Memorial Service for Bill Duvall Friday, July 18 at 11 a.m.
First Baptist Church, Checotah
When Bill Duvall was called to meet His Maker in the Great Round Up in the sky this past Sunday, Checotah lost one of its best storytellers and legendary cowboys ever. Thankfully his legacy will live on in his children and his grandchildren and also in a collection of rodeo clips and interviews locals can view at the Heartland Heritage Museum & Gallery. A little over one year ago, rodeo fans, friends and family gathered for the “Legends of Rodeo Past and Present” Premiere at the Heartland to honor Checotah’s rich rodeo history and its rodeo legends. Two particular cowboys, brothers Bill Duvall and Roy Duvall, were part of that incredible evening, as were several other rodeo greats like Ote Berry, Betty Roper, Tommy Combs and more.
It was a memorable evening as locals watched video interviews and actual footage of past rodeos. Then these legendary cowboys and cowgirls tipped their hats and told about their glory days as Heartland Director Iris Park, dressed like Miss Kitty from Gunsmoke told everyone about all the cowboy memorabilia they could find at their local museums, the Heartland Heritage and the Katy Depot, where Bill’s wife, Imogene Duvall, a retired Checotah teacher, volunteers regularly.
Though there are a lot of cowboys in McIntosh County, the Duvalls literally put their small town of Checotah, Oklahoma on the map and dubbed it the “Steer Wrestling Capital of the World” because it became the training ground for six World Champions. They included Bennie Combs, Willard Combs, Billy Hale, Roy Duvall and Teddy Johnson. Although Roy steer wrestled his way into three world championships, it was his big brother Bill who hazed for him and others on the rodeo circuit and helped to make their family fortune.
Though they had a rodeo father, ironically neither one stepped into a rodeo arena until they were well into their teen years. Bill, who was the oldest, rode bulls and bulldogged until an injury made him change roles. Then he talked his younger brother Roy into bulldogging while he hazed, which proved to be a winning combination.
Roy said that he never worried when Bill hazed for him.
“I never even bothered to look over because I knew Bill would always be there when I needed him,” Roy said.
Whether hazing, training horses or practicing runs with the next generation of cowboys, Bill played an integral role in the Duvall Dynasty and in the local cowboy community.
In 1978, Bill and Roy started the Duvall Steer Wrestling Jackpot, entertaining the town for years. Later they handed it down to Bill’s two sons, Sam and Spud Duvall.
Today, the Duvall Jackpot still draws some of the toughest cowboys around and the entire family hosts the weekend event. Even Bill’s grandson, Riley Duvall, and Roy’s grandson, Mason Carter, are part of this family tradition as are cousins, Tom and Nathan Duvall along with several more generations coming up in the saddles.
At the most recent Duvall Jackpot in May, aspiring bulldoggers and hazers, went out of their way to still shake the hands of Bill and Roy and wanted to thank them for carving a trail and setting such high standards.
This year Rep. Tim Turner, Rep. Neil Hays, and Sen. Avery Frix also presented the Duvall Family with a legislative citation commending them for their commitment and dedication to the Checotah community.
Even four-time world champion Ote Berry, who considers himself family, stated that he won his first world championship on Bill Duvall’s horse, “Cadillac.” Berry also said, “Bill was like a father figure to me and he taught me that the greatest thing about being a real cowboy was the camaraderie and being able to give back to the community.” Berry even started his Junior Steer Wrestling World Championship because he learned from his mentors that a man isn’t born a cowboy, he becomes one.
Bill believed this wholeheartedly and knew that every cowboy should go after life as if it’s something that’s got to be roped in a hurry before time gets away. That’s why he was so thrilled to share his life’s accomplishments with all his family when he was inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2018. However, when asked what his greatest accomplishment was, he choked up and said, “Marrying Imogene.” Bill married Imogene when she was a senior in high school and they enjoyed 62 years together.
The good ol’ days of steer wrestling, hazing and barrel racing has definitely made a name for Checotah through the Duvall Dynasty and other legends, and there’s no doubt Bill’s legacy will live on in his children and grandchildren as they will learn to navigate their own trail and try to fill some pretty, big cowboy boots in his honor.
