ProRodeo Sports News - November 17, 1999

14 r NOVEMBER 17 1999

Ruddy remembered as one special person r By TRoY ScHwil'Jot STAFF WRITER David Jennings photo

P RCA bullfighter Chad Beavers described roughstock hand Chad Ruddy as an outgoing person who loved to have fun and make people feel special. Ruddg 23 of Graham, Texas, was killed in a head-on collision Oct. 23 on Texas Highway 90 between Del Rio and Brackewille in Kinny County. The accident occurred at 5:I8 a.m. Ruddy, driving a 1995 Ford pickup, was traveling east when his vehicle col- lided with a1999 Ford pickup heading in the opposite direction, according to Helen Immel, spokeswoman for the Del Rio Department of Public Safety. The three people who occupied the 1999 Ford pickup were injured and airlifted to a hospital in San Antonio. None of the injuries was life-threaten- irg. Ruddy's vehicle, the state patrol reported, drifted over the center line . He was reportedly on his way to pick up fellow bareback rider Chris Robles in Brenham, Texas. The t'wo planned to go to Pasadena, Texas, for a rodeo. Ruddy's funeral was held Oct.26 in the First Methodist Church in Graham. *He never had a down momentr" Beavers said of his ftiend, who rode bareback horses at many of the Bad Company Rodeo events in which Beavers works his trade. "I{e always said 'Hi' to everyone and always had a

Chad Ruddy (right) shares a light moment following last year's rodeo in Del Rio, Texas, with some of his PRCA rough- stock pals, (from left) Jack Mahaney, Shawn Ayers and Chris Robles. Ruddy died in a head-on collision Oct. 23 on Highway 90 between Del Rio and Bracketville.

Ruddy graduated from Graham High School in 1994 and attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, and Ffill County Junior College. He graduated from Oklahoma State Horseshoeing School in Ardmore . His survivors include his parents rnd two sisters. Chad. Rwd.dy's obitwary q.ppea.rs 0n pnge 23.

rider Kolt Dowdg said Ruddy inuo- duced her to Dowdy. "He had this great big old smile," Lowder said. "He never had an enemy. Everyone loved him." Between 800 and I,000 people attended the funeral in Graham, Lowder said. Pall bearers were PRCA members Chris Harris, Chris Robles, Kolt Dowdy, B.]. Arnold and Jack Mahaney.

smile on his face." Ruddy showed promise to b: one of the top bareback riders in the PRCA, Beavers said. *Once in a while he'd blow out the back and he'd get up and say 'at least I made the whisde and made it look interesting."' Miranda Lowder, who attended Graham High School with Ruddy and is the girlfriend of PRCA bareback

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