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His 98-point ride on Tommy Steiner’s Red Lightning at Palestine, Ill., in 1979 was a world record for a dozen years and remains the second-highest score in ProRodeo history in any roughstock event. Flynn’s 92-point score on a bull named Ed Pivik at Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days in 1974 stood as the arena record for more than three decades. Flynn is being inducted in the newly merged notables/lifetime achievement category.

“I’m not sure who nominated me,” Flynn said, “but I’m going to have to hug their neck. I was in shock when they called me. It’s an honor to even be nominated. I thought you had to win the world to be nominated. It’s a great birthday present, since my birthday is on the 21^st. I was on cloud nine all night. I haven’t been able to sleep.”

The Beutler name has been synonymous with stock contracting since 1929, when brothers Elra, Jake and Lynn Beutler began providing stock to Oklahoma and Texas rodeos. Jake and Lynn – a member of the inaugural ProRodeo Hall of Fame induction class of 1979 – kept the sibling business running in similar form, while Elra eventually teamed with son Jiggs to form the original Beutler & Son marquee.

Bennie Beutler, 61, worked with his father, Jiggs, and grandfather in the family business, and after his elders’ deaths in the 1980s, Bennie joined forces with E.K. Gaylord II to form Beutler & Gaylord Rodeo. That partnership endured for a dozen years, with Beutler being named PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year in 1997. In 2001, Bennie and son Rhett began a partnership that reclaimed the firm’s original name, Beutler & Son.

Since 1982, Beutler has served as assistant general manager at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo after stints as NFR chute boss and the stock contractor representative on the NFR Committee. He served on the PRCA Board of Directors from 1989 through 2005.

“(PRCA Commissioner) Karl Stressman called me to tell me, and it kind of shocked me,” Beutler said. “I guess I’m getting old – I thought you had to be old to get into the Hall of Fame. It’s a very distinguished honor. I didn’t think I’d be involved in it, but I am very proud to be selected.”

On following his great-uncle Lynn into the Hall, Beutler said: “I’m not as good as they were, but maybe I’m getting there. Lynn was probably the best showman that’s ever been in the rodeo business.”

Dunn, 54, was selected to work three NFRs (1983, 1985-86), two Canadian Finals Rodeo and 13 circuit finals over a 16-year professional bullfighting career in which his deceptively effortless style earned him the nickname “Mr. Smooth.” He twice finished second in the Wrangler Bullfighting standings – making six appearances – and was voted PRCA Clown of the Year in 1985.

Once he stepped out of the arena, Dunn began putting on bullfighting schools and became a fighting-bull stock contractor, creating Coyote Hills Rodeo. He had 138 bulls selected for the NFR bullfighting competition from 1986-2000. The Professional Bullfighters organization has named an award in his honor, in tribute to his excellence.

“I thought I’d had it all, with all the awards I’ve won and this and that,” Dunn said. “This was just something I would have never thought possible, especially with the guys that I’m going in with, particularly Bennie. I’m so happy to be getting picked with Bennie, because the Beutler family really helped me along from the beginning. They’re responsible for a lot of the success I’ve had in my career.

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