Judson College Equine Science Department

The Professional Cowboys Association includes riders from Alabama,

Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and North and South Carolina, and

PCA Finals Rodeo in Biloxi, Miss. in January is ranked by the Southeast

Tourism Society as one of the top 20 tourism events in the southeast.

Middle Alabama residents were represented at the rodeo this year by Denny

Franklin of Vance and Mike Christmas of Uniontown.

Franklin competed in the bull riding event after being ranked #1 in the

association.

After four grueling rounds, Franklin left the PCFR with the

crown title of 2003 PCA “Bull Rider of the Year.”

Franklin has been riding bulls for the past six years and he says he loves

what he does.

Christmas has qualified for the PCFR for the past three years, and earned

rank of #14 this year.

Franklin and Christmas have participated in the Marion Rodeo for a number of

years.

The 2004 Marion Rodeo will be June 11-12 at the Ralph Eagle Memorial

Arena at the intersection of Alabama highways 5 and 14.

Photo cut lines: Denny Franklin and Mike Christmas

Michael J. Brooks

Associate Professor of Communications

Assistant to the President for Public Relations

P.O. Box 120

Marion, AL 36756 – 0120

334.683.5160