The Jim Shoulders monument fund got another boost today as First National Bank and Trust in Henryetta donated $1,000.
fnb“The Henryetta Chamber of Commerce has been working others to secure public and private funding for the largest boulder monument in Oklahoma,” said Roy Madden, executive director for the chamber.
He said other donations have been made by the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Henryetta’s Economic Development Authority, the Henryetta Rotary Club, Bruce Jones of thehenryettan.com, the First Family Federal Credit Union, Doty Construction, and Vail Electric. So far the Chamber has secured 70 percent of the funding required to pay for the monument. “The Chamber is still securing funds for the project and if you would like to donate to the project contact the Chamber at 918 652 3331 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; we can use the public’s help to offset funding costs.”
Once completed, the monument will be over 8' high x 10' wide x 14" thick and weigh over 12,000 pounds and it will be located near the entrance at Historic Nichols Park. It will include landscaping, flag poles and accent lighting. “The Chamber of Commerce, the City of Henryetta, and others felt it was appropriate to construct a lasting monument to this Henryettan that was and is internationally known for his accomplishments,” Madden said.
That monument will be officially unveiled Aug. 25 at a special ceremony at 11 a.m. Invitations have been sent out to a number of local, county and state officials as well as to Justin Boots, Wrangler and rodeo officials who have worked with the 16-time world champion cowboy.JIm Shoulders Boulder DesignOther honors accumulated by Shoulders include 1957 Henryettan of the Year, 10-time reserve world champion cowboy, winner of the Calgary Stampede Rodeo seven times. He has been inducted into multiple halls of fame including the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, Madison Square Hall of Fame, Bull Riding Hall of Fame, Calgary Hall of Fame, Cheyanne Hall of Fame and Claremore Hall of Fame.
Clem McSpadden, a renown rodeo announcer and former congressman once said he felt, “Jim Shoulders will probably be the biggest rodeo cowboy hero that we have ever known, and we’ve had some great ones. If Shoulders was a tree, he’d be the biggest tree in the rodeo forest, period.”