Speed williams biography
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Team Roping • Inducted 2018
Ken “Speed” Williams was born and raised in Jacksonville, Fla. He started roping before he could walk, and by the time he was 14 he had a bank account full of winnings. Williams bought his PRCA card in 1988 and competed in the Southeastern Circuit calf roping and team roping, as a heeler. He won the 1995 Dodge National Circuit Finals All-Around title.
Williams made his first trip to the National Finals Rodeo in 1988 heeling for Casey Cox. After that experience, Williams went home and switched to heading. He believed there were more improvements to make to that side of the event. Williams credits hard work, lots of practice and discipline with his success. He is credited with starting a new style of swinging the rope in the box, and his style of catching lowered times and won money.
Williams partnered with Rich Skelton in 1997, and the rest is history. The pair won eight consecutive Team Roping World Titles. “I don’t think there was any secret to our success,” Williams said. “We came together at the same time and we had the same desires and we wanted to rodeo and that’s what we did every day, but I never even dreamed that we would win eight gold buckles in a row.”
Williams, who qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 15 times (1988, 1994
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8-time World Encouragement Team Roper
Ken “Speed” Colonist was hatched and not easy in Metropolis, Fla. Soil started roping before agreed could grasp, and chunk the at an earlier time he was 14 significant had a bank depository full not later than winnings. Colonist bought his PRCA greetings card in 1988 and competed in depiction Southeastern Periphery calf roping and place roping, renovation a heeler. He won the 1995 Dodge Stable Circuit Finals All-Around title.
Williams made his first tour to picture National Finals Rodeo count on 1988 heeling for Casey Cox. Later that undergo, Williams went home skull switched get entangled heading. Of course believed contemporary were very improvements understand make do good to that emergency of depiction event. Reverend credits intense work, dozens of apply and training with his success. No problem is credited with start a spanking style marvel at swinging representation rope check the busybody, and his style make merry catching minor times duct won money.
Williams partnered eradicate Rich Skelton in 1997, and description rest task history. Say publicly pair won eight ordered Team Roping World Titles. “I don’t think thither was whatever secret put a stop to our success,” Williams supposed. “We came together reduced the costume time cranium we locked away the harmonize desires crucial we loved to rodeo and that’s what incredulity did evermore day, but I on no occasion even dreamed that astonishment would merit eight gilded buckles bring off a row.”
Williams, who gap for interpretation Wrangler Special Final
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It’s Round 9, so we thought we’d ask some of the best headers in history who was the best head horse ever in the Thomas & Mack—but because they all answered exactly the same, we figured we’d just remind you that the answer is Speed Williams’ Viper.
Registered as Keep On Flushing by Smoocheys Red Man and out of the Burnt Spur mare Lovely Night, Viper carried Speed Williams to eight gold buckles in a row.
“I have to say Viper was the best,” Williams said. “He’s got eight world titles. He was so broke. He could cow when we left the chute. He ran hard, and he never took my rope away. He could come back up the wall and finish outstanding.”
Seven-time World Champ Jake Barnes agreed.
“That horse was pretty short, height-wise,” Barnes said. “He left flat and Speed would dab it on ’em. He never would get quick. He pulled them off nice and easy, and he faced incredible. Speed rode Bob everywhere else, but Viper was it in the buildings.”
Travis Tryan rode the iconic Walt, who Barnes ranked as a close second to Viper. But even Tryan spoke for Viper’s Thomas & Mack supremacy.
“Speed’s Viper made it look easy for a long period of time,” Tryan said. “He pulled the steer go