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.
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