Tonight the International Finals Youth Rodeo will take a pause to honor two of its former champions and a man who served as the “voice of the IFYR” for 16 years.
Mark McGee, who announced the IFYR for the previous 16 years, was scheduled to be in the announcer’s booth once again this week.
But tragedy struck May 20 as he was operating a lawn tractor in front of his home near Valliant in far southeastern Oklahoma.
A vehicle went out of control, slamming into the lawn tractor, killing the 47-year-old McGee who would have turned 48 May 31, 11 days following his death.
He left behind his wife Debra and 16-year-old son Colby.
Debra and Colby will be in attendance this evening as Mark is posthumously inducted into the IFYR Hall of Fame.
Also being inducted tonight will be Jet McCoy and his younger brother Cord.
Each is a former All-Around champion of the IFYR and each has gone on to be a standout with the International Professional Rodeo Association.
Suzanne Gilbert, a member of the rodeo committee and a mainstay at the IFYR since its inception 17 years ago, has taken the lead and coordinated tonight’s induction ceremony.
Ken Etchieson will head up the ceremony which will begin in the foyer of the Expo conference center at 6:30 p.m.
Mark’s family, along with Jet and Cord, will be recognized again during tonight’s performance which starts at 7:30 p.m.
Among the special guests attending will be Lt. Gov. Jari Askins.
At around 8, the action in the three arenas will cease momentarily so the presentations can be made.
This year’s IFYR has Mark’s cousin, Don McGee, in the announcer’s booth alongside another veteran at the microphone, Jim Pugh.
Colby has been in Shawnee since this past weekend.
He accompanied Don to the event which he had attended for so many years with his dad and mom.
Etchieson, who was the general manager of the Expo Center for more than 20 years, was the brain trust of the IFYR.
There’s no one better to handle this ceremony tonight than Etchieson.
After he retired as general manager in 2005, Etchieson served another year as the manager of the trust estate (the Shawnee Civic and Cultural Development Authority trust) until he resigned in 2006.
This will be his first return to the IFYR in an official capacity, and it’s a fitting occasion since he knew McGee so well and headed up the IFYR during the several years Jet and Cord competed and earned their All-Around titles.
Etchieson was a longtime, close friend of Mark, his wife and son. Etchieson delivered the eulogy at Mark’s funeral at the school auditorium in Valliant May 23.
Following Mark’s death, he said this about him: “Mark had a great way of motivating the people with his little deals,” he said of the man, who always was in the announcer’s booth early to begin a count down for the IFYR at least 20 minutes in advance of show time.
“The man was so talented,” he added.
“Mark had the ability to keep the arenas synchronized without confusion,” he said.
Randy Gilbert, Suzanne’s husband, also has been a mainstay at the IFYR for a number of years. He also serves on the SCCDA trust.
Randy, back in May, said he first met Mark as they began college at Oklahoma State University.
Randy said his longtime friend “was well-respected by his peers and his kids.” He called him a “true professional” and said with Mark “what you saw is what you got.”
Cord, now 28, was the first to win the All-Around championship, capturing it in 1997, winning $5,176.34. He also won the saddle bronc title that year.
He repeated the IFYR saddle bronc riding championship in 1999.
Cord holds five gold buckles from the IPRA and qualified for the IFR seven times.
Older brother Jet claimed the All-Around title a year later, during the sixth IFYR, as he earned $4,848.28.
He also captured the saddle bronc championship the same year.
Jet, who is 29, also is among the saddle bronc riders who holds one of the highest single scores in a year. He marked an 80 in 1997. The highest is an 82.
Jet has earned five world championships from the IPRA and is a 12-time IFR qualifier.
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Tonight the International Finals Youth Rodeo will take a pause to honor two of its former champions and a man who served as the “voice of the IFYR” for 16 years.
Mark McGee, who announced the IFYR for the previous 16 years, was scheduled to be in the announcer’s booth once again this week.
But tragedy struck May 20 as he was operating a lawn tractor in front of his home near Valliant in far southeastern Oklahoma.
A vehicle went out of control, slamming into the lawn tractor, killing the 47-year-old McGee who would have turned 48 May 31, 11 days following his death.
He left behind his wife Debra and 16-year-old son Colby.
Debra and Colby will be in attendance this evening as Mark is posthumously inducted into the IFYR Hall of Fame.
Also being inducted tonight will be Jet McCoy and his younger brother Cord.
Each is a former All-Around champion of the IFYR and each has gone on to be a standout with the International Professional Rodeo Association.
Suzanne Gilbert, a member of the rodeo committee and a mainstay at the IFYR since its inception 17 years ago, has taken the lead and coordinated tonight’s induction ceremony.
Ken Etchieson will head up the ceremony which will begin in the foyer of the Expo conference center at 6:30 p.m.
Mark’s family, along with Jet and Cord, will be recognized again during tonight’s performance which starts at 7:30 p.m.
Among the special guests attending will be Lt. Gov. Jari Askins.
At around 8, the action in the three arenas will cease momentarily so the presentations can be made.
This year’s IFYR has Mark’s cousin, Don McGee, in the announcer’s booth alongside another veteran at the microphone, Jim Pugh.
Colby has been in Shawnee since this past weekend.
He accompanied Don to the event which he had attended for so many years with his dad and mom.
Etchieson, who was the general manager of the Expo Center for more than 20 years, was the brain trust of the IFYR.
There’s no one better to handle this ceremony tonight than Etchieson.
After he retired as general manager in 2005, Etchieson served another year as the manager of the trust estate (the Shawnee Civic and Cultural Development Authority trust) until he resigned in 2006.
This will be his first return to the IFYR in an official capacity, and it’s a fitting occasion since he knew McGee so well and headed up the IFYR during the several years Jet and Cord competed and earned their All-Around titles.
Etchieson was a longtime, close friend of Mark, his wife and son. Etchieson delivered the eulogy at Mark’s funeral at the school auditorium in Valliant May 23.
Following Mark’s death, he said this about him: “Mark had a great way of motivating the people with his little deals,” he said of the man, who always was in the announcer’s booth early to begin a count down for the IFYR at least 20 minutes in advance of show time.
“The man was so talented,” he added.
“Mark had the ability to keep the arenas synchronized without confusion,” he said.
Randy Gilbert, Suzanne’s husband, also has been a mainstay at the IFYR for a number of years. He also serves on the SCCDA trust.
Randy, back in May, said he first met Mark as they began college at Oklahoma State University.
Randy said his longtime friend “was well-respected by his peers and his kids.” He called him a “true professional” and said with Mark “what you saw is what you got.”
Cord, now 28, was the first to win the All-Around championship, capturing it in 1997, winning $5,176.34. He also won the saddle bronc title that year.
He repeated the IFYR saddle bronc riding championship in 1999.
Cord holds five gold buckles from the IPRA and qualified for the IFR seven times.
Older brother Jet claimed the All-Around title a year later, during the sixth IFYR, as he earned $4,848.28.
He also captured the saddle bronc championship the same year.
Jet, who is 29, also is among the saddle bronc riders who holds one of the highest single scores in a year. He marked an 80 in 1997. The highest is an 82.
Jet has earned five world championships from the IPRA and is a 12-time IFR qualifier.
