Indian National Finals Rodeo

Indian National Finals Rodeo

Hall of Fame

Mel Sampson

Mel Sampson

Mel Sampson, a member of the Yakama Tribe is married and has 5 daughters and 1 son. He enjoys hunting, fishing, horses, sports, crafts, and rodeo. He is currently a policy advisor/project coordinator with the Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project. He served as a chairman for the Yakama Tribal Council from 1985-1989. Mel has been a lifetime member of the National Congress of American Indians. A member and president of the Yakama Indian Association, a member, founder, past president of the Western States Indian Rodeo Association, and a Member, founder, past president of the Indian National Finals Rodeo. Mel has received recognitions for being a founder of the Indian National Finals Rodeo from the American Revolution Bicentennial, and Special Recognition of appreciation as a founder of western states Indian rodeo association on their tenth anniversary and was national Indian rodeo man of the year in 1978.


Mel Sampson


2021 Inductees

  • Dale Bird
  • Karl Dennison
  • Jim Gladstone
  • James Hunt Jr.
  • Lynn Mcquire

2019 Inductees

  • Eugene Creighton
  • Howard Edmundson
  • Allen Fisher
  • Pam Hall
  • Daniel Susan

2018 Inductees

  • WRIGHT BRUISED HEAD
  • YVETTE VEGA
  • ED HALL
  • JACK FOREMAN
  • LEONARD WILLIAMS SR.

2017 Inductees

  • Geneve Tsouhlarkis
  • Spike Guardipee
  • Britt Givens
  • Bob (Tonto) Gottfriedson
  • Melvin Joseph
  • Kenton Randall

2016 Inductees

  • Levi Black Water Sr.
  • Ed Holyan
  • Julius Y Begay
  • Traci Vaile
  • Dee Keener

2015 Inductees

  • Dave Best
  • Sam Bird
  • Kelvin Fox
  • Carole Jackson-Holyan
  • Jerry Small

2014 Inductees

2013 Inductees

2012 Inductees

2011 Inaugural Inductees