Billy Harlan

Billy Frank Harlan, (Wild Bill), of Boerne, TX, passed away at the age of 83 on August 13, 2016. He was born in McLean, TX to Frank and Grace Harlan on August 31, 1932. He was married to Joyce Harlan for 61 years. They were wed on March 20, 1955 in Tucumcari, NM. \r\n\r\nHe went to school at McLean High in McLean, TX. He attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM in 1951. Bill grew up on a ranch learning how to rope, ranch and all the tricks of the trade that goes into rodeo. He was a third generation roper. He roped professionally for 38 years and was a lifetime gold card holder for the PRCA. He swore he would not leave the sport until "I can't saddle my own horse and get on him and ride." He started his rodeo career in 1944 entering his first rodeo in Sam Norwood, TX. Then, while attending college, he rodeoed in the Rodeo Cowboy Association on his college card and worked all five events. In 1956, he became a member of the Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) and began his rodeo career. During his rodeo career, he promoted and produced the first National steer roping, team roping, and WPRA finals at Clayton, NM in 1959. He promoted the finals again in 1960 before it moved to Wyoming. His biggest most memorable win was Cheyenne in 1958 and bringing home a gold buckle. He gave most of the credit to his sorrel stud Twister Tip that was raised by his father Frank Harlan. Throughout his career, he qualified seven times for the National Steer Roping Finals. While he was hauling down the road he made many lifetime friends and never met a stranger. He would stop and talk to anyone, anywhere, at any time. He wanted to give back to rodeo and help the youth of the upcoming rodeo generations. He gave advice to many young competitors as well as flagged and judged junior & college rodeos for eighteen years, as well as flag and judge for the PRCA in the 1970's. He joined the senior steer roping in 1988 and won the finals held in Gutherie, OK in 1990 bringing home a memorable trophy saddle. He continued to compete until 1994. After he retired his professional rodeo career in 1994, he semi-retired on a ranch in Sisterdale raising cattle, hay, goats, and axis deer. He still occasionally roped in local team roping. While in his retirement, he worked for the San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo during the PRCA rodeo and flagged for the first George Strait roping in Kingsville, TX. He will be greatly missed in the rodeo world as he helped pave the way for rodeo today. \r\n\r\nBill is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Grace Harlan; and sister, Maurene Nolan. \r\n\r\nHe is survived by wife, Joyce Harlan; son, Monte Harlan and daughter-in-law, Sherry Harlan of Moore, TX; daughter, Shawn Harlan of Boerne, TX; 3 grandsons, Sterling Harlan and wife, Mercades Harlan of Moore, TX, Raudy Harlan of Moore, TX, and Justin Foster of Kerrville, TX; 1 granddaughter, Sierra Chovanec and husband, Nick Chovanec of Moore, TX; 1 great grandson, Sloan Chovanec of Moore, TX; and nieces and nephews.\r\n\r\nFuneral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at Faith Bible Church, 1 Bergmann Rd., Boerne, TX 78006. The family would like invite everyone to stay to reminisce about Bill and have lunch with the family provided by the church. \r\n\r\nIn lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Alzheimer's Association, Justin Crisis Fund, or a charity of your choice. \r\n\r\nThe family of Bill Harlan wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Town & Country Manor of Boerne, TX, Alamo Hospice of San Antonio, TX, Faith Bible Church of Boerne, TX, and Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville, TX. \r\n\r\n