Memories

​​What a Difference a Day Makes!!  How about 61 years?

It’s your movie--you are the producer, director and star.

​In those days the title was Miss Wyo Rodeo. There was no crown, chaps, buckle, saddle, trophy, wardrobe, or sponsors, however, I did receive a bouquet of red roses. I was thrilled and my parents were over the moon! Let me assure you that memories made are more precious than any awards and have become more so as the years go flying by.

​At the top of the list are:

Riding down State Street in Chicago in a parade while attending the Golden Spurs Rodeo and participating in the Miss Rodeo America Contest. It was pretty exciting; can you imagine from Saratoga, WY to that? I developed a friendship there with Lyn & Nancy Sheppard from Globe, Az. Lyn was an RCA cowboy and Nancy, a very talented trick rope and rider. Lyn passed several years ago but Nancy and I have maintained contact all of these years.
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At the Denver Stock Show, I marched with Rex Allen in the Grand Ball at the Brown Derby Hotel. Casey Tibbs cut in on my dad and danced with me. He wanted to take me out, but my parents refused! Needless to say, I was pretty upset with them.

Mary Kay Walker, Miss Wyo. Rodeo 1956

Wyoming didn’t have a contest in 1957 and had me come back as Miss Wyo. State Fair. I don’t know how “Queenly” I was, as I chewed tobacco in the grand entries at the dare of some cowboys and rode the clown’s mule out of the arena and he rode my horse.

Mary Kay with Senator Milward L. Simpson and Mrs. Simpson.

I now have two grown children, Marty Howard who is an attorney with UNLV in Las Vegas
and Julie Howard, an aesthetician in Scottsdale, Az. Before I retired a year ago, I owned and operated Bronco Billy’s Saloon for 19 years here in Reno where I displayed lots of rodeo memorabilia.

I used to wear my High School All-Around Cowgirl buckle, then my brother’s, Ray Walker, team roping buckles. My son Marty said, “Mom, have your own buckle made, you deserve it.”
So, I had Montana Silversmiths make me a buckle which I proudly wear and, staying with its time, says Miss Wyo Rodeo 1956.

My dad, Len Walker died in 1957 at the age of 45. He was inducted into the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2015 and I came to Casper and proudly accepted for him. 

Well, at the age of 78, this title and honor have become all the more important to me. The memories made make me smile and have even carried me through some tough times.
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WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES! You Decide. It’s your movie--you are the producer, director and star. ‘THIS AINT NO DRESS REHEARSAL! Tighten your cinch. Cowgirl Up. “Ladies And Gentlemen, please stand for our National Anthem” GOD BLESS!!