Wanda Harper Bush

Wanda Harper Bush (October 6, 1931 – December 29, 2015) was an American professional rodeo cowgirl. She competed in the Girl's Rodeo Association (GRA), now known as the Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), and won two barrel racing world championships, in 1952 and 1953. She was inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in 1978 and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2017. The August 2017 induction ceremony was ProRodeo's 38th annual event, and marked the first time in the event's history that the class of inductees included barrel racers from the Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA).

Early life Bush was born Wanda Harper in Mason, Texas, on October 6, 1931, to Alvin and Gussie Harper. She first helped her father with goat tying on their ranch but soon graduated to roping calves. She became as proficient as men and, with her horse, Eagle, won a roping contest against a man. The story never circulated far since Bush quietly defeated her opponent and moved on.

Career Competition When Bush started competing professionally, the sanctioning organization for women's rodeo was the Girl's Rodeo Association (GRA). Bush became one of the first cowgirls to join the GRA, so her card number was 14. Bush competed locally and nationally, including match races and stock shows, including the notable Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and winning often against both genders.

Finals events Barrel racing is still sanctioned by the WPRA but is now part of PRCA rodeos and its finals take place alongside men's events such as bull riding and tie-down roping at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), which is held every December at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, the National Finals Steer Roping event is held separately, in Mulvane, Kansas. Bush qualified for the NFR seven times in her rodeo career. When Bush competed in the NFR, it was held in several different locations.

Horses In Bush's GRA competition period, her horse Dee Gee was "pivotal" to her success in barrel racing. Bush retired Dee Gee in 1955 and made her a broodmare in 1958. Dee Gee bore seven colts, with descendants still competing today. Bush also rode the horse Flying Eagle successfully in a number of events. Wanda and her husband, Stanley, both competed in cutting, and both were very successful. Stanley said that their horse Royal Chess was the best cutting horse he ever rode. Royal Chess was out of Phoebe Chess by Royal King. Dee Gee and Phoebe Chess provided foundation stock at the Bush's ranch. 1989 Inaugural Coca-Cola WPRA Women of the Year 1998 WPRA Pioneer Women of the Year 2014 Lenora Reimers Heritage Award 2014 WPRA Lifetime Family Heritage Award, Harper Bush Family Source: 2001 Rodeo Hall of Fame of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum 2002 Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame 2008 Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame 2017 ProRodeo Hall of Fame