from Brookville High School in 1953 and attended Fort Hays State University.
    From 1958 through 1998 he was in the grain, feed and fertilizer business as manager and president of the Canton Elevator. In 1964 he started the Tee Jay Quarter Horse Ranch in Canton, which is named after the first letters in his oldest son’s and wife’s names.
    As an American Quarter Horse breeder he has registered nearly 1,700 horses during a 50-year period and was the owner of the famous Quarter Horse “Jackie Bee,” foaled in 1962 and died in 1990.
    He has been president of the Kansas Quarter Horse Association twice and was on its board for over 39 years. Currently, he resides in Canton and continues to ranch with his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Rodeo Cowboy
Wayne Dunafon
“If you don’t want to walk, break in a horse!” -- advice from Wayne’s father

    Wayne Dunafon was born in Yuma, Colorado to Jessie and Clarence Dunafon on June 15, 1919. Soon after, the family moved to the Nebraska Sand Hills. When Wayne was five, the family moved to Russell, Kansas by horse-drawn wagon.
    Ten years into his rodeo career, Wayne was ranked top ten for All-Around. He hung onto the toughest bucking horses and was a great steer wrestler. In 1956 he was runner up to the World Champion Bull-Dogger. He has two Champion All-Around Cowboy saddles and holds numerous buckles in steer wrestling.
     His rodeo career spanned over 27 years. Lee Jeans Company made him a worldwide American cowboy image and he was one of the famous “Marlboro Men.” He modeled for television and magazines from 1940 to 1978.
    In 1976 Wayne served as Vice President of the newly founded Kaw Valley Rodeo Association. Wayne was a proud member of the Cowboy Turtle Association and the Rodeo Cowboy Association, and was a Gold-Life Member of the Pro Rodeo Association; all for over 60 years. He also held memberships in the Wesby Saddle Club, the Kansas Livestock Association and the Screen Actors Guild. He made his home with Lori in Westmoreland until his death on July 8, 2001. He was posthumously inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2005.

EDITOR’S NOTE INFO PROVIDED BY BOOT HILL MUSEUM