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NATIONAL COWGIRL HALL OF FAME HONORS FIVE NEW INDUCTEES

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Bob Gould:
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FORT WORTH - The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame will add five new honorees to its Hall of Fame during the 29th annual Induction Luncheon on Thursday, October 28, 2004.
Inductees this year include: Gail Davis (deceased), an actress best know as television's "Annie Oakley;" Wantha Davis, one of the most successful female jockeys of the 1930s through 1950s; Connie Griffith (deceased), one of the world's greatest trick riders; Shelli Mell, an expert calf roper dedicated to making horseback riding accessible to persons with disabilities; and Mary

Jo Milner, a cutting horse breeder with an unprecedented six National Cutting Horse Association Non-Pro World Championships.
"Our five inductees are all wonderful women who truly represent the
strength, character and courage of the American cowgirl," said Kit T. Moncrief, President of the National Cowgirl Museum's Board of Directors. Each of the three living honorees will be at the luncheon to accept the honor. Tad Griffith will accept in memory of his mother, Connie Griffith, and Terrie Davis will accept in memory of her mother, Gail Davis. The Induction Luncheon will be held at the Round Up Inn in the Amon G. Carter, Jr. Exhibits Hall at the Will Rogers Memorial Center, located next to the Cowgirl Museum. The festivities will begin at 10:00 a.m. with shopping; followed by a champagne reception and viewing of the 80 unique and spectacular western-style centerpieces created exclusively for the luncheon.

Lunch will follow at noon, and the induction ceremony will begin at 12:45 p.m. Bob Phillips, host of Texas Country Reporter, has generously agreed to be the master of ceremonies. Tickets are $100 each and are available by calling 817-336-4475.

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and a pioneer spirit in their trail blazing efforts.

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame's 172 honorees include
pioneers, artists, writers, entertainers, humanitarians, businesswomen, educators, ranchers and rodeo cowgirls including: Sacajawea, principal guide for the Lewis and Clark expedition; painter Georgia O'Keeffe; potter Maria Martinez; writer Laura Ingalls Wilder; sharpshooter Annie Oakley; Enid Justin, who created the multimillion dollar Nocona Boot Company; Hollywood icon Dale Evans; and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Established in 1975 in Hereford, TX, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame moved to Fort Worth in 1994. In June, 2002 the Museum moved into a new 33,000-square-foot building in the heart of the internationally acclaimed Cultural District. The new $21 million venue includes interactive exhibit galleries featuring artifacts of the permanent collection, a traveling exhibit gallery, three theaters, an expanded research library, a retail store, and a grand rotunda featuring Hall of Fame honorees. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays noon to 5 p.m., the Museum is also available for evening rentals for receptions, corporate functions, dinners and parties. For more information about the museum, current exhibits and rentals, please call 817-336-4475 or 800-476-FAME, or visit the National Cowgirl Museum's website at www.cowgirl.net.

Profiles of the 2004 Inductees
Gail Davis (1926 - 1997), California
During the Golden Age of television, Gail gave girls of the 1950s their first female western heroine when she portrayed the most famous sharpshooter of the West, Annie Oakley, on a popular television series that aired from 1954 through 1957. An accomplished rider, trick shooter and singer, Gail was praised by Gene Autry as "the perfect western actress." She appeared in more than 32 feature films and won numerous awards, including a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Wantha Davis, Texas
A pioneer for female jockeys, Wantha won more than 1,000 races in the 1930s through 1950s. While women were excluded from riding at major US tracks, Wantha rode at quarter horse meets, county fairs and small bush tracks. She was the first woman to complete at a pari-mutuel track, and won a historic race in 1949 against Racing Hall of Fame jockey Johnny Longden in an exhibition match. At 39 Wantha retired from racing to raise cattle and break colts.

Connie Griffith (1942 - 1998), Nebraska
In high school Connie was selected as the Nebraska High School Rodeo Queen, and during college she became a featured trick rider at every major North American rodeo. She was the only woman to incorporate the Ted Elder Suicide Drag into her performance, and executed the "under the belly" trick more times than any other rider. An accomplished Roman Rider, Connie introduced trick riding to the Las Vegas strip, performing for 6 straight years in more than 6,000 consecutive shows.

Sherri Mell, Texas
Since 1990 Sherri has led the nation in non-pro calf roping, and is the only woman to win calf-roping championships at the National and World shows. With more than 100 World and National rodeo and horse show championship titles, Sherri has competed in 24 consecutive Women's National Finals rodeos and 21 World Championship Appaloosa horse shows. Sherri is a long-time Special Olympic volunteer, coaching children and adults with disabilities in a variety of riding events using her own Appaloosas.

Mary Jo Milner, Texas
Mary Jo has won an unprecedented six National Cutting Horse Association
Non-Pro World Championships, including five consecutive wins in 2000 through 2004. Over the past 32 years she has amassed a career record of championships, reserve championships and top-ten finishes that is unmatched by any NCHA non-professional rider - male or female. In 1982 Mary Jo helped establish the NCHA Charities Foundation to offer college scholarships to NCHA youth and help NCHA members in times of need.

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