IN THE NEWS Mowry and JarvisTurn in Fast Time of 2023 Wrangler NFR
Rodeo Announcer Mike Mathis Passes Away
The eighth round of the 2023 Wrangler NFR will always hold a special memory for Kassie Mowry. Not only was it her first-round victory at the NFR but it was also the fastest time turned in during the 2023 edition and she did it all on her young horse making just his third rodeo appearance.
There will always be rodeo legends across the state and nation. But as far as the citizens of Lufkin, Texas, are concerned, there was only one Mr. Rodeo. Mike Mathis, the legendary voice of rodeo in Lufkin, died December 13, 2023, surrounded by his family at Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mike was in Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo at the time of his passing. He was 75.
That is right Force The Goodbye “Jarvis” a 5-year-old gelding shocked his jockey when he laid down a run in 13.30 seconds inside the Thomas and Mack Arena. “It just happened so fast. I hardly remember any of it, but I was just in go mode” said Mowry “He just went in there and shocked me with that performance. I didn’t think there was a chance of beating Brittany’s time but wow. I never dreamed I would be here in the winner’s circle.” Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, who secured her third gold buckle during that performance had stopped the clock in 13.34 seconds and looked unbeatable until Jarvis took to the cloverleaf pattern. Mowry will always remember that run as she looks at the Montana Silversmiths belt buckle stating she was the Fast Time Winner at the 2023 Wrangler NFR. Kerry Burger, husband of two- time world champion Mary Burger, Passes Away
He was one of the most recognizable voices in rodeo not only in Texas but across the nation as he was a member of the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. He won the WPRA Announcer of the Year award in 2006. However, his hometown of Lufkin was the one he was most passionate about. Mike began his professional career as a banker with Lufkin National Bank where he became Executive Vice President and particularly enjoyed helping people in the community. In 1976 he was named Coordinator of the Angelina Benefit Rodeo where he soon became known as “Mr. Rodeo.” He began announcing rodeos professionally in the late 1970’s obtaining his PRCA card in 1983. In 1989, he traded in his business suit for a cowboy hat and a full-time rodeo career. Since then, he has announced rodeos across the United States, served as a member of the PRCA Executive Council, a member of the NFR Committee, a member of the PRCA Board of Directors, and a member of the PRCA Texas Circuit Board of Directors.
Kerry Lee Burger was born Monday March 15, 1948, in Decatur, Indiana to Bryce and Deloris (Werst) Burger and died Wednesday December 13, 2023, at his home near Pauls Valley, Oklahoma at the age of 75 years, 8 months and 29 days. Kerry married Mary Lichtle
Mary Walker Announces Retirement
During the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Mary Walker announced her official retirement from the sport of barrel racing on the Cowboy Channel. Walker won the 2012 WPRA World Title aboard that year’s AQHA/WPRA Barrel Horse of the Year Perculatin that she
on August 3, 1968, and had lived in the Pauls Valley area since the early 2000’s. He was a renowned farrier and had the opportunity to shoe many award-winning horses. He was a veteran of the United States Army serving in an artillery unit. He was an expert marksman with a M-14 Rifle. He is survived by his wife Mary and sons, Todd, and Joey Burger. Private family services may be held at a future date.
called Latte. That same year she won the Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed award and a year later earned induction into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame and Museum. She was also awarded the Tad Lucas Award from the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City in 2013. Walker qualified for five NFRs (2012-2016) and in 2016 she became WPRA’s seventh millionaire in career earnings.
8 WPRA NEWS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024
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