Bill Parker, lifetime rodeo competitor and equine industry leader, passed away yesterday after a battle with cancer.
Bill and his wife Jann were instrumental in building the Billings Livestock Commission monthly horse sale into one of the top-volume consignment horse sales in the nation.
The Huntley native qualified three times for the National Finals Rodeo, twice in the team roping and once in the tie-down roping. He was the last Montanan to earn an NFR berth in the calf roping.
Parker has also made an impact at the Montana Pro Rodeo Finals, with year-end Circuit titles in calf roping (1984) and team roping (1979).
In 2010 at the age of 56, after taking 17 years off, Bill decided that he needed to start team roping again. Parker, along with team roping partner Jace Crabb of Magnum, Okla., and his grey mare Ruth, had quite a run of success in 2014 and qualified for the 2015 Montana Circuit finals.
And just as Bill would have wanted it, The Billings Livestock Horse Sale will continue on schedule with weekend, but there will be some big cowboy boots to fill without him there.
Northern Ag Network would like to send out our condolences to Jann Parker and the rest of Bill’s family, and to the Billings Livestock Sale.
© Northern Ag Network 2016
Photo credits: Billings Livestock Sale, Jody Lamp
