Board Members

2019 Pendleton Round-Up & Happy Canyon Hall of Fame Board

Back row: Casey White-Zollman, Jordan McDonald, Carl Culham, Cedric Wildbill, Steve Campbell, Steve Hart, Gary Ward
Front Row:  Marlene Currin, Susan Talbot, Round-Up President Dave O’Neill, Cydney Corey Curtis, Happy Canyon President Tanner Hawkins, Mary French West, Patricia Dawson

2020 Hall of Fame Board of Directors

Cydney Corey Curtis – President 

Cydney is this year’s President of the Hall of Fame.

Cydney was born and raised in Adams, Oregon. She and her husband, Kipp have two children, daughter, Collins and son, Nolin. After graduating in 2006 from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, Cydney went on to get her Master’s Degree in Education from Eastern Oregon University. Cydney works for the Pendleton School District and teaches 5th grade at Sherwood Elementary. Cydney has been very involved in Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon. She is a former Round-Up Queen (2004) and Princess (2003). She is also a 30-year volunteer for both events helping with the PBR, publicity, queen and court, bars, parades, office, and the Happy Canyon show. Her family history with both organizations also runs deep. Her mother, Heather Corey, was the first female Round-Up board Director. Her father (Doug Corey), Grandfather (Bob Hales), and Great-Grandfather (John Hales) were all Round-Up Presidents and Directors. Her father is also a former Happy Canyon President. Her grandfather (George Corey) served on both boards. Her husband Kipp is currently a Happy Canyon Director and also volunteers for Round-Up. Collins and Nolin are also participants in Happy Canyon. Cydney is serving her fifth year on the board.

Susan Talbot – Vice-President and Inductees

Susan is Vice President, and also supervises the election of new inductees and assists with all matters involving the inductees from the annual meeting to the banquet. She also coordinate the parade and in arena introductions.

Susan was born and raised in Pilot Rock. She and her husband, Joe, and children, Jake and Jackie, live on their wheat and cattle ranch near Pendleton. She graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a degree in Elementary Education. Susan is retired from the Pendleton School District and currently is a substitute teacher and a Special Projects Assistant for Eastern Oregon Business Source. She has been a Happy Canyon and Round-Up volunteer for over 45 years. Susan was Round-Up Queen in 1981 and presently serves as Queen and Court chaperone and co-chair of the Visiting Royalty Luncheon. Her husband is a past Round-Up Director and has been a contestant for many years. Both of her children are also Round Up and Happy Canyon volunteers. In addition to her Round-Up involvement, she is a member of the Pendleton Development Commission Advisory Board, PEO Chapter CM,  Round-Up Republican Women, and Area Representative for the Oregon Council of Teachers of Mathematics. This will be Susan’s fourth year on the Hall of Fame Board.

Steve Campbell – Treasurer

Steve is tasked with keeping all financial records for the Hall of Fame. He presents a current financial statement at each monthly meeting and the Annual Membership Meeting. He ensures all bills are approved and paid, and also files annual tax returns for the Hall of Fame and manages the annual budget.

Steve was raised in Condon, OR, and grew up working on the family cattle ranch. He graduated from Oregon State University in 1982 and has been a business-banking officer since that time. After living 20 years “west of the mountains” Steve, his wife, Martha, and their three children moved to Pendleton in 2002, where he is Vice-President of Business Banking for Banner Bank. Steve is proud of his Round-Up heritage including his great-great-uncle Will Ingram, who served as the first business manager in 1910, as well as his own involvement with the Centennial Grandstand project. He is a Round-Up volunteer and a member of the Pendleton Development Commission Advisory Board, Pendleton Elks, and St Andrew’s Mission. Steve is serving his fifth year on the board.

Casey White-Zollman Secretary & Website/Grants

Casey oversees the website for the Hall of Fame, as well as the organization’s Facebook page, and is in charge of coordinating all grants applications and awards. She also handles all of the secretarial duties for the Hall of Fame. She works closely with the President to create meeting agendas and insures all pertinent information is discussed at each monthly Board meeting.

Casey was born in San Francisco, raised in the Bay Area. She is married to Casey Zollman (yes, same first name!), owner of NW Installations Construction, and they have a 2-year-old son, Ryder. She graduated with a degree in Journalism from the University of Portland in 2003 and moved to Pendleton that year. She is the Vice President of Public Relations for Blue Mountain Community College, where she oversees internal, media, community and government relations, as well as the marketing, Betty Feves Memorial Art Gallery, and BMCC Foundation staff. She has volunteered with the Round-Up and Happy Canyon since 2004. She assisted with horses that pulled wagons in the Happy Canyon show, rode as a side saddler and served beer at Goldie’s Bar. Since 2014, she has co-chaired the Pendleton Round-Up’s Tough Enough To Wear Pink campaign, raising awareness and funds for breast cancer programs. Her husband’s family is very connected to Round-Up and Happy Canyon. His uncle, Garry Zollman, is a past Round-Up Director (1989-2000) and President (1999-2000) and longtime Happy Canyon volunteer; cousin Shaina Zollman is a past princess (2013) and queen (2014); and aunt Becca Hawkins-Zollman helped start the Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign at Round-Up. Casey also volunteers with the Pendleton Cattle Barons’ Buckaroo BBQ and Homebrew Challenge, is Chair of the Oregon Community College Marketing & Public Relations Association, serves on the Executive Committee for District 7 of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations, and on the marketing advisory committee for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education’s Interstate Passport Initiative.This is Casey’s second year on the Hall of Fame Board.

