Page 17 - 2015 State Finals Program
P. 17
yd Rumford/KHSRA State Finals Edgar “Puncher” Cooper Memorial
Scholarship
The first contestant in the National High
In 1951, while lying in a hospital bed, School Rodeo competition died January
Floyd Rumford produced his first ro- 27, 2006. Edgar “Puncher” Cooper (1931
deo. Floyd was recuperating from a life -2006) was born in Saffordville, KS,
threatening and career ending injury. A served four years in the Navy, and lived
tractor rolled over on him and with that, the remaining 50 years on a farm north of
his dreams of becoming a champion ro- Saffordville. His father, Elmer Cooper,
deo cowboy vanished. But with his love was a cowboy and Puncher became
and desire for the sport of rodeo, Floyd skilled with horses at a very young age,
was able to stay involved in rodeo by thereby receiving the nickname that
raising bucking horses and bulls and stuck with him the rest of his life. In
producing rodeos. Floyd Rumford was a 1949, he traveled by bus to the high
rodeo Stock Contractor for over 50 school rodeo in Halletsville, TX, and
years, fulfilling his dream of becoming a competed as a saddle bronc rider, win-
member of the Professional Rodeo Cow- ning 2nd place, and competing in several
boys Association and providing live- other events. He competed the following
stock for the National Finals Rodeo. year in Santa Rosa, NM, also placing 2nd
Floyd always enjoyed helping cowboys in the saddle broncs. In 1949, he won
and cowgirls and with this scholarship the Amateur Saddle Bronc contest at the
we hope that we are also helping aspir- Flint Hills Rodeo in Strong City,
ing rodeo cowboys and cowgirls attain KS. Puncher was a member of the AQHA
their dreams. It is with great pleasure for more than 50 years and was a breed-
that the Rumford Family present two, er of performance quarter horses. He
$250 scholarships to a KHSRA graduat- and his family held an annual production
ing seniors in Floyd’s name. Floyd had a sale with two other breeders for 25 years
love and passion for Kansas High School and it is still running. Several children
Rodeo and would be proud of how far and grandchildren competed in local ro-
this organization has come in the last 56 deos and two granddaughters were
years. We hope with this scholarship we members of the KHSRA. His wife, Jean-
are able to play a small part in helping nine, and their five children and families
young rodeo athletes attain their hopes are designating his memorial monies to
and dreams. be used to help with expenses for a Kan-
The recipient of the scholarship will be sas youth to compete nationally.
selected by the family from a group that The recipient will be selected by the fam-
will be selected by the judges. ily and it does not have to be a senior.
Floyd Kirby Memorial Scholarship Jim Farm Credit Academic Excellence
Scholarships
& Jennifer Kirby along with their children & Farm Credit of Kansas, the sponsor of
families have given these scholarships in the KHSRA Academic Rodeo Team, con-
honor of 'Grandpa' since 2005. Floyd was a tinues their support with scholarship
WWII Veteran and cowboy. He was an avid funding. Every senior member of the Ac-
team roper and founding member of the ademic Team will be awarded a college
Dodge City Roundup PRCA Rodeo. Floyd scholarship funded by Farm Cred-
had a soft spot in his heart for Kansas High it. Farm Credit of Kansas serves the ag-
School Rodeo as he had a grandson and sev- riculture industry across the state. They
eral granddaughters who competed in sever- are proud to support the pursuit of aca-
al events. In his later years he enjoyed haul- demic excellence among our high school
ing to the rodeos with his grandson, Jes- rodeo athletes.
se. In Floyd's honor we celebrate with these
scholarships the many parents and grand- The recipient will be senior members of
parents who encourage the strong rodeo tra-
ditions maintained by Kansas High School the Farm Credit Academic Team.
Rodeo.
The recipient will be selected by the family -
there is no separate application for this
scholarship.
17
Scholarship
The first contestant in the National High
In 1951, while lying in a hospital bed, School Rodeo competition died January
Floyd Rumford produced his first ro- 27, 2006. Edgar “Puncher” Cooper (1931
deo. Floyd was recuperating from a life -2006) was born in Saffordville, KS,
threatening and career ending injury. A served four years in the Navy, and lived
tractor rolled over on him and with that, the remaining 50 years on a farm north of
his dreams of becoming a champion ro- Saffordville. His father, Elmer Cooper,
deo cowboy vanished. But with his love was a cowboy and Puncher became
and desire for the sport of rodeo, Floyd skilled with horses at a very young age,
was able to stay involved in rodeo by thereby receiving the nickname that
raising bucking horses and bulls and stuck with him the rest of his life. In
producing rodeos. Floyd Rumford was a 1949, he traveled by bus to the high
rodeo Stock Contractor for over 50 school rodeo in Halletsville, TX, and
years, fulfilling his dream of becoming a competed as a saddle bronc rider, win-
member of the Professional Rodeo Cow- ning 2nd place, and competing in several
boys Association and providing live- other events. He competed the following
stock for the National Finals Rodeo. year in Santa Rosa, NM, also placing 2nd
Floyd always enjoyed helping cowboys in the saddle broncs. In 1949, he won
and cowgirls and with this scholarship the Amateur Saddle Bronc contest at the
we hope that we are also helping aspir- Flint Hills Rodeo in Strong City,
ing rodeo cowboys and cowgirls attain KS. Puncher was a member of the AQHA
their dreams. It is with great pleasure for more than 50 years and was a breed-
that the Rumford Family present two, er of performance quarter horses. He
$250 scholarships to a KHSRA graduat- and his family held an annual production
ing seniors in Floyd’s name. Floyd had a sale with two other breeders for 25 years
love and passion for Kansas High School and it is still running. Several children
Rodeo and would be proud of how far and grandchildren competed in local ro-
this organization has come in the last 56 deos and two granddaughters were
years. We hope with this scholarship we members of the KHSRA. His wife, Jean-
are able to play a small part in helping nine, and their five children and families
young rodeo athletes attain their hopes are designating his memorial monies to
and dreams. be used to help with expenses for a Kan-
The recipient of the scholarship will be sas youth to compete nationally.
selected by the family from a group that The recipient will be selected by the fam-
will be selected by the judges. ily and it does not have to be a senior.
Floyd Kirby Memorial Scholarship Jim Farm Credit Academic Excellence
Scholarships
& Jennifer Kirby along with their children & Farm Credit of Kansas, the sponsor of
families have given these scholarships in the KHSRA Academic Rodeo Team, con-
honor of 'Grandpa' since 2005. Floyd was a tinues their support with scholarship
WWII Veteran and cowboy. He was an avid funding. Every senior member of the Ac-
team roper and founding member of the ademic Team will be awarded a college
Dodge City Roundup PRCA Rodeo. Floyd scholarship funded by Farm Cred-
had a soft spot in his heart for Kansas High it. Farm Credit of Kansas serves the ag-
School Rodeo as he had a grandson and sev- riculture industry across the state. They
eral granddaughters who competed in sever- are proud to support the pursuit of aca-
al events. In his later years he enjoyed haul- demic excellence among our high school
ing to the rodeos with his grandson, Jes- rodeo athletes.
se. In Floyd's honor we celebrate with these
scholarships the many parents and grand- The recipient will be senior members of
parents who encourage the strong rodeo tra-
ditions maintained by Kansas High School the Farm Credit Academic Team.
Rodeo.
The recipient will be selected by the family -
there is no separate application for this
scholarship.
17
