The California Rodeo Salinas is a long standing local and national tradition with many contributors to thank for the success it celebrates today. The California Rodeo Salinas’ Hall of Fame was started in 2010 during the centennial celebration of the famed Rodeo and is still going strong with bi-annual inductions honoring those who have influenced the organization through volunteering, competing and more. The class of 2018 is made up of the following individuals:
Committee Members
Allan Wallace
Contract Personnel
Frank V. Borba
Contestants
Casey Tibbs
Harry Tompkins
J.C. Trujillo
The class will be honored on Thursday, July 19th during an induction luncheon at the Salinas Sports Complex from 11:30am to 1pm on the Mike Storm Directors Patio at 1034 N. Main Street. Tickets are $30 per person and include lunch and beverages during the ceremony where the inductees and/or their families will receive their trophies, give speeches and more. The luncheon is presented by the Jim and Sally Martins Family.
Read about the inductees below (or by clicking HERE)
Allan Wallace- Committee Member 2018
Allan Wallace was born on September 7, 1932 in Salinas, California. Allan grew up in Salinas and went on to study at Fresno State University before becoming the Ranch Manager for the Topo Ranch in King City for 30 years. Allan got his start at the Rodeo with Dr. Frank Wayland, the Veterinarian, who asked him to attend the rodeo in 1947, helping with stock and embarking on a journey that would span over the next 50 years. After returning from service in the Korean War, Allan started assisting in the roping chutes at the Rodeo. In 1956 Allan became a Director and continued to volunteer his time in the arena, moving on to being the line judge in the timed events and was awarded the Gold Saddleman in 1974. A few years later in 1986 Allan received an honorable promotion when he was selected as the Arena Director. He was instrumental in bringing the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Gold Card Team Roping to Salinas and received a Life PRCA Gold Card for his efforts. Allan was involved in many areas during his 50 years of volunteering at the Rodeo and had a hand in many positive changes. Allan passed away on November 3, 2017.
Frank V. Borba-Contract Personnel 2018
Born February 17th in Goshen, California, Frank V. Borba was a visionary who helped to lobby state legislators in the 1970’s to bring the art of Portuguese bullfighting to California. His deep Portuguese heritage and devotion created one of the best fighting bull bloodlines in California. In 1981, Frank would take his fighting bulls to rodeos for rodeo clowns to fight and in 1988 he started bringing fighting bulls to the California Rodeo Salinas. The best bullfighters in the industry wanted to fight in Salinas to face Borba Bulls with a shot to win big money and the famed Salinas buckle. To this day the grandstands still fill up for the finale freestyle bullfights thanks to the Borba Family setting the precedent by bringing their best bulls to Salinas, helping this fight to become known as the best bullfighting competition next to the National Finals Rodeo. Six times from 1986 to 1994 Borba Bulls were awarded Fighting Bull of the Year at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Frank V. Borba passed away on November 9, 2001 in Modesto, California.
Casey Tibbs- Contestant 2018
Casey Tibbs was born in Fort Pierre, South Dakota on March 5, 1929. At the young age of 22, Tibbs “was considered the greatest bronc rider in the nation. A true rodeo celebrity, he had a world championship under his belt, a wild reputation, and his face was on the cover of Life magazine.” (American Cowboy Magazine) Casey won a record six world championship saddle bronc riding titles as well as one in bareback riding and two in the all-around. Showing up in Salinas in his usual flamboyant style, Tibbs won the saddle bronc riding here in 1949, 1952, 1953 and 1959 and the bareback riding in 1951. Tibbs served on every administrative board in the RCA (Rodeo Cowboys Association) during his era, introducing the Bucking Horse of the Year Award and playing a critical role in developing the idea of the National Finals Rodeo. Casey passed away on January 28, 1990.
Harry Tompkins- Contestant 2018
Born on October 5, 1927 in Furnace Woods, New York, Harry Tompkins was a talented all-around cowboy. From unlikely rodeo roots on the East Coast, Tomkins actually got his big break while working for the Cimarron Dude Ranch. Back then, each dude ranch sent their top hand to compete at the world-famous rodeo at Madison Square Garden, and that’s where it all started for young Harry. During his storied cowboy career, Tompkins won virtually every major rodeo. He won the bull riding world title five times in 12 years, as well as the 1952 world bareback riding title. Tompkins also won the world all-around championship in 1952 and 1960, which means that in 1952 he was one of the rare few cowboys ever to win a coveted Rodeo Triple Crown. Tompkins also dominated at Salinas. He won the California Rodeo bareback riding championship in 1950, 1953, and 1955, and pulled off a Rodeo Trifecta in Salinas, as well, winning the 1955 California Rodeo bull riding buckle along with that year’s all-around title. Harry is 90 years old and lives in Dublin, Texas.
J.C. Trujillo- Contestant 2018
J.C. Trujillo was born May 5, 1948 in Prescott, Arizona. J.C. competed in the California Rodeo Salinas beginning in 1973 through 1985, and won the bareback riding four times. He entered major rodeos throughout the United States and Canada including Cheyenne Frontier Days, Rodeo Houston, Prescott Frontier Days, Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and the Calgary Stampede, just to name a few. Mr. Trujillo, also competed at The National Finals Rodeo twelve times. He won the world champion bareback riding title in 1981 at the National Finals Rodeo. J.C. also served as a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Board of Director for two years in 1985 and 1986. In 1994, he was inducted to the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. After retiring from rodeo competition J.C. Trujillo accepted the position as General Manager in 2004 for the Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo, where he can currently be found most days.
About California Rodeo Salinas
The 108th California Rodeo Salinas will take place July 19th-22nd, 2018. The California Rodeo Association is a not-for-profit organization that strives to preserve and promote the traditions of the California Rodeo Salinas and the West. We support the community and other non-profit organizations through the staging of the annual California Rodeo Salinas and other year round operations of the Salinas Sports Complex. Through donation of our facility, vending and fundraising opportunities during Rodeo and other events, the California Rodeo Association returns over $400,000 annually to local non-profits. For more information about the California Rodeo Salinas, log on to www.CARodeo.com or call the California Rodeo Office at 831-775.3100. ‘Like’ the California Rodeo on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CARodeoSalinas or follow us on twitter @CaliforniaRodeo for updates, photos and more.