Carl Culham – Archives

Carl keeps the history of the Hall of Fame accurate.  He updates contestant books, director books and all the evolving history books of the museum.

Carl was born and raised Pendleton, OR. In the late 1960s, he left for “the west side” to finish high school. After almost 40 years, he returned to the area and now lives in Athena, OR, with his wife, Jackie. Finishing up a 38-year career with the Federal government at the Forest Service in Pendleton, Carl extended his 12 years of volunteerism with the Pendleton Round-Up to serve on the Round-Up Association’s Board of Directors from 2008-2016.  While Carl has no immediate family connections to the Round-Up, his extended family has been involved for many years, with Jackie as past member of the Happy Canyon Quadrille team and Round-Up as a contestant. Jackie’s sister, Andrea Beck, also served as Queen of the 75th Anniversary Round-Up. Jackie’s sons, Michael and Jacob Hales, continue the long tradition of the Hales family participation as Round-Up and Happy Canyon volunteers. Carl’s son, Casey Culham, also volunteered his time to the Pendleton Round-Up before moving to Southern California. This will be Carl’s fourth year on the Hall of Fame Board.

Patricia Dawson – Exhibits

Patricia is in charge of all the displays and exhibits in the Hall of Fame. She makes changes and upgrades, as well as assists the Inductees and Grand Marshals with their exhibits.

Patricia was raised in Gooding, ID, where she grew up on her family’s southern Idaho farm. She graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Family Consumer Science/Textiles and Extension Ed. She later received her Master’s Degree in Adult Education and Community Development from Norwich University in Vermont. Patricia and her husband, Bill, a long time Round-Up volunteer, live in Pendleton. They have two children, Monica and Ty, son-in-law, Wes, and grandchildren, Seth and Claire. Patricia is employed as a full Professor with Oregon State University. She is responsible for 4-H Youth Development & Community Engagement. She also serves as the National President of Epsilon Sigma-Phi and as National Editor for the Journal of Youth Development. Patricia has volunteered for the Pendleton Round-Up for 32 years and Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame for 30. She has served the Hall of Fame by helping with exhibits and working as a greeter. Patricia and her husband Bill play an important role in the Westward Ho! Parade assisting with organizational details and the rolling stock collection. Patricia has also worked in the office and with ushers. This will be Patricia’s fourth year on the board.

Steve Hart – Building

Steve handles all building and maintenance both internal and externally.  He handles all repairs needed and keeps the building in top running order
Steve was born in Dallas and moved to eastern Oregon very young. He grew up in eastern Oregon, in Long Creek, John Day and Seneca. He moved to Pendleton in 1983, and graduated high school with some college classes in 1985. He started working at the Pendleton Round-Up in 1984. Steve moved away from Pendleton for a couple of years, and later moved back and worked in sawmills, then started doing heating ventilation and air conditioning work in 1993. He volunteered with the Happy Canyon show, grounds, bar, properties, parade, and driving for the organization. Steve has a passion for the show and Pendleton’s history. This is Steve’s first year on the Hall of Fame Board.

Aaron Hines – Security

Aaron handles all building and maintenance both internal and externally.  He handles all repairs needed and keeps the building in top running order.

Aaron was born and raised in Pendleton, Oregon, and is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). He is a graduate of Pendleton High School and Eastern Oregon University, with a degree in Business Administration. Aaron is a former elected official for the CTUIR, serving as the General Council Chairman and Treasurer. He is currently the Human Resources Director for the Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center. Aaron has been a participant in the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon show for over 30 years. He has volunteered for the past 10 years for both associations in various capacities, such as helping the Round-Up Indian director and providing horses for the princesses on the Round-Up and Happy Canyon courts. Aaron has many family members that have also participated and volunteered with the Round-Up and Happy Canyon. His grandmother, Mary Hines, was a chaperone for the all-Indian Round-Up courts in the 1950s. She also served as a chaperone for the Happy Canyon courts in the 1970s. Mary also camped in the Teepee village during the Round Up week.  She was also known for her Friday dinner that she cooked for all to enjoy. Many of Aaron’s aunts, cousins and nieces have been court members of both Round-Up and Happy Canyon.  Aaron’s dad, Larry, also a lifelong volunteer, also rode bulls at the Round-Up in the 1970s. Aaron is serving his first year on the Hall of Fame Board.

Jordan McDonald – Publicity and Fundraisers

Jordan coordinates all publicity for the Hall of Fame, both writing releases and assisting the press with any needs they have. She writes scripts for the announcers during the rodeo and parades, as well as publicizing all events including the annual meeting and banquet. Additionally, Jordan chairs the annual fundraiser, the Battle of the Bars held every spring in the Let’er Buck Room.

