A Carstairs-area professional cowboy who competed in calf-roping events was recently inducted into the Canadian Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame.Joe Lucas, who resides east of Carstairs with his family, received the accolade during an awards ceremony held last month in Calgary.ìI was really honoured that people thought that much about my rodeo career,î Lucas, 52, said. ìIt was a great feeling.îLucas was involved with the pro rodeo circuit for 25 years, travelling to events throughout Canada and the United States, before retiring in 2006.ìI got my pro card in 1980,î he said. ìI made the Canadian Finals 22 times, the National Finals six times and won the Calgary Stampede in 1987.îLucas was born in Olds and grew up in the James River area north of Sundre, where his family had 200 head of commercial mother cows. He started competing at age 13 and rode bulls in high school rodeo events.ìI liked it, but my dad was worried that I'd get hurt,î he said. ìHe encouraged me to choose another event to compete in.îIn the early 1980s, Lucas would participate in nearly 140 rodeos a year.ìThe miles in between the rodeos wear you down,î he said. ìOne of the challenges is that you're always gone from home, making a lot of miles.îEvery year, the board members of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame choose up to seven inductees.ìThe board looks back over the years and sees who has won,î said Judy Wilson, secretary-treasurer. ìThey're chosen because of the records they hold in their event.ìThis is significant because, like any sport in the world, it is the culmination of a career where you've excelled and have been recognized by your peers.îWhen the inductees are chosen, they're asked which rodeo they'd like to be recognized at.ìI chose Ponoka,î said Lucas. ìThat's my favourite rodeo in Canada because it's a real cowboy's rodeo. It's a long way from being commercialized.î His children are carrying on the family tradition.ìMy daughter Katy and my son Kyle compete in rodeo events. Kyle ropes calves and team-ropes, while Katy participates in college rodeo.îHis family is proud of his achievements.ìIt's really nice to have someone to look up to,î said Katy. ìDad was so excited.îDuring the awards ceremony, Lucas received a bronze statue of legendary cowboy Pete Knight riding his horse Midnight.Lucas said he's now too old for the rodeo.ìIt's a young man's game,î he added. ìI was ready to quit when I did. The last calf I roped was in the Canadian Finals. I wanted to focus on other things, but I quit when I was still qualifying.îCalf roping is still one of his favourite events to watch, along with the ones his kids are competing in.Lucas may be retired from the rodeo life, but he doesn't remain idle. He's got a dozen horses around his place, including Peewee, his 24-year-old quarter horse.He keeps busy with Cross-Tie Fencing, a venture he started four years ago.ìI specialize in building log overhead gates,î he said. And he does white-tail guiding every November in Athabasca, where he works for an outfitter.He and his wife Sheona have been married for 21 years.ìI didn't get rich at the bank, but I made a lot of friends,î he said. ìAnd that's priceless.îLucas will be recognized at the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton this Friday, Nov. 11.
