Bill Duvall was born at Henryetta Hospital on Oct. 9, 1941. The first-born son of Wilson Roy and Naomi Helen Duvall, Bill was joined just 10 months later by little brother Roy, and the Duvall boys were raised their first nine years up on High Spring Mountain in Hitchita, Oklahoma.
The Duvall family then moved to Dewar, Oklahoma down by the Deep Fork River, where Bill and Roy went to school and worked at the sawmill, picked cotton and watermelons, and helped their Uncle Harold at his dairy farm.
Before graduating from Hitchita High School in 1961, Bill entered his first rodeo— the Checotah Rodeo— at 13. He entered the bareback and bull riding, and mounted out horses to earn enough money for entry fees. He was hooked, and from then on beyond time with family all Bill ever wanted to do was rodeo.
Bill talked brother Roy into going with him, and they started entering the bulldogging. The young Duvall brothers called Henryetta’s Everett Crandel for help to get started on the right track in what became their trademark event.
Bill and Roy entered some junior rodeos early on, then that same year Bill graduated from high school, in 1961, bought their IPRA (International Professional Rodeo Association) cards. Bill bought his RCA (Rodeo Cowboys Association) card in 1965, and rodeoed with Benny Combs, Billy Hale and Jim Painter.
Bill and Roy went back to rodeoing together in 1966 and left a legendary mark on countless lives and rodeo careers in and out of the arena. It was fitting that Bill and Roy found their perfect permanent hometown fit in The Steer Wrestling Capital of the World in Checotah.
Bill always said his greatest achievement in life was marrying his beloved bride, Imogene, and his greatest blessing was his family. And that family extended far beyond “blood kin” with Bill. Besides being a renowned bulldogger and hazer, he traveled with and mentored many a young cowboy hopeful, and helped them all in every possible way.
Bill loved the rodeo life, and from the early days of going down the road with Roy in the 1960s and ’70s to then traveling in the truck with Sam, Tom Duvall, Ote Berry, Rod Lyman, Kurt Butler and Ricky Huddleston throughout the ’80s, the grand finale of Bill’s life on the rodeo road was in the 1990s, when he helped Spud and “the chocolate milk crew” get their start.
After hazing for so many at the National Finals Rodeo in his heyday, Bill was mighty proud to cheer on both of his boys, Sam and Spud, and grandson Riley at the NFR. Bill was inducted into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City in 2018.
Cowboys from all across the rodeo world have stopped in at Bill and Imogene’s place for a layover, iced tea and a good visit, which always included a lot of conversation about horses and bulldogging, and Bill’s legendary rodeo stories. After his time on the trail, Bill cherished the years out in the family arena with Riley and other young cowboys who’d come through, and taking in the sporting events of the grandkids and greatgrandchildren.
Family tradition also included homemade ice cream for all the littles, and a lot of talks on all things team roping.
When Bill said, “Look here, son” or “Look here, hun,” wise words and advice were sure to follow and everybody listened. Bill put his whole heart into every lifecoaching conversation, and genuinely pulled for everyone to be their best and do their best. His interest in people was not tied to how much they’d won in their career, how much money they had in their pocket or where they were from, and Bill was always on standby and just a phone call away for his cowboy friends out on the road.
Bill lived a big, full life, and did not take it for granted. In his final days on this earth, he told his family, “I have had a blessed life. Don’t cry for me. I will be setting on the front steps of Heaven waiting on you all.”
Bill passed peacefully at home in Checotah on July 13, 2025 at the age of 83.
He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Imogene; son Sam and his wife, Tami; son Spud and his wife, Jenny; grandchildren Kadee (Ben), Riley (Megan), Traegan and Taggart; great grandchildren Helen, Dottie, Sammie Bell, Chaney and Cruze; brother Roy and his wife, Karen; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended, loving family.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Wilson Roy and Naomi Helen, and in-laws, Arthur and Thelma Louise Frazier.
Bill’s funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 18 at First Baptist Church in Checotah, followed by burial at Greenlawn Cemetery in Checotah.
Bill’s Pallbearers will include Jack Duvall, Tom Duvall, Dusty Duvall, Eddie Bell, Dewayne Guthrie, Jerry Pippin, Kurt Butler and Ote Berry. Honorary Pallbearers will be the “Liars’ Table” gang and anyone who had conversation around the water jug at the barn.
Family and friends are welcome to then return to First Baptist Church for lunch and more Bill stories.
Because it would be just like Bill to help another cowboy who needs it, the Duvall family asks that memorial donations be made in Bill’s name to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, c/o PRCA, 101 Pro Rodeo Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919.
Bill’s obituary was lovingly written by Kendra Santos.
