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Clem McSpadden

Clem McSpadden was born on a ranch near the small town of Bushyhead in Rogers County. He was first elected to public office in November 1954 when he was voted into the Oklahoma Senate. He served in that body until 1972, including leading it for two sessions as President Pro Tempore. He was then elected to the 93rd Congress in November 1972. McSpadden was a broadcaster in rodeos throughout North America, including the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Calgary Stampede, and the Canadian Finals Rodeo. In 1974, he hired a then-unknown Reba McEntire to sing the National Anthem at the National Rodeo Finals. The Tulsa World quoted him as observing “an amazing correlation” between politics and the rodeo profession, “in that there’s bull in each profession.” He is also known, primarily through the rodeo community, for his authorship of “A Cowboy’s Prayer. A portion of Oklahoma State Highway 66 between Claremore and Bushyhead was designated Clem McSpadden Highway in 1985.