Jordan was raised just outside Pendleton at his family’s small ranch. He started early in business as a junior in high school as co-owner of Wtechlink Incorporated, a local Internet service provider specializing in hard to reach undeserved areas. Jordan graduated from Blue Mountain Community College in 2007, and grew the business until 2017 when he sold ownership in Wtechlink Incorporated and went to work for Windwave Communications. Jordan most recently finished his ex-officio Round-Up Board service in 2018, and his a history of volunteering for the Pendleton Round-Up includes building a facility-wide fiber optic and wireless network for the grounds to support ticketing, ATM, security, phones, and video broadcasts. Jordan was the 2018 Chamber of Commerce President, is the 2019 Pendleton Cultural Foundation President and most recently chaperoned Pendleton’s student ambassador trip to Japan. This is Jordan’s second year on the Hall of Fame Board.

Karen VanderPlaat – Volunteers

Karen has the large task of finding volunteers and setting up the schedule for volunteers to host guests during Hall of Fame hours.

Karen was born in Pullman, Wash., and raised in Corvallis, Oregon, where her parents owned Town and Country Animal Clinic. She and her husband, Andy, and children, Amy Raymond and Abby Graybeal, moved to Pendleton in 1994 from Central Oregon. Karen is currently retired from the Pendleton School District, where she served as the secretary-bookkeeper at Sunridge Middle School for 20 years. She has been a Round-Up and Happy Canyon volunteer for over 20 years. She has helped organize the Queen’s luncheon during Round-Up, volunteered in the Round-Up ticket booth & office, the Queen and Court and recently the 1910 Room. Karen has served in the Happy Canyon bar, gaming and tickets.  Her husband is a past Happy Canyon director and both of her daughters served on the Round-Up court. She is also currently the Vice President of the Pendleton Oregon Retired Educators Association Chapter, volunteers at McKay Elementary School, Pendleton Early Learning Center and Pendleton Cattle Barons. She and Andy have been members and supporters of the Hall of Fame since 2000. This is Karen’s first year on the Hall of Fame Board.

Mary French West – Inductee Banquet

Mary organizes the annual Inductee Banquet to honor Hall of Fame inductees.
Mary was born in Pendleton and was raised in both the Pendleton area and Skagit Valley area in northwest Washington. She is a graduate of Pendleton High School. After graduation from Eastern Oregon University, she worked for Umatilla Morrow County Head Start as a teacher and then as education supervisor for Migrant Head Start, Hermiston. Mary chose to work from home at the cattle, sheep and horse ranch in the Heppner area to raise their three children, Katy, Betsy and James, and manage family, home and ranch operations. After moving the ranch to Nevada, she continued working on the ranch and raising kids. The closest school was over 80 miles from the remotely located ranch.

Mary is currently employed as office administrator with Wilbur Ellis Company, Agribusiness division located in Adams, Oregon. Duties include purchasing, receiving and sales within the branch.

Round-Up history runs deep starting with the early years of the rodeo. Mary’s grandfather, Jack French (J.P. French), was a judge of the bucking contests in the 1920s. Her great uncle, Morris Temple, was the founder of the Main Street Cowboys and was Mayor of Pendleton in 1953-54. Grandmother Ruth Porter Piquet was a princess of the Round-Up in 1933 & 1934. Mary was a Round-Up princess in 1989. Daughter Katy was a princess in 2014, and second daughter Betsy was a princess in 2017 and queen in 2018. Mary has been a volunteer with both Round-Up and HC, intermittently, through the past 30 years.

This is Mary’s second year on the Hall of Fame Board.

Leslee Williams – Membership, Fundraising & Circle of Champions.

Leslee oversees the Circle of Champions program and is tasked with keeping the membership data base up to date, recruiting new members, and sending out the membership newsletter.

Leslee has lived all her life in both North and Middle Cold Spring Canyons near Helix, Oregon. She graduated from Griswold High School (Helix) then attended both Oregon State University and Eastern Oregon University. She and her husband, Jim, have dry land wheat farmed all their married life nearly 40 years in the Helix area. They have three married daughters, Haylee her husband Phillip, Lindsee her husband Trevor, and Demee her husband Bryan, as wekk as two grandsons, Finley and Huxton. They all have and still participate and volunteer in The Happy Canyon Show. Leslee participated in the show for 45 years and continues to volunteer when needed. She was a Round-Up Princess in 1979. Many of her relatives have and still are very involved with both Happy Canyon and Round-Up. Husband Jim has been a lifetime member of the Hall of Fame since 1999. This is Leslee’s first year on the Hall of Fame Board.

Randy Bracher – Pendleton Round-Up President

Randy represents the Pendleton Round-Up Board at all of the Hall of Fame Board Meetings. He updates the Hall of Fame Board on what is going on with the Round-Up and ensures that the best interests of the Round-Up are being followed at the Hall of Fame.

Tanner Hawkins – Happy Canyon President

Tanner represents the Happy Canyon Board at all of the Hall of Fame Board Meetings. He updates the Hall of Fame Board on what is going on with the Happy Canyon and ensures that the best interests of Happy Canyon are being followed at the Hall of Fame.

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