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A young life cut tragically short is being honored at the 25th annual Living Legends Jim Shoulders rodeo Saturday and Sunday.
Charlie Keith was eight years old in 2014 when he got on the back at a sheep at the Jim Shoulders Spring Roundup rodeo. He won the championship that night putting a smile on the face of a youngster that always wanted to be a cowboy.charlie keith
In the years leading up to that night, the son of Jordan and Jeremy Keith had been battling cancer. He was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer when he was only three and a half.
It took two years but he was said to be disease free and able to stop his treatment. That enabled him to go on his “Make-A-Wish” trip to a dude ranch in Arizona and fulfill his dream of being a cowboy.
Shortly after, he won the Henryetta mutton busting championship.
Sadly that October he suffered a relapse and died in Sept. 2017 from cancer.
charlie2His mother found the video shot by Thehenryettan.com of his ride and contacted publisher Bruce Jones thanking him for making it available.
“My son was able to live a normal lifestyle for 6 months between the end of treatment and relapse. You were able to capture a small 30 second part of that 6 months that I will absolutely cherish forever in your video,” she said in an email to Jones.
That story was relayed to the Henryetta Chamber of Commerce and now the mutton busting event is going to be named in honor of this young cowboy who was able to accomplish his dream.
“To honor Charlie and his family this year both nights we are going to dedicate it to him,” said rodeo chair Tammie Hiatt.
“He wanted to be a cowboy and being a cowboy is more than just wearing a hat. It’s learning how to live that way,” said chamber executive director Roy Madden.
“This makes our whole event special because it made a young man’s dream come true,” Hiatt added.
The mutton busting will take place both nights prior to the start of the rodeo and a special tribute will be made to Charlie Keith.