Local Rancher Continues Family Legacy, Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Through its three Halls of Fame, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum honors and memorializes the men and women who have through their exemplary lives, careers, and achievements embodied and perpetuated the heritage of the American West. Every inductee, whether a real cowboy in the Hall of Great Westerners, a “reel” cowboy in the Hall of Great Western Performers, or a rodeo cowboy in the Rodeo Hall of Fame, perpetuates and enriches facets of this Western heritage. By honoring them, the Museum, in a sense, provides a generational continuity with the past, present and future and bears witness to an evolving American West.

The Museum’s Western Heritage Awards was established in 1961 as the pinnacle commemoration of the American West by honoring the legacy of men and women for their works in literature, music, film, and television. The evening includes the induction of individuals into the Hall of Great Western Performers and the Hall of Great Westerners who made extraordinary contributions to shaping the American West’s rich heritage. The evening continues with the Chester A. Reynolds Memorial Award presentation named after the Museum’s founder, given to an individual for their unwavering commitment to the American West’s future. All award recipients receive The Wrangler, a bronze sculpture of a cowboy on horseback representing an iconic symbol of American West determination, persistence, and pride. The Awards Ceremony is Scheduled for Friday April 21st from 5:30-7:30pm. Included in this years Inductees is local Seward County rancher Raymond Adams Jr.
Raymond Adams Jr., was a senior partner in Adams Cattle Co., and has left a great legacy in the livestock and meat industry. As one of the founders for U.S. Premium Beef, Adams helped improve quality of meat offered to the public and provided incentives for ranchers to produce higher quality products. Adams was involved in several ranching and livestock associations, served on multiple organizations’ boards, and in 2004 the Adams Cattle Co. was named Commercial Breeder of the Year by the Kansas Hereford Association. He was well known for his generosity and contributions to individuals and organizations that supported the values of hard work and integrity which he held dear. Raymond passed away in 2009. His father is also in the Hall of Fame.