Corey recognized as one of rodeo’s greatest

For the past two-plus decades, Clint Corey has been among the world’s best rodeo competitors. The former Silverdale resident has been to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 18 times, crowned world bareback champion in 1991, been a four-time world runner-up (’85, ’88,’90, ‘95), finished in the top five 14 times and has won more than $1.86 million.

Still a competitor on the circuit (he’s expected to ride Thursday at the Kitsap Stampede), the 42-year-old Corey was in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Saturday picking up the sport’s highest honor — induction to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

“It’s pretty much a top to my career,” Corey recently told the Bend (Ore.) Bulletin. “It makes me feel like, ‘Ahhhh, I can really retire now.’ My whole career was complete before this. Had I retired tomorrow and not been inducted into the Hall of Fame, I’ve still had an awesome career.”

Corey was inducted alongside seven-time world champion (and Kitsap Stampede regular) Fred Whitfield, three-time steer roping world champion Tee Woolman, announcer Bob Tallman of Weatherford, Texas; 1957 world champion saddle bronc rider Alvin Nelson of Grassy Butte, N.D.; Dr. J. Pat Evans of Dallas, the co-founder of the Justin SportsMedicine Team as a notable; longtime secretary and timer June Ivory of Pampa, Texas; outgoing Dallas Morning News executive sports editor Dave Smith of Dallas in the newly created media category; three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo top bareback horse Three Bars of Reg Kesler Rodeo; and the late Asbury Schell of Camp Verde, Ariz., a three-time world team roping champion.

“This is the greatest,” Corey told ESPN.com. “I’m being honored with guys I’ve rodeoed with and idolized all my life. Tee and Fred, who have done everything that can be done in rodeo. Bob Tallman, who has talked about me all my career, and Dr. J. Pat Evans, who has kept me together so I could rodeo all these years. This is a tremendous honor. You are chosen for this by your peers. That means a lot. It makes this honor extra special.”

Corey hasn’t had a stellar year by his high standards. He’s only made the finals at two rodeos (Pocatello, Idaho

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