On the Road: Memories of Drury

By Jim Thompson | Wednesday, November 15, 2006

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Allen Good called me on Halloween morning to tell me that the long fight was over. Shane Drury died, at home, among family and friends, sometime during the night of Oct. 30.

The young bull rider had struggled with cancer for several years and his example of how to "live till you die" was an inspiration to many. But we'll still miss him. On his Web site, his brother tells of opening a letter that Shane had left him for after his death. In part it read, "Let people know I am at peace, to keep smiling and to always keep God close to your hearts."

Another sad note arrived from long time friend Bill Mulligan in Valentine, Neb.

Dru Melvin, heading to his first NFR, lost his father Wayne to cancer late Wednesday, Oct. 25, as he was returning home from the preliminary rounds in Kansas City. Dru had been at his father's side for several days before heading to K.C. on Tuesday, and his mother had urged him to "hurry home" as soon as they were finished with slack, which the boys were doing. However, they were only 30 minutes from the hospital when Dru's mother called with the bad news.

The funeral was Sunday, Oct. 29, in Arthur, Neb. Wayne was a pretty handy dude for a "big guy," he steer wrestled and team roped and only in the last year or two had retired from judging state rodeos.

Wayne will undoubtedly have the "best seat in the house" at this year's NFR to watch his son compete.

n Thanks, Bill, for the update. I remember my cousin Frank used that same motivation to win his first world title in 2000 after just a few short months after his dad, my uncle Dennis died of cancer. We'll be praying for Dru. And no, I have not met him, but at your advice, will make sure I do so as soon as possible.

n I also got word recently that Sturgis bull rider Josh Carter was injured after being bucked off a bull at the PRCA rodeo in Brookings, South Dakota.

Josh, who had suffered a broken neck in a previous bull riding injury, had his neck fused and had just started riding again. He placed high at Rorey Lemmel's rodeo in Rapid City on a Friday night and then went to eastern South Dakota to ride on Saturday.

I've been told that he was breathing on his own but couldn't feel sensation in his arms or legs. It's too early to know the severity of the injury, but doctors were talking of sending him to the Craig Institute in Colorado if they could. Will keep you up on Carter's status as I know more.

n At the first ever Extreme timed event challenge in Rapid City, Brett Fleming of Ismay, Mont., roped and bull dogged 12 head in a little over 101 seconds. He never had the fastest time in an event, never took a penalty.

He was a shining example for one brief afternoon of the link between horse and rider in competition. Thirty-eight men began the heading, heeling, calf roping, bull-dogging contest over two go-rounds.

The best 10 moved into the finals for another complete round. In all there were 344 runs over an eight-hour period and a lot of enjoyment if you like the timed events. Fleming earned $3,200 for the win. Star Performance Hitches provided the added money. Nine states were represented at the outset.

And another bit of trivia that we like to see. Three Tierney's qualified for the last 10. Paul Tierney was joined by sons, Jessie and Paul David. This event is already being planned for 2007.

See ya down the rodeo road!

Jim Thompson, a veteran rodeo announcer, can be heard on the daily network radio talk show "Live with Jim Thompson" across North and South Dakota each weekday at 1 p.m. Locally he can be heard on KBHB 810 AM in Sturgis.