NWC grad named to 2009 Hall of Fame induction class Seven-time world champion and former Northwest College rodeo team member Dan Mortensen was named a member of the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame's 2009 induction class last week. Mortensen will be one of six people enshrined during the July ceremony in Colorado Springs. “It is a great feeling,” Mortensen said of his selection. “It is a verification of what you've accomplished throughut your whole career. It's right up there with the world titles. It's hard to rank because each of those things is different and special in its own respect, but it is an amazing feeling to be selected for the Hall of Fame.”The decision to include Mortensen, who resides in the Billings area, in the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame comes just months after he announced his retirement from the sport. Mortensen earned world saddle bronc titles in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2003. He was the world all-around champion in 1997 and became the first rough stock competitor to surpass $2 million in career earnings. At the time of his retirement, he was fifth on the sport's career earnings chart, having won more than $2.5 million. “I was surprised when they called to tell me I had been selected,” said Mortensen. “It was very special. It certainly wasn't anything I had really expected when I retired or paid attention to.”Those chosen for inclusion in the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame must first be nominated. Nominations are then reviewed by a committee of PRCA members, which selects the incoming class for that year's Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Entering the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame alongside Mortensen this summer will be bull rider Ted Nuce, steer roper Walt Arnold, the late Leonard Ward (all-around) and the late Erv Korkow (stock contractor). All-around hand Ace Berry will join the five as a lifetime achievement inductee.“I never imagined something like this would happen,” said Mortensen. “When I started out, I did it for the love of what I was doing and a love for the competition. Never, ever did I think I'd get here.”That start came on the Northwest College campus, where Mortensen was a member of the Trapper rodeo team. Originally recruited to campus as a bull rider, Mortensen points out that he switched to saddle bronc and learned the sport during his time on the Powell campus. “It was a very important time for me,” said Mortensen. “I learned the sport of saddle bronc while I was there. It set the stage a little for me.”Mortensen graduated from NWC in 1989. The college honored him with a distinguished alumni award in 1994. He has returned each of the last three years to put on a clinic for the college's rodeo athletes and area youth interested in the sport. “Hopefully it helps with their progression in the sport,” Mortensen says. “Hopefully some of them will love it enough to enroll there at Northwest and compete.”That love drove Mortensen throughout his rodeo career. “I tried a number of different activities when I was younger,” Mortensen said. “I loved that thrill of competition. Rodeo was the activity that drew me to it the most.”With years of competing in the arena now behind him, Mortensen finds himself at somewhat of a crossroads during his first season of retirement. “I'm not really sure where the future will lead me,” Mortensen said. “I'm working for myself right now and I hope wherever life leads me that it will be something that brings me the same level of enjoyment and satisfaction that my rodeo career brought.”In the short term, that direction will include a trip to Colorado Springs for the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame's July 9-11 ceremony.“I'm not sure the magnitude of it has hit me yet,” Mortensen said. “I think it will sink in more as time goes by and (the ceremony) gets closer.”

NWC grad named to 2009 Hall of Fame induction class

Seven-time world champion and former Northwest College rodeo team member Dan Mortensen was named a member of the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame's 2009 induction class last week. Mortensen will be one of six people enshrined during the July ceremony in Colorado Springs.

“It is a great feeling,” Mortensen said of his selection. “It is a verification of what you've accomplished throughut your whole career. It's right up there with the world titles. It's hard to rank because each of those things is different and special in its own respect, but it is an amazing feeling to be selected for the Hall of Fame.”

The decision to include Mortensen, who resides in the Billings area, in the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame comes just months after he announced his retirement from the sport. Mortensen earned world saddle bronc titles in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2003. He was the world all-around champion in 1997 and became the first rough stock competitor to surpass $2 million in career earnings. At the time of his retirement, he was fifth on the sport's career earnings chart, having won more than $2.5 million.

“I was surprised when they called to tell me I had been selected,” said Mortensen. “It was very special. It certainly wasn't anything I had really expected when I retired or paid attention to.”

Those chosen for inclusion in the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame must first be nominated. Nominations are then reviewed by a committee of PRCA members, which selects the incoming class for that year's Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Entering the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame alongside Mortensen this summer will be bull rider Ted Nuce, steer roper Walt Arnold, the late Leonard Ward (all-around) and the late Erv Korkow (stock contractor).

All-around hand Ace Berry will join the five as a lifetime achievement inductee.

“I never imagined something like this would happen,” said Mortensen. “When I started out, I did it for the love of what I was doing and a love for the competition. Never, ever did I think I'd get here.”

That start came on the Northwest College campus, where Mortensen was a member of the Trapper rodeo team.

Originally recruited to campus as a bull rider, Mortensen points out that he switched to saddle bronc and learned the sport during his time on the Powell campus.

“It was a very important time for me,” said Mortensen. “I learned the sport of saddle bronc while I was there. It set the stage a little for me.”

Mortensen graduated from NWC in 1989. The college honored him with a distinguished alumni award in 1994. He has returned each of the last three years to put on a clinic for the college's rodeo athletes and area youth interested in the sport.

“Hopefully it helps with their progression in the sport,” Mortensen says. “Hopefully some of them will love it enough to enroll there at Northwest and compete.”

That love drove Mortensen throughout his rodeo career.

“I tried a number of different activities when I was younger,” Mortensen said. “I loved that thrill of competition. Rodeo was the activity that drew me to it the most.”

With years of competing in the arena now behind him, Mortensen finds himself at somewhat of a crossroads during his first season of retirement.

“I'm not really sure where the future will lead me,” Mortensen said. “I'm working for myself right now and I hope wherever life leads me that it will be something that brings me the same level of enjoyment and satisfaction that my rodeo career brought.”

In the short term, that direction will include a trip to Colorado Springs for the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame's July 9-11 ceremony.

“I'm not sure the magnitude of it has hit me yet,” Mortensen said. “I think it will sink in more as time goes by and (the ceremony) gets closer.”