[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 15 (Monday, February 5, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JEROME DAVIS

                                 ______


                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 1, 1996

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, when you hear the terms rodeos and cowboys, 
your mind wanders off to images of the wide open plains of the American 
West. Now, however, when you think of champion cowboys, you will have 
to think of the Sixth District of North Carolina because we are now 
home to a world champion bullrider.
  Mr. Jerome Davis of the Glenola community in Randolph County, NC, won 
the world bullriding title in Las Vegas, NV, on December 10, 1995. 
Davis had fulfilled a lifelong dream by capturing the top bullriding 
trophy. In fact, he entered the 10-day national finals rodeo 
competition ranked No. 1 in the world standings, but Davis needed a 
final-day win to secure the top prize.
  Runner-up rider Terry West scored an 89 on his final ride which meant 
that Davis could not be thrown off his final mount or he would lose the 
title. Davis was able to stay on the aptly-named ``The Jam'' and scored 
an 84 to clinch the title. He won more than $72,000 at the national 
finals to complete the season with more than $135,000 in earnings. 
Davis beat West by only $3,000 to claim the world title.
  As reported in the High Point Enterprise, more than 300 well-wishers 
greeted Jerome Davis when he returned to the Piedmont Triad 
International Airport on the day after his world victory. ``I never 
expected anything like this,'' David told the Enterprise's Mark 
McKinney. ``I figured maybe my Mom would be here with a few folks. This 
is more than I could have imagined.'' It appeared that the entire 
Glenola community turned out to greet Davis, sporting homemade lapel 
pins that read ``Jerome Davis, World Champion!'' and ``#1 Jerome 
Davis.'' Calvin Wagner of Silver Valley, a longtime rodeo promoter and 
enthusiast, told the newspaper that Davis is a trail blazer. ``Jerome 
brought it home,'' Wagner said. ``By being the first world champion 
bullrider east of the Mississippi River, Jerome has opened doors for 
cowboys that previously were closed.''
  Davis told his crowd of supporters that he could not have won by 
himself. ``A lot of work goes into winning a world title,'' Davis 
remarked. ``But I never could have done it without the support of my 
family and friends. I don't know how to thank everybody for all this.''
  We know how to thank you, Jerome. On behalf of all the citizens in 
the Sixth District of North Carolina, we offer our congratulations on 
winning the world bullriding title. Now when people talk about champion 
cowboys, we can say just look to Glenola and Jerome Davis.

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