Odessan inducted into Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame

Ray H. "Tuffy" Overturff, 94, of Odessa, was recently inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame April 12 in Belton.

Founded in 1975, the TRCHF is an organization dedicated to the sport of rodeo in recognition of Texas' contribution to the sport.
Approximately 50 family members and friends made the trip to watch Overturff receive the award.

Overturff, along with Roy Wallace of Midland and Tommy Owens of Rankin were all inducted into the Trail Blazers category.

Overturff spent his early years in Big Spring. One of his first jobs, working at the Cauble Ranch for I.V. Cauble, started his interest in roping. Cauble's son roped and encouraged Overturff to try his hand at roping calves.

Overtuff later married Gussie on Dec. 31, 1934. After adding two boys and two girls to the family, they moved to Odessa where he and his wife still reside today.

Overturff continued to work at the sport of roping calves, staying close to home sometimes working more than one job to make ends meet.

He and some of his buddies built a roping arena on Odessa's Southside. They'd rope weekends borrowing goats from area ranches. Most of his roping was in near by towns where he joined the Penwell, Andrews and Monahans roping clubs.

Penwell hosted some great ropers of their time producing rodeos every Sunday, once having more than 500 spectators in the stands.

Prizes were everything from buckles, boots and clothing to household items given by Hub Furniture Store.

Overturff certainly won his share. He also roped and won in area rodeos as well as matched calf ropings.

When the Sandhills Livestock Show and Rodeo moved to the Ector County Coliseum in 1995.

Overturff was the first calf roper of the show.

Because of an injury and hauling his sons to junior rodeos, Overturff took time from competitive roping.

He continued to train and work with his young horses. In 1981, Overturff retired from Mapp Tank Co., giving him even more time in the arena. He decided to try his luck at competing again and joined the National Old Timers Rodeo Association and the Old Timers Roping Association.

He had a good little horse and they started winning prizes and the prize money. He was 70 years old when he really went to hauling, winning championships in the 69 and over as well as the 71 and over. Besides numerous buckle wins, Overturff's year-end wins include: 1983 Champion Breakaway Roper, Texas Cowboy Reunion, Stamford; 1989 Champion Ribbon Roper, OTRA, 65 and Over; 1991 Champion Calf Roper, OTRA, 65 and Over; 1992 Champion Calf Roper, OTRA, 71 and Over; and 1993 Champion Calf Roper, NOTRA. 71 and Over.

In January 1998, Overturff was nominated for the Blue Cross Blue Shield "Ageless Hero."

He was featured in January 1989 issue of Time Magazine. They flew him to Chicago for the event and where met the former President George H.W. Bush. He placed runner-up losing out to a young fellow from Australia.

On April 14, 1998, Paul Harvey spoke these words on his national radio broadcast. "Tuffy is 84, still rides and ropes everyday. And he can still get a calf down in under 20."

At that time, he passed up an invitation to appear on the David Letterman Show.

Overturff takes great pride in his horse training accomplishments. His horses are still competing and winning in the United States Calf Roping Association.