Honoring a local legend

A famous rodeo cowboy with local roots has a permanent home inside a community institution.

Duane Howard, a native of Minnewaukan and long-time resident of Sheyenne, passed away in 2015 known as one of the most successful bull riders in the country.

Now, as a way to honor his memory and the legacy he left behind, a display featuring trophies and photos from his redeo days has been installed at the Ostby Hall in Sheyenne.

Duane Howard was born on a ranch near Minnewaukan on August 2, 1933, and grew up with dreams of one day becoming a rodeo cowboy – and it didn't take him long to turn that dream into reality.

In 1952, at just 18 years of age, Howard became the first North Dakotan ever to win a national high school rodeo title, and he went on to become one of the best ever in saddle bronc, bareback and bull riding.

Over the years he participated at rodeos in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Fort Worth, Texas; Pendleton, Oregon; Boston, Mass., and even Madison Square Garden in New York City – just to name a few.

For much of his rodeo career Howard was ranked in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association's (PRCA) world standings.

He was named PRCA World Bull Riding Reserve Champion in 1956, 1957 and 1960, and also in 1957 became the PRCA All-Around Reserve Champion.

Howard also qualified in saddle bronc and bull riding at the first National Finals Rodeo in 1959 and again in 1960, and was named the bull riding average champion both years.

He became widely known as one of the famed North Dakota "Six Pack," a group of six North Dakotans who'd become renowned for dominating national rodeo competition in the '50s and '60s.

In addition to Howard, the Six Pack included rodeo greats Joe Chase, Dean Armstrong, Tom Tescher, Jim Tescher and Alvin Nelson.

Jim Tescher once said about Howard, "Duane was tough and rode smart with a lot of finesse. He was also great to travel with because people all over the country wanted you to have dinner and stay at their home when you were traveling with Duane Howard. He's a true gentleman."

Unfortunately – still in the prime of his career – Howard suffered a devastating head injury at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in 1961, which put him in the hospital and forced him to relearn how to walk and talk.

The lengthy recovery kept him from rodeo for a while, but not forever.

Howard worked hard through that adversity and eventually returned to bull riding years later, consistently placing and winning money until he retired in 1976 at the age of 42.

But even after his retirement, Howard wasn't done contributing to the world of rodeo.

He worked as a judge at high school and college rodeos for decades, and was one of the original full-time Wrangler-sponsored judges for the PRCA. He judged rodeos all over the country from 1982-1994, including at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City and Las Vegas 11 times.

For all his excellence and contributions to rodeo over the years, Howard has been inducted into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora, N.D., the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, Okla., the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo. and the Bull Riding Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas.

When he was named to the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2007, Howard said, "My riding career wasn't that long because of the injuries, but everything happens for a reason. I have no regrets. I had my ups and downs in rodeo, but I wouldn't trade them for anything."

Howard and his wife, Orpha, were married for nearly 60 years and raised three daughters on their ranch near Minnewaukan. They were forced to move to Sheyenne in 1998 after flood waters from Devils Lake overtook their land, but Howard continued to enjoy life to the fullest.

He loved to raise colts and work with race horses, as well as gathering and working cows with his cousin Alan Howard. He was also an avid basketball fan, and often traveled to games in Sheyenne, New Rockford and Fort Totten.

Howard passed away on October 1, 2015, having lived a fulfilling, successful and humble life.

The display at Ostby Hall in Sheyenne is open to anyone who'd like to see pictures and mementos from the life and legendary rodeo career of Duane Howard.

Whenever the hall is open for an event, those interested are encouraged to stop by and take a look at the display items, which were provided by the Howard family.

Fran Armstrong, the wife of famous N.D. Six Pack member Dean Armstrong, wrote about Howard in her book, "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys."

"As I listened to Duane talk about rodeo, I began to get a picture of who this man is – but not because he talked about himself, that's about the last thing I could get out of him!" she wrote.

"He was really good at storytelling. I told him that he should have someone video him while telling stories – 'Ah, no,' he said, 'I'll tell them to the boys upstairs ... if I get there!'

"I would venture to bet that Duane is one of those good cowboys who is 'up there' ... I'm sure they saved him a seat and it will be one rodeo that he won't have to judge